Honda Car Forum

I put a bottle of "Heet" dry gas in my 2002 Civic ex with a full tank of
regular unleaded gas and then after a couple of days I noticed what
resembles a burning plastic smell coming in the car when I park the car
after having driven the car. It only seems to come in the car when I just
parked it and open the door to get out. I was wondering if that is normal
and if maybe I shouldn't use Dry Gas? I only use it because it is going to
go down to -5 degrees in a day or so and maybe -30 with the wind-chill.

Just for the record I checked the temp gauge and nothing is overheating and
I also looked under the hood and don't see any smoke, but it seems to be
more noticeable on the driver side in the front wheel well.

Thanks,
Tom

Thomas Cooke wrote:
> I put a bottle of "Heet" dry gas in my 2002 Civic ex with a full tank of
> regular unleaded gas and then after a couple of days I noticed what
> resembles a burning plastic smell coming in the car when I park the car
> after having driven the car. It only seems to come in the car when I just
> parked it and open the door to get out. I was wondering if that is normal
> and if maybe I shouldn't use Dry Gas? I only use it because it is going to
> go down to -5 degrees in a day or so and maybe -30 with the wind-chill.
>
> Just for the record I checked the temp gauge and nothing is overheating and
> I also looked under the hood and don't see any smoke, but it seems to be
> more noticeable on the driver side in the front wheel well.
>
> Thanks,
> Tom
>
==================

Thomas,

It sounds more like you snagged a plastic bag on your exhaust system.
I'd suggest scraping it off next time it's hot. It will take a YEAR to
burn off. If that's what it is, you can't believe how long it will smoke
and smell. :-(


'Curly'

=====================

Dry gas generally is simply alcohol. Alcohol combines with
any water that may be present in the fuel to allow it to be
burned off in the engine. I doubt your problem has anything
to do with the additive you used.


mike hunt




Thomas Cooke wrote:
>
> I put a bottle of "Heet" dry gas in my 2002 Civic ex with a full tank of
> regular unleaded gas and then after a couple of days I noticed what
> resembles a burning plastic smell coming in the car when I park the car
> after having driven the car. It only seems to come in the car when I just
> parked it and open the door to get out. I was wondering if that is normal
> and if maybe I shouldn't use Dry Gas? I only use it because it is going to
> go down to -5 degrees in a day or so and maybe -30 with the wind-chill.
>
> Just for the record I checked the temp gauge and nothing is overheating and
> I also looked under the hood and don't see any smoke, but it seems to be
> more noticeable on the driver side in the front wheel well.
>
> Thanks,
> Tom

Well this almost smells like Diesel fuel, maybe I did run into a plastic
bag, I'll have to look.


<MajorDomo@mailcity.com> wrote in message
news:40055EA8.7D6FF0C3@mailcity.com...
> Dry gas generally is simply alcohol. Alcohol combines with
> any water that may be present in the fuel to allow it to be
> burned off in the engine. I doubt your problem has anything
> to do with the additive you used.
>
>
> mike hunt
>
>
>
>
> Thomas Cooke wrote:
> >
> > I put a bottle of "Heet" dry gas in my 2002 Civic ex with a full tank of
> > regular unleaded gas and then after a couple of days I noticed what
> > resembles a burning plastic smell coming in the car when I park the car
> > after having driven the car. It only seems to come in the car when I
just
> > parked it and open the door to get out. I was wondering if that is
normal
> > and if maybe I shouldn't use Dry Gas? I only use it because it is going
to
> > go down to -5 degrees in a day or so and maybe -30 with the wind-chill.
> >
> > Just for the record I checked the temp gauge and nothing is overheating
and
> > I also looked under the hood and don't see any smoke, but it seems to be
> > more noticeable on the driver side in the front wheel well.
> >
> > Thanks,
> > Tom

On Wed, 14 Jan 2004 03:02:09 GMT, "Thomas Cooke" <tomboy83@yahoo.com>
wrote:

>I put a bottle of "Heet" dry gas in my 2002 Civic ex with a full tank of
>regular unleaded gas and then after a couple of days I noticed what
>resembles a burning plastic smell coming in the car when I park the car
>after having driven the car. It only seems to come in the car when I just
>parked it and open the door to get out. I was wondering if that is normal
>and if maybe I shouldn't use Dry Gas? I only use it because it is going to
>go down to -5 degrees in a day or so and maybe -30 with the wind-chill.

Was it Heet or Iso-Heet? Heet is methanol and Honda advises that it is not
suitable as a fuel additive, though I doubt that one tank of such a dilute
mixture would do any damage; Iso-Heet is isopropanol and Honda says nothing
about its suitability though I'd tend to think it's OK if used occasionally
and it is, according to the mfr, more effective than Heet at removing any
water from the fuel system.

Note also that those bottles of fuel additive are generally supposed to
treat up to a ~20USgal tank. If you use it again, just use half the bottle
and recap it for later use.

>Just for the record I checked the temp gauge and nothing is overheating and
>I also looked under the hood and don't see any smoke, but it seems to be
>more noticeable on the driver side in the front wheel well.

As already suggested, the smell is more likely a piece of plastic debris
which is stuck to the exhaust system.

Rgds, George Macdonald

"Just because they're paranoid doesn't mean you're not psychotic" - Who, me??

It was a plastic bag! I went to my cousin, a mechanic and he put it on the
lift, he found a big piece between the catalytic converter and the
resonator, and had to scrape the rest off with a screw driver. I had the
Xenon filled Wagner bulbs put in also, so we'll see how they are tonight.

As far as the gas additive, I used regular Heet, not the Iso-Heet, so this
was the Yellow bottle. I guess I'll look into the Iso-Heet next time, or
since I only have 2 bottles left of the Heet yellow, i'll put a half bottle
in at a time.

Tom



> Was it Heet or Iso-Heet? Heet is methanol and Honda advises that it is
not
> suitable as a fuel additive, though I doubt that one tank of such a dilute
> mixture would do any damage; Iso-Heet is isopropanol and Honda says
nothing
> about its suitability though I'd tend to think it's OK if used
occasionally
> and it is, according to the mfr, more effective than Heet at removing any
> water from the fuel system.
>
> As already suggested, the smell is more likely a piece of plastic debris
> which is stuck to the exhaust system.
>
> Rgds, George Macdonald

One can buy a 16 oz bottle of isopropyl in one of the
discount drug stores for around 65C, or better yet, a
quart for $1.29.


mike hunt



Thomas Cooke wrote:
>
> It was a plastic bag! I went to my cousin, a mechanic and he put it on the
> lift, he found a big piece between the catalytic converter and the
> resonator, and had to scrape the rest off with a screw driver. I had the
> Xenon filled Wagner bulbs put in also, so we'll see how they are tonight.
>
> As far as the gas additive, I used regular Heet, not the Iso-Heet, so this
> was the Yellow bottle. I guess I'll look into the Iso-Heet next time, or
> since I only have 2 bottles left of the Heet yellow, i'll put a half bottle
> in at a time.
>
> Tom
>
> > Was it Heet or Iso-Heet? Heet is methanol and Honda advises that it is
> not
> > suitable as a fuel additive, though I doubt that one tank of such a dilute
> > mixture would do any damage; Iso-Heet is isopropanol and Honda says
> nothing
> > about its suitability though I'd tend to think it's OK if used
> occasionally
> > and it is, according to the mfr, more effective than Heet at removing any
> > water from the fuel system.
> >
> > As already suggested, the smell is more likely a piece of plastic debris
> > which is stuck to the exhaust system.
> >
> > Rgds, George Macdonald

"Thomas Cooke" <tomboy83@yahoo.com> wrote in message news:<cbCNb.11739$zj7.7672@newsread1.news.pas.eart hlink.net>...
> It was a plastic bag! I went to my cousin, a mechanic and he put it on the
> lift, he found a big piece between the catalytic converter and the
> resonator, and had to scrape the rest off with a screw driver. I had the
> Xenon filled Wagner bulbs put in also, so we'll see how they are tonight.

That's pretty funny. I was going to agree with the others ... couldn't
be the alcohol making the smell. Just a coincidence.

I had poor luck with the Xenon bulbs (Sylvania "Cool Blue") so keep
the stock bulbs in case the others blow out on you. Might be less than
a year from now. I liked the extra brightness but mine lasted only 9
months. <:^(

> As far as the gas additive, I used regular Heet, not the Iso-Heet, so this
> was the Yellow bottle. I guess I'll look into the Iso-Heet next time, or
> since I only have 2 bottles left of the Heet yellow, i'll put a half bottle
> in at a time.

Personally, I wouldn't use methanol in any of my vehicles. To get rid
of it I might use 2-3 ounces per full tankful (10+ gallons).

I think the Iso-Heet comes in a red bottle. I buy the Christy's
isopropyl Drygas at Walmart for about $0.75 per 12oz bottle. Their iso
formula comes in a black bottle while their cheaper methyl/methanol
formula comes in a blue bottle (I think).

I really don't know why methanol is still sold anymore. <:^(

--- Bror Jace

On Thu, 15 Jan 2004 15:10:23 -0500, MelvinGibson@mailcity.com wrote:

>One can buy a 16 oz bottle of isopropyl in one of the
>discount drug stores for around 65C, or better yet, a
>quart for $1.29.

And you'll be wasting your time as well as adding some risk. Rubbing
alcohol is not right for the job and will introduce water into the system
instead of taking it out.<sigh> If you look at the drug store bottle, it's
only 70% of IPA. IPA forms an azeotrope with water and that's the 30%.
For gas "drying" you need the anhydrous IPA.

Rgds, George Macdonald

"Just because they're paranoid doesn't mean you're not psychotic" - Who, me??

On 15 Jan 2004 19:29:27 -0800, brorjace@hotmail.com (Bror Jace) wrote:

>"Thomas Cooke" <tomboy83@yahoo.com> wrote in message news:<cbCNb.11739$zj7.7672@newsread1.news.pas.eart hlink.net>...
>> It was a plastic bag! I went to my cousin, a mechanic and he put it on the
>> lift, he found a big piece between the catalytic converter and the
>> resonator, and had to scrape the rest off with a screw driver. I had the
>> Xenon filled Wagner bulbs put in also, so we'll see how they are tonight.
>
>That's pretty funny. I was going to agree with the others ... couldn't
>be the alcohol making the smell. Just a coincidence.
>
>I had poor luck with the Xenon bulbs (Sylvania "Cool Blue") so keep
>the stock bulbs in case the others blow out on you. Might be less than
>a year from now. I liked the extra brightness but mine lasted only 9
>months. <:^(

Could be the "blue" filtering which caused the early failure. I've had
Sylvania XtraVisions in out '92 Integra for ~5years and they're still fine.
I had a Philips Hi-Visibility blow after 4years but that could be a freak.

Rgds, George Macdonald

"Just because they're paranoid doesn't mean you're not psychotic" - Who, me??