chwarae
Well-Known Member
I have a bubble type gas leak detector. I have been told that you can use car antifreeze to top up the unit as antifreeze is propylene glycol. Anyone else heard this and is it true?
Gas leak detector
- Thread starter chwarae
- Start date
pvb
Well-Known Member
Car antifreeze is usually ethylene glycol based, rather than propylene glycol. The liquid supplied in sachets by Alde for topping up bubble testers is ethylene glycol. So, you could use an ethylene glycol car antifreeze (concentrated, not ready-mixed) if you wanted.
Len Ingalls
Well-Known Member
VicS
Well-Known Member
?????????????? thats about propane but I dont see anything about bubble leak detectors or the fluid for them
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VicS
Well-Known Member
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pvb
Well-Known Member
Maybe, maybe not. The Alde site lists 3 glycol products - 4070120, 4070123 and 4070125. The first two have MSDS data indicating ethylene glycol, the third (the sachet) doesn't have any MSDS data.
Ethylene glycol is less potentially damaging to seals and plastic parts, so might be preferable.
VicS
Well-Known Member
I was assuming that the sachet label could be relied upon. Probably no MSDS data because it does not contain anything hazardous!
pvb
Well-Known Member
Maybe the sachet has propylene glycol in case anyone accidentally puts it in their tea. The OP wondered if he could use car antifreeze, which presumably he already has available, rather than shelling out a couple of quid for a sachet. Can't see why he shouldn't.
Hoolie
Well-Known Member
Chemically propylene glycol will be a heavier molecule and therefore less volatile. Whether this makes any noticeable difference I don't know. Sounds a good tip though as I have leak detector to fit in the near future.
VicS
Well-Known Member
ITYWF that ethylene glycol has a higher boiling point, but basically the volatility of either is so low that its not going to make any significance.
My only reservation about using car antifreeze is that it contains more than just glycol. Maybe no problem though
I think two of the Alde part numbers you quote ( 4070120, 4070123 ) are for 2 different sized bottles of an OAT antifreeze which they supply for their Combi boiler based heating systems.
4070125 is the "part number" for sachets of the leak detector fluid.
What I was really raising objection to was the misinformation that, "The liquid supplied in sachets by Alde for topping up bubble testers is ethylene glycol."
Len Ingalls
Well-Known Member
VicS
Well-Known Member
I still dont see anything about the Alde bubble tester, the point of which is that you can confirm the tightness, or otherwise, of the entire system every time you turn the gas on at the bottle.
Chris_Robb
Well-Known Member
I prefer the lighter method - much faster:disgust:
Seriously - where the hell do you buy the stuff - Hamilton Gas products £2 or so plus £5 postage..... Any south coast chandlers stock it?
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nigelmercier
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I've got a 1 litre bottle of PG, bought for when I was considering making my own eCig vaping liquid. Not expensive on eBay, but happy to send a small quantity. I look forward to marking the contents as liquid fog 
Just found this on eBay http://r.ebay.com/sksEKQ
Just found this on eBay http://r.ebay.com/sksEKQ
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Chris_Robb
Well-Known Member
I've got a 1 litre bottle of PG, bought for when I was considering making my own eCig vaping liquid. Not expensive on eBay, but happy to send a small quantity. I look forward to marking the contents as liquid fog
Just found this on eBay http://r.ebay.com/sksEKQ
Usefull I have just bought a 50ml bottle off the ebay site dirt cheap and no postage - how do they do it.
Also noticed that ebay has my credit card on and it does not even ask for the 3 digit code - so its now removed! - too risky So double thanks for your help.
chwarae
Well-Known Member
Just had a good check of the bubble tester. It contains plenty of the liquid provided at installation (about 5 years ago). I took it off and gave it a bit of a clean before replacing and testing for leaks around cylinder and upstream of tester with normal gas leak testing fluid. I didn't succeed in opening the fluid holder as the plastic fitting was very tight and becoming mangled when I used a small adjustable spanner. Just thought I'd let everyone know. My reason for initial question was because Force 4 didn't have any fluid. The cost is negligible for a job done so rarely. Thanks for everyone's comments.
Pete735
Well-Known Member
Not directly related to the original question, but what could I use to colour the liquid in the bubble tester to make it easier to check it still has liquid in? When I saw anti freeze mentioned I thought great, I will change it to red or blue a/freeze, now I am not so sure.
VicS
Well-Known Member
Try some food dye, but dont overdo it or you might not see the bubbles.
Pete735
Well-Known Member
Ok thanks Vic, I had wondered about food dye so will give it a try.
