R56 Is it OK to use HEET in my MINI Cooper S
Thread Starter
|
3rd Gear
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 168
Likes: 0
From: Wisconsin
Is it OK to use HEET in my MINI Cooper S
I have a 2007 MINI Cooper S and I am wondering if it is OK to use HEET in a turbo engine. I live in WI and it is getting extremely cold and startup can be rough if the car sits for a long time.
OVERDRIVE
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 7,037
Likes: 283
From: Melbourne, FL
The many threads complaining about the addition of ethanol to our standard fuel supply come to mind . . . what is HEET?
Their web site:
Q: How does HEET work?
A: HEET contains special additives and methanol. When HEET is added to the gas tank, it sinks to the bottom and mixes with any water. Since both HEET and water are heavier than gasoline, they go to the bottom of the gas tank. HEET absorbs water and keeps it from freezing, and blocking the flow of gasoline through the gas line and fuel pump. When the vehicle is started, the additives, methanol, water, and gasoline are consumed during combustion inside the engine.
So is there a significant difference in this case of methanol and ethanol???? both are alcohols
You certainly can increase your alc' content by adding heat - in the past when we used HEET we just brought it up to what we get out of the pump today????
I'll need to ask my chemical engineer son . . .
Their web site:
Q: How does HEET work?
A: HEET contains special additives and methanol. When HEET is added to the gas tank, it sinks to the bottom and mixes with any water. Since both HEET and water are heavier than gasoline, they go to the bottom of the gas tank. HEET absorbs water and keeps it from freezing, and blocking the flow of gasoline through the gas line and fuel pump. When the vehicle is started, the additives, methanol, water, and gasoline are consumed during combustion inside the engine.
So is there a significant difference in this case of methanol and ethanol???? both are alcohols
You certainly can increase your alc' content by adding heat - in the past when we used HEET we just brought it up to what we get out of the pump today????
I'll need to ask my chemical engineer son . . .
I believe HEET is what is referred to as dry gas. As they say it sinks to the bottom. That's so it can melt ice in the fuel. Best way to keep ice from forming is to keep your gas tank full in this cold weather. I personally would not use an dry gas/HEET in my MINI.
6th Gear
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 3,880
Likes: 3
From: Your Worst Nightmare :)
I used it in my 05 S 4 winters and in my 09 S for going on 2 now, with no issues, even at minus 20. Used it for two decades in my carbed 86 Toy PU that just topped 272K, and no issues, even at minus 40. (I put one in after I recently got the truck back from a new top end job, because it had sat for 3 weeks before the work was done. Im sure moisture built up that down-time)
the key is you dont have to use much of it to be effective; I put it in the tank in nov and that'll be it, just keep the tank over 1/4 full (unless its a long winter, then Ill add one in march).
the key is you dont have to use much of it to be effective; I put it in the tank in nov and that'll be it, just keep the tank over 1/4 full (unless its a long winter, then Ill add one in march).
Just goes to show what works for one person may be voodoo for another.
1/4 tank of gas leaves a lot of air space in the tank. If the weather is damp there is much more chance of moisture being in there. Our MINI's have plastic tanks, but metal ones will rust like heck.
Just my .02...
1/4 tank of gas leaves a lot of air space in the tank. If the weather is damp there is much more chance of moisture being in there. Our MINI's have plastic tanks, but metal ones will rust like heck.
Just my .02...
6th Gear
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 7,578
Likes: 4
From: Paradise
From the owners manual:
I read that to mean anything over 3% methanol in the gas can cause damage and void the warranty. Not knowing whether the gas already contains methanol would lead me to stay away from HEET.
Required fuel
Super Premium gasoline/AKI 91
This gasoline is highly recommended.
However, you may also use gasoline with less AKI. The minimum AKI Rating is 87.
If you use gasoline with this minimum AKI Rat- ing, the engine may produce knocking sounds when starting at high outside temperatures. This has no effect on the engine life.
Do not use any gasoline below the speci-
fied minimum fuel grade. Otherwise the engine could be damaged.
Use high-quality brands
Field experience has indicated significant differ- ences in fuel quality: volatility, composition, additives, etc., among gasolines offered for sale in the United States and Canada. Fuels contain- ing up to and including 10% ethanol or other oxygenates with up to 2.8% oxygen by weight, that is, 15% MTBE or 3% methanol plus an equivalent amount of co-solvent, will not void the applicable warranties with respect to defects in materials or workmanship.
Super Premium gasoline/AKI 91
This gasoline is highly recommended.
However, you may also use gasoline with less AKI. The minimum AKI Rating is 87.
If you use gasoline with this minimum AKI Rat- ing, the engine may produce knocking sounds when starting at high outside temperatures. This has no effect on the engine life.
Do not use any gasoline below the speci-
fied minimum fuel grade. Otherwise the engine could be damaged.
Use high-quality brands
Field experience has indicated significant differ- ences in fuel quality: volatility, composition, additives, etc., among gasolines offered for sale in the United States and Canada. Fuels contain- ing up to and including 10% ethanol or other oxygenates with up to 2.8% oxygen by weight, that is, 15% MTBE or 3% methanol plus an equivalent amount of co-solvent, will not void the applicable warranties with respect to defects in materials or workmanship.
6th Gear
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 3,880
Likes: 3
From: Your Worst Nightmare :)
Robin, I could see this problem if one put a bottle of Heet in every fillup, but occasional use wont hurt anything. I'd rather risk this than a frozen gas line or throttle body. Life is hard enough at minus 20 with high relative humidity.
Trending Topics
I'm with you Robin. 
sequence, as simple as it sounds keeping your tank full really does work. I have only had a frozen fuel line once in 42 years of driving. I attribute that frozen line to having only a gallon or so of fuel in that old VW bug. Although it was fixed by pouring in a can of dry gas. Lots less fuel system parts to hurt on a 59 bug. Since then keeping the tank full in cold weather has worked for me. YMMV.
sequence, as simple as it sounds keeping your tank full really does work. I have only had a frozen fuel line once in 42 years of driving. I attribute that frozen line to having only a gallon or so of fuel in that old VW bug. Although it was fixed by pouring in a can of dry gas. Lots less fuel system parts to hurt on a 59 bug. Since then keeping the tank full in cold weather has worked for me. YMMV.
1st Gear
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 33
Likes: 0
From: West Allis, Wi
heet
I'm not sure of the pros and cons of Heet in a MINI, but in any fuel injected car you want ISO-HEET or a comparable product with isopropyl alchohol. HEET was fine for carbureted vehicles but cars with injection and converters need the isopropyl to be safe. Been selling car parts for over 40 years and thats the evolution of fuel system moisture absorbers.
HEET is sold in the red and yellow varrieties.....red is Methonal, and yellow is isoptropal. The differance is methonal and water sinks, and then is burnt off when it does get sucked up, and will not rust a metal tank. The yellow will mix with water, and keep it suspended...much better...and it will help the starts in extreme cold.
Today since all gas sold in the us is about 10% ethonal....which can in it self absorb water, very few prople actually need to add either of these products.
Today since all gas sold in the us is about 10% ethonal....which can in it self absorb water, very few prople actually need to add either of these products.
4th Gear
Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 367
Likes: 0
From: Midwest
If you are worried about gas lines freezing, I would fill up when the carrots are showing half full, then fill up to a full tank. Even with the brutal Chicago winters, I have not had any of my car's gas lines freeze up, and I don't have a garage. Also, even with a full tank of gas, the MINI will kind of start rough, when the weather is brutally cold.
6th Gear
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 3,880
Likes: 3
From: Your Worst Nightmare :)
sequence, as simple as it sounds keeping your tank full really does work. I have only had a frozen fuel line once in 42 years of driving. I attribute that frozen line to having only a gallon or so of fuel in that old VW bug. Although it was fixed by pouring in a can of dry gas. Lots less fuel system parts to hurt on a 59 bug. Since then keeping the tank full in cold weather has worked for me. YMMV.
My point tho was that a little goes a long way, and one need not over-do it.
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
ECSTuning
Vendor Classifieds
0
Aug 7, 2015 05:55 AM
ECSTuning
Interior/Exterior Products
0
Aug 5, 2015 02:11 PM
ECSTuning
Vendor Classifieds
0
Aug 5, 2015 02:10 PM