Dear Tom and Ray:

I have a question about "Dry Gas." I know some brands contain methanol and some contain isopropyl alcohol. I know that isopropyl is recommended for cars with fuel injection. The question is, can I use the isopropyl (rubbing) alcohol I buy in the drugstore? I noticed the label says "contains 70 percent isopropyl." Does this mean the rest is water? -- Joe

Ray: Yes. And water is exactly the thing you're trying to get OUT of your tank by using the "dry gas" or "gas line antifreeze." So I wouldn't use that 70 percent stuff.

Tom: But if you can find it, you CAN use rubbing alcohol that contains "99.9 percent isopropyl alcohol," which costs about a third of the price of commercial "dry gas."

Ray: What is that other 0.1 percent? It could be yak sweat for all I know. But 99.9 percent is certainly pure enough. It's not available everywhere, but call around -- some stores do carry it.

Tom: I should mention that, personally, I don't believe you really need this stuff. Most gasolines already contain some kind of gas line antifreeze. But if you do find it helpful where you live, you can put the rubbing alcohol into your tank in the same ratio that you would use for a commercial dry gas product -- about 12 ounces of isopropyl alcohol for every 10 gallons of gas.

Ray: Just be sure that you check the label carefully and buy the stuff that's 99.9 percent alcohol and not the stuff that's 30 percent water.

Stop the madness! You can stop driving like a knucklehead, and you'll help your car in the process. Learn how your driving habits can harm your car in Tom and Ray's pamphlet "Ten Ways You May Be Ruining Your Car Without Even Knowing It!" To order, send (check or money order) to Ruin, P.O. Box 536475, Orlando, FL 32853-6475. You can also order online.

© 1999 by Tom and Ray Magliozzi and Doug Berman Distributed by King Features Syndicate, Inc.

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