Hypothetical Q: Using fuel additives as fuel

[exranger06]

The other day I was thinking about the inevitable zombie apocalypse

(you Walking Dead fans know what I'm talking about. Don't act like you haven't thought about it either!) So, if the world were to end, we'd all have about 6 months to maybe a year before all the (unstabilized) gasoline in the world goes bad, that is, if you'll even be able to find any. So you need another fuel source. I was thinking you could possibly break into an auto parts store, grab every fuel additive off the shelves, and dump it all into the gas tank and try to run the engine off of that. How would the engine run? Would it run at all? Any volunteers to test this theory?

I realize an old diesel would be the best engine to have in that situation, since diesel doesn't go bad nearly as fast (at all?) and you can burn all kinds of other stuff in it like WVO, but I was curious about the fuel additive idea.

 

[JHZR2]

The carriers in most adds are things like kerosine and naphtha, and will all have vastly different octane ratings, I think.

So your knock sensor will go crazy and may effect longevity in a bad way.

Adds also leave behind residues, so they may be as fouling or worse.

 

[eljefino]

You'd be better off making 100% ethanol and obtaining an E85 car. All academic of course, a bicycle would be your friend.

 

[NateDN10]

It depends on the additive.
For example, many people use TCW3 as a gasoline additive - that would not work straight, at all. Seafoam is around 50% pale oil, according to the MSDS, and pale oil is more similar to diesel than to gasoline, so that would also be bad.
Techron concentrate may work, because it's up to 70% light petroleum distillates (gasoline falls into this category).

My overall conclusion is that, for the coming zombie apocalypse, it'd probably be better to get out your shotgun and get ready to do some walking!

 

[ARCOgraphite]

I like COX glow fuel 2-stroke diesel model engine fuel. Nitromethane!

 

[HerrStig]

Define "world to end"

 

[dailydriver]

Originally Posted By: eljefino
You'd be better off making 100% ethanol and obtaining an E85 car. All academic of course, a bicycle would be your friend.


ONLY if one were fit AND fast enough on said bike to outrun(ride) said walking (hopefully NOT sprinting!!) dead.

I would raid EVERY speed shop for drums of; VP, Rockett, Cam 2, Torco, etc. racing fuel, since they are sealed and at least have a chance of lasting longer before going bad (besides starting at a higher/too high an octane rating to begin with).

 

[NHGUY]

Mayan calendar again?
If the world ends,everybody is dead anyway.
Only the cockroaches will be driving the cars....

 

[Vikas]

why hypothetical? don't you have a lawn mower that you could experiment? run it until it dies from lack of gas. Then just add your favorite brew in the tank and (try to) start the engine!

 

[ARCOgraphite]

THIS in the rider and see what happens. Good for cleaning off cyanoacrylate ester.

 

[dailydriver]

^^^I used to use that stuff in my COX plane (I think it was modelled on a Mustang, or maybe a Spitfire, my 50+ year memory is weak!).

It had a funny smell, kind of like a less aromatic 3 In 1 oil.

 

[TC]

This simply wouldn't work for a gas engine, and the zombies would methodically pull out your spleen and liver and eat them (uncooked, no less!). The carriers for most retail fuel additives are oily petro-solvents such as kerosene, naphtha, diesel fuel, mineral spirits, pale oils, isopropyl alcohol, etc., products which are a far cry from gasoline. I suspect this would be like putting water, instead of vodka, in Charlie Sheen's or Lindsay Lohan's drinking glass -- your engine wouldn't know what to do with it, and would choke.

 

[Loobed]

I am either going to find me horse, or make a steam engine.

 

[tommygunn]

I'd be finding a diesel engine personally and feeding it anything thin and oily I can find laying around town.

Abandoned fast food joints would be a savior (assuming you have ammunition to fend off whatever is attempting to feed on the leftovers). Probably not perfect, given microbe growth and stuff, but probably good enough in the long run to still be operational.

That or yeah, make ethanol. Rednecks make moonshine anyhow so it can't be impossible to do.