Starting fluid
Encyclopedia
Starting fluid is a mixture of volatile
hydrocarbon
s (heptane
, butane
or propane
), diethyl ether
, and carbon dioxide
(as a propellant). It is often useful when starting direct injected diesel engines or lean burn
spark engines running on alcohol
fuel. Starting fluid works due to the low autoignition temperature
of diethyl ether: 160 °C (320 °F)
. Premium grade starting fluids have a 40-60% diethyl ether content. The rest of the volume is commonly taken by heptane
, with small amounts of hexane
.
engines than with fuel injection
systems. It is not recommended for starting some diesel engines that have preheat systems in the intake or glow-plugs installed as this may lead to damage to the engine.
was previously recommended for use on two stroke engines because it has lubricating qualities, however, after the propane was removed as the propellant and replaced with CO2, it no longer has the same effect.
. Sometimes referred to as "passing the shirt," the starting fluid is sprayed on a piece of cloth and held up to one's face for inhalation. This trend has gradually picked up since the turn of the century, as phrases such as "etherized" and "ethervision" have gained popularity. The effects of inhalation vary, but have been known to include lightheadedness, loss of coordination, paranoia, and sometimes hallucinations.
The constituents of starting fluid, most especially the solvents, are significantly harmful to the health, relative to pure diethyl ether, which is less harmful.
Volatility (chemistry)
In chemistry and physics, volatility is the tendency of a substance to vaporize. Volatility is directly related to a substance's vapor pressure. At a given temperature, a substance with higher vapor pressure vaporizes more readily than a substance with a lower vapor pressure.The term is primarily...
hydrocarbon
Hydrocarbon
In organic chemistry, a hydrocarbon is an organic compound consisting entirely of hydrogen and carbon. Hydrocarbons from which one hydrogen atom has been removed are functional groups, called hydrocarbyls....
s (heptane
Heptane
n-Heptane is the straight-chain alkane with the chemical formula H3C5CH3 or C7H16. When used as a test fuel component in anti-knock test engines, a 100% heptane fuel is the zero point of the octane rating scale...
, butane
Butane
Butane is a gas with the formula C4H10 that is an alkane with four carbon atoms. The term may refer to any of two structural isomers, or to a mixture of them: in the IUPAC nomenclature, however, butane refers only to the unbranched n-butane isomer; the other one being called "methylpropane" or...
or propane
Propane
Propane is a three-carbon alkane with the molecular formula , normally a gas, but compressible to a transportable liquid. A by-product of natural gas processing and petroleum refining, it is commonly used as a fuel for engines, oxy-gas torches, barbecues, portable stoves, and residential central...
), diethyl ether
Diethyl ether
Diethyl ether, also known as ethyl ether, simply ether, or ethoxyethane, is an organic compound in the ether class with the formula . It is a colorless, highly volatile flammable liquid with a characteristic odor...
, and carbon dioxide
Carbon dioxide
Carbon dioxide is a naturally occurring chemical compound composed of two oxygen atoms covalently bonded to a single carbon atom...
(as a propellant). It is often useful when starting direct injected diesel engines or lean burn
Lean burn
Lean burn refers to the use of lean mixtures in an internal combustion engine. The air-fuel ratios can be as high as 65:1, so the mixture has considerably less fuel in comparison to the stoichiometric combustion ratio ....
spark engines running on alcohol
Alcohol
In chemistry, an alcohol is an organic compound in which the hydroxy functional group is bound to a carbon atom. In particular, this carbon center should be saturated, having single bonds to three other atoms....
fuel. Starting fluid works due to the low autoignition temperature
Autoignition temperature
The autoignition temperature or kindling point of a substance is the lowest temperature at which it will spontaneously ignite in a normal atmosphere without an external source of ignition, such as a flame or spark. This temperature is required to supply the activation energy needed for combustion...
of diethyl ether: 160 °C (320 °F)
Grades
Starting fluid comes in a regular or premium grade. The regular grade contains 21-35% diethyl etherDiethyl ether
Diethyl ether, also known as ethyl ether, simply ether, or ethoxyethane, is an organic compound in the ether class with the formula . It is a colorless, highly volatile flammable liquid with a characteristic odor...
. Premium grade starting fluids have a 40-60% diethyl ether content. The rest of the volume is commonly taken by heptane
Heptane
n-Heptane is the straight-chain alkane with the chemical formula H3C5CH3 or C7H16. When used as a test fuel component in anti-knock test engines, a 100% heptane fuel is the zero point of the octane rating scale...
, with small amounts of hexane
Hexane
Hexane is a hydrocarbon with the chemical formula C6H14; that is, an alkane with six carbon atoms.The term may refer to any of four other structural isomers with that formula, or to a mixture of them. In the IUPAC nomenclature, however, hexane is the unbranched isomer ; the other four structures...
.
Four strokes
Starting fluid is sprayed into the engine intake near the air filter or into a spark plug hole of an engine to get added fuel to the combustion cylinder quickly. Using starting fluid to get the engine running faster avoids wear to starters and fatigue to your arm with pull start engines, especially on rarely used machines. Other uses include cold weather starting, vehicles that run out of fuel, and sometimes with flooded engines. Mechanics, especially amateur mechanics that lack diagnostic tools, sometimes use it to diagnose starting problems. If sprayed into the air intake on a car, it can be used to determine whether the spark and ignition system of the car is functioning and the fuel delivery system is not, since the engine will run until the starting fluid vapors in the intake system are exhausted. It is used more often with carburetedCarburetor
A carburetor , carburettor, or carburetter is a device that blends air and fuel for an internal combustion engine. It is sometimes shortened to carb in North America and the United Kingdom....
engines than with fuel injection
Fuel injection
Fuel injection is a system for admitting fuel into an internal combustion engine. It has become the primary fuel delivery system used in automotive petrol engines, having almost completely replaced carburetors in the late 1980s....
systems. It is not recommended for starting some diesel engines that have preheat systems in the intake or glow-plugs installed as this may lead to damage to the engine.
Two strokes
Starting fluid is not recommended for some two-stroke engines, because it has no lubricating qualities; similar to unmixed gasoline. The lubricating oil for these engines is either mixed with the fuel or injected near the fuel intake of the motor. There is also a risk of igniting the mixture in the crankcase. Carburetor cleaner such as gum-out brand contains a lubricant and will also act as a starting fluid. Regular starting fluid will not damage an engine that is properly lubricated if used sparingly and only for starting. Do not run any two-stroke engine for extended periods of time on starting fluid, especially engines that require premixed gasoline and those that haven't been run recently because oil dries off internal parts over time. WD-40WD-40
WD-40 is the trademark name of a United States-made water-displacing spray. It was developed in 1953 by Norm Larsen, founder of the Rocket Chemical Company, San Diego, California. It was originally designed to repel water and prevent corrosion, and later was found to have numerous household...
was previously recommended for use on two stroke engines because it has lubricating qualities, however, after the propane was removed as the propellant and replaced with CO2, it no longer has the same effect.
Abuse
Starting fluid is sometimes used as an inhalantInhalant
Inhalants are a broad range of drugs whose volatile vapors are taken in via the nose and trachea. They are taken by volatilization, and do not include drugs that are inhaled after burning or heating...
. Sometimes referred to as "passing the shirt," the starting fluid is sprayed on a piece of cloth and held up to one's face for inhalation. This trend has gradually picked up since the turn of the century, as phrases such as "etherized" and "ethervision" have gained popularity. The effects of inhalation vary, but have been known to include lightheadedness, loss of coordination, paranoia, and sometimes hallucinations.
The constituents of starting fluid, most especially the solvents, are significantly harmful to the health, relative to pure diethyl ether, which is less harmful.
External links
- Product information for different types of ether starting fluid provided by a manufacturer, Spray Products Corp.
- MSDS for a 50% ether fluid
- MSDS for 11% ether fluid