Back in the day, when I worked in the lab and had access and drove a 1959 Volvo in the frigid midwestern winter, parking on the street, I would take the battery out, bring it inside to keep warm for the next morning, then re-install it, pour about 10 mL of diethyl ether onto the strangely vertical carbeurator air filter, and that baby fired right up every day--no problem........Then one night a cop stopped me because I had a tail light out, some heavy anti-war literature stuck all over the trunk, and quite a pony-tail and full beard. He looked at me, and then into the glove compartment where I kept the ether (didn't want it in the apartment) and almost busted me for having it. After I explained it, he relaxed, but still gave me a ticket for the tail light................Petroleum ether might have worked as well, but, but that diethyl variety sure did the trick! J. William Hirzy, Ph.D. Chemist In Residence Phone: 202-885-1780 WronaT**At_Symbol_Here**USA.REDCROSS.ORG Sent by: DCHAS-L Discussion List01/29/2010 12:15 PM Please respond to DCHAS-L Discussion List To DCHAS-L**At_Symbol_Here**LIST.UVM.EDU cc Subject Re: [DCHAS-L] Ether - Motor Priming Grade Jerilyn, My experience with "ether" used for motor starting (AKA starting fluid) is usually a composition of petroleum "ether" which is typically but not necessarily an ether as we chemists know it, but is really a composition of short chain aromatic and aliphatic hydrocarbons. This material is typically used in starting diesel engines that lack glow plugs in cold climates. Thomas Wrona Equipment Systems Manager Radiation and Chemical Safety Officer Southeastern Michigan Location Ohio Michigan Division Office Phone: 313 494-2894 Facsimile: 313 833-2799 -----Original Message----- From: DCHAS-L Discussion List [mailto:DCHAS-L**At_Symbol_Here**list.uvm.edu] On Behalf Of Roberts, Jerilyn C. Sent: Thursday, January 28, 2010 5:39 PM To: DCHAS-L**At_Symbol_Here**LIST.UVM.EDU Subject: [DCHAS-L] Ether - Motor Priming Grade Does anyone have any information on Humco Laboratories Ether Motor Priming Grade? We are working on moving to a new building and it was found in a cabinet. All it says is "ether", but I am not familiar with motor priming grade. I am treating with extreme caution. Any information would be greatly appreciated. Thanks. Jerilyn Roberts Environmental Health and Safety Director South Dakota School of Mines and Technology 501 East St. Joseph Street Rapid City, SD 57701-3995 605 394-6729 605 394-6131 FAX Jerilyn.Roberts**At_Symbol_Here**sdsmt.edu
Back in the day, when I worked in the lab and had access and drove a 1959 Volvo in the frigid midwestern winter, parking on the street, I would take the battery out, bring it inside to keep warm for the next morning, then re-install it, pour about 10 mL of diethyl ether onto the strangely vertical carbeurator air filter, and that baby fired right up every day--no problem........Then one night a cop stopped me because I had a tail light out, some heavy anti-war literature stuck all over the trunk, and quite a pony-tail and full beard. He looked at me, and then into the glove compartment where I kept the ether (didn't want it in the apartment) and almost busted me for having it. After I explained it, he relaxed, but still gave me a ticket for the tail light................Petroleum ether might have worked as well, but, but that diethyl variety sure did the trick!J. William Hirzy, Ph.D.
Chemist In Residence
Phone: 202-885-1780
WronaT**At_Symbol_Here**USA.REDCROSS.ORG
Sent by: DCHAS-L Discussion List <DCHAS-L**At_Symbol_Here**LIST.UVM.EDU>01/29/2010 12:15 PM
Please respond to
DCHAS-L Discussion List <DCHAS-L**At_Symbol_Here**LIST.UVM.EDU>
ToDCHAS-L**At_Symbol_Here**LIST.UVM.EDU cc SubjectRe: [DCHAS-L] Ether - Motor Priming Grade
Jerilyn,
My experience with "ether" used for motor starting (AKA starting fluid)
is usually a composition of petroleum "ether" which is typically but not
necessarily an ether as we chemists know it, but is really a composition
of short chain aromatic and aliphatic hydrocarbons. This material is
typically used in starting diesel engines that lack glow plugs in cold
climates.Thomas Wrona
Equipment Systems Manager
Radiation and Chemical Safety Officer
Southeastern Michigan Location
Ohio Michigan Division
Office Phone: 313 494-2894
Facsimile: 313 833-2799-----Original Message-----
From: DCHAS-L Discussion List [mailto:DCHAS-L**At_Symbol_Here**list.uvm.edu] On Behalf Of
Roberts, Jerilyn C.
Sent: Thursday, January 28, 2010 5:39 PM
To: DCHAS-L**At_Symbol_Here**LIST.UVM.EDU
Subject: [DCHAS-L] Ether - Motor Priming GradeDoes anyone have any information on Humco Laboratories Ether Motor
Priming Grade? We are working on moving to a new building and it was
found in a cabinet. All it says is "ether", but I am not familiar with
motor priming grade. I am treating with extreme caution. Any
information would be greatly appreciated.Thanks.
Jerilyn Roberts
Environmental Health and Safety Director
South Dakota School of Mines and Technology
501 East St. Joseph Street
Rapid City, SD 57701-3995
605 394-6729
605 394-6131 FAX
Jerilyn.Roberts**At_Symbol_Here**sdsmt.edu
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