[Londoner]

Was it about this time last year that people were posting about putting isopropanol in their water to stop it freezing? Has that idea gone by the board now?

[leapstallbuildings]

Was it about this time last year that people were posting about putting isopropanol in their water to stop it freezing? Has that idea gone by the board now?

I had a brief discussion about this Vince on the forum that dare not speak its name.
I had always assumed that although it might prevent freezing, it wouldn't work because the isopropanol would make the water impure and cause spotting.  Now I've read that isopropanol actually has a TDS of zero which surprised me.  So I'm wondering if it might just work.  I think I would try it in containers and backpack though before using it full out in a van mount.  It;s not something I would want to do for the odd day but if there were a sustained freeze-up it would be worth experimenting I feel.

[pingu]

I used it last year and whilst it was in my tank and system i.e closed was ok...once it hit the open air it evaporated and left the water to freeze on the glass..it did not affet the tds, it did not leave any trace.

Cheers
Dave.

[G Griffin]

I think everyone has turned to drinking it, with the current weather  .

[d s windowcleaning]

ive been using ipa for around 3 years now and never had a problem with water freezing in my tank or pipes , its -2 outside at the moment and if i was able to get out to do some work i would (i live on a hill and road conditions are bad) over the last few days when temps have dropped to below -5 ive not froze up and i can only put this down to using ipa .

[Simon@ Clearview contractors]

I heard somewhere that it actually separates(sp?) from the water and floats on top of the water like oil, is there any truth in this?

Also forget using car antifreeze, it's tds is over 200

[[GQC] Tim]

I heard somewhere that it actually separates(sp?) from the water and floats on top of the water like oil, is there any truth in this?

Also forget using car antifreeze, it's tds is over 200

So they have said. But I do not think that is true. Because when I put IPA in the tank, I get massive bubbles on the glass. The tank outlet is at the bottom, so that's not possible if it floats on top of the water.

[AuRavelling79]

Ratio of water to IPA please? I don't believe in homoeopathic proportions by the way!

[pingu]

This may prove useful  http://www.cleanitup.co.uk/smf/index.php?topic=86571.0

[[GQC] Tim]

Ratio of water to IPA please? I don't believe in homoeopathic proportions by the way!

I think I use about 550ml per 400l tank. Should do it. I've had a bad infestation of algea once in my tank, drained the tank to about 75l, put 1l ISO in it, and the algea was gone, works great apart from stopping freezing. 

[Jeff Brimble]

I heard somewhere that it actually separates(sp?) from the water and floats on top of the water like oil, is there any truth in this?

Also forget using car antifreeze, it's tds is over 200

So they have said. But I do not think that is true. Because when I put IPA in the tank, I get massive bubbles on the glass. The tank outlet is at the bottom, so that's not possible if it floats on top of the water.

Use a simple top fed bypass to constantly stir the mix.

[pingu]

Tim how can that 550ml in 400litres possibly work to stop freezing?...it does not compute I'm afraid...unless of course you have worked out how to bypass physics that is...500ml in 400litres is not worth the effort putting it in your tank...

Cheers
Dave.

[Jeff Brimble]

Tim how can that 500ml in 400litres possibly work to stop freezing?...it does not compute I'm afraid...unless of course you have worked out how to bypass physics that is...500ml in 400litres is not worth the effort putting it in your tank...

Try it with a bypass ?

[pingu]

I think it is more a ratio and dilution issue more than a mixing problem...

last winter I did a load of trials with mixes varying from 1% to 20% in temps from -1 to -12 which we had here in Holland and to be honest it all followed the physics...so you can see why I am very sceptical of these half coke can type claims

I also tried these tests with Methanol...pretty much the same...

bBut if you are really convinced about iso and like alcohols...you should really think about buying it in 200litre vats...much, much cheaper..I buy around 400litres a time...I also use it for making biodiesel so bulk is best..

Cheers
Dave

[Jeff Brimble]

-12  :        impressive 
I found it only works to -2, but does help.

[pingu]

We had -13.2 the other night...and the coldest place here was around -18...they had -20 last year in a town in the very south of The Netherlands...

[Jeff Brimble]

Respect 
Thought about recirculating the van exhaust so it goes through the van  and a scuba helmet for fresh air !

[[GQC] Tim]

Tim how can that 550ml in 400litres possibly work to stop freezing?...it does not compute I'm afraid...unless of course you have worked out how to bypass physics that is...500ml in 400litres is not worth the effort putting it in your tank...

Cheers
Dave.

I have no idea, last time I used it it was not really this cold, only around -2 to -3. It did seem to have an effect. Could have just been me though. I haven't really bothered uptil now.

[Mike #1]

i put 50ml in 25ltr container works till about -3 ,  -4 today not working so well hose is freezing as well given up for the day to many probs but if temp rises later i will try again