Alcohol question

[Mannlicher]

I had not used my Trangia yet this year. I took it on a three day trip to the Ocala NF this weekend. The bottle of HEET I used seemed to really produce a lot of dark soot. Normally, the yellow bottle stuff burns pretty clean.
Could this be the result of the HEET being several years old?

 

[Bo T]

Were the air holes completely blocked? Any chance a little oil or wax got mixed in by mistake? It is pretty difficult to get the alcohol to put out much soot.

 

[Mannlicher]

Rubbing alcohol will burn with soot like that. It has water in it by design. The alcohol in HEET is also hygroscopic, as it's stated purpose is to absorb water in gasoline when mixed with it. I am wondering if sitting around in an already opened bottle, would allow it to absorb water, and thus burn with soot.

 

[Bo T]

Water might keep the temperature too low for complete burning so it could cause some soot.

 

[neeman]

Rubbing alcohol will burn with soot like that. It has water in it by design. The alcohol in HEET is also hygroscopic, as it's stated purpose is to absorb water in gasoline when mixed with it. I am wondering if sitting around in an already opened bottle, would allow it to absorb water, and thus burn with soot.

makes sense.........

 

[gadgetgeek]

That was my guess, too much water.

 

[Mannlicher]

Evidently the solution is to buy a new bottle of HEET.

 

[jaymeister99]

Evidently the solution is to buy a new bottle of HEET.

Skip HEET, use Klean Strip Green Denatured Alcohol. IMO works better than Heet.

 

[Bowman1911]

Evidently the solution is to buy a new bottle of HEET.

Wait til spring. Walmart sells their Heet 4 packs for about $4 on clearance then.

 

[kvaughn]

Grain alcohol! Multiple uses and no smoke.--KV

 

[Mannlicher]

good point. They don't call it "Everclear" for nothing.

Of course, there is the cost factor. With grain alchy, you are paying the drinking booze tax.