Rimguard vs. Methanol

[Wacky]

Is it true that Methanol is just as good a Rimguard if mixed properly?

 

[piller]

I've got a methanol/water mix in my tires, it came that way from the dealer and was inexpensive. I would prefer to have rimguard however as I believe it is heavier than methanol and more environmentally friendly in the event of a leak.

 

[RoyJackson]

Is it true that Methanol is just as good a Rimguard if mixed properly?

As far as weight per volume, Rimguard is heavier. Rimguard is also more expensive. I have read (on TBN, no personal experience) that Rimguard can cause tire slippage on the rim, so you'll want tubes in those tires.
Methanol...well, I doubt you'd use methanol. It would be a product such as winterized windshield washer fluid with a small percentage of methanol for lowering the freeze point. There have been folks stating windshield washer fluid containing methanol is flammable. Guess it is, but I've never heard or read of a tractor catching fire due to it's tire ballast.

Bottomline is you'll get more ballast (weight) from Rimguard, but you'll pay for that extra weight per volume.

 

[Don87]

It cost me 71.55 to fill both tires on mine with rimguard. But with my pond, and flower garden, I wanted to stay 'non-toxic'(just in case).
I'm using turfs on mine, so far no slippage on the rims.
I had washer fluid in my old Cub Cadet for 14 years, never had a leak til 2 weeks before I bought the Massey.

Edit: I should add that the charge for the Rimguard was 2.50 per gallon@17 gallons, plus 26.50 labor, plus tax.
If you go with Rimguard, and no tubes......be sure to replace the valve stems with metal ones. The rimguard has been eating the glue in the rubber stems.( according to Rimguard Co.)

 

[gauthier]

Mines filled with water/methinal,and it was methinal,saw the barrel it came in,stinky stuff,,its been in for couple years now.They got about a 30 percent methinal to water ratio[more or less],should be good to about 0 f,at least? No tubes,run air pressure on the low side,have done a good bit of spinning in past couple of years,no slippage that I can tell anyways

 

[TripleR]

My dealer only uses windshield washer fluid, so that's what I have, but don't know anything about how it compares to Rimguard.

 

[mjonesnh]

My Tc34 rear tires were filled with a mix of methanol (from a barrel that was labeled methanol) and water with a ratio of I believe 1 gallon of methanol to 3 gallons of water. Running tubeless tire and have never noticed any slippage of the rim.

 

[wedge40]

rimguard is about 25% heavier than water. I think it's 11lb/gal.
Regardless of what you choose, it's fairly easy to fill your own tires and that can save some $$.
I have tubes and rimguard. I bought 100 gal at $3.00 gal a few years back. Brought it home and put in the tires. Took about 2 hours. I think I got about 45 gal/tire in mine.

Wedge

 

[mburke121]

I put Rimguard in my rears this past spring. If I remember correctly, I paid just under $5 a gallon to have them come out and install it. I used the nearest dealer, but they still had to travel about 140 miles round trip, so I thought the cost was fair.

I have been very happy with it. I added over 1000 pounds, and it made a world of difference, obviously. I do not have tubes, and so far have not experienced any slippage in about 70 hours of mowing and loader work. The dealer did change out my stems.

 

[k0ua]

I opted for the RV anti-freeze. I thought about the windshield washer fluid, but decided against it as the methanol is poison if ingested(so dont drink it!) and the air in the tire will have methanol vapor in it which is flameable or so I have read. I have no first hand experience with the methanol mixes. But it is cheaper than the RV antifreeze or the Rimguard. I could not find a rimguard dealer or source around here. So I put the RV anti-freeze in myself. actually almost a fun job. The RV antifreeze (polyethelene glycol) is supposed to be safe if ingested, (I did not drink any but it looked yummy!) and not supposed to rust your rims. ( I guess time will tell on that one). Of course like everyone says. your tractor is much more stable on hills, and will pull/push more. I guess Tract-ion is what Tract-ors are all about!

 

[zman007007]

Is methanol flammable? I would say yes, because I used to run it, instead of gas in the racing go carts I used to race. Unless there is 2 different types of methanol.zman

 

[Hematite]

Since Methanol is a volatile solvent as well as a poison, it wouldn't be my choice. I wonder what the effect will be on tire rubber which, as far as I know, is not designed to contain a volatile solvent. Long term will be interesting.

 

[gauthier]

Did you used to burn it when it was mixed with water[2/3rds water]??

 

[ae_ted]

Been running methanol mix in mine for 10yrs and no problems, no slippage. REALLY makes a huge difference in pulling power...like getting 20 extra horsepower. My MF 1040 used to spin pulling a loaded 5' box blade, now it will pull the blade without spinning even when the box blade is full and overflowing.

 

[IslandTractor]

Since Methanol is a volatile solvent as well as a poison, it wouldn't be my choice. I wonder what the effect will be on tire rubber which, as far as I know, is not designed to contain a volatile solvent. Long term will be interesting.

Are you aware that you have methanol in your car windshield washer fluid reservoir right next to a hot engine? Has it ever caught fire? Ever heard of a windshield washer fluid fire? Ever heard of a tractor tire fire due to methanol?

IMO this fire/WWF hype is BS. Pure methanol is flammable but mixed with water it does not seem to be a real world problem at all. Yes, it has a flammability warning on it with regard to open flame but it is hardly a high risk solvent. You need presumably more than just a spark to start a fire with WWF and also need a continuous supply of oxygen to sustain a fire. Where are those essential ingredients to be found inside a tractor tire filled 75+% with fluid?

Regarding tire rubber, the tire manufacturers have not seemed to issue any warnings despite the common use of WWF in tires for many years.

 

[DanD78]

I have had Rim Guard in all 4 tires on my 3320 for over a year with no leaks or slippage.

Dan

 

[Hematite]

Are you aware that you have methanol in your car windshield washer fluid reservoir right next to a hot engine? Has it ever caught fire? Ever heard of a windshield washer fluid fire? Ever heard of a tractor tire fire due to methanol?

IMO this fire/WWF hype is BS. Pure methanol is flammable but mixed with water it does not seem to be a real world problem at all. Yes, it has a flammability warning on it with regard to open flame but it is hardly a high risk solvent. You need presumably more than just a spark to start a fire with WWF and also need a continuous supply of oxygen to sustain a fire. Where are those essential ingredients to be found inside a tractor tire filled 75+% with fluid?

Regarding tire rubber, the tire manufacturers have not seemed to issue any warnings despite the common use of WWF in tires for many years.

Before you respond in a patronizing manner that has NOTHING to do with what I said maybe YOU should reread what I actually said. Did I say that water mixed with Methanol is flammable? NO! Did I say that WWF is flammable? NO! Did I say that Methanol is flammable? NO, although it is! I SAID IT WAS VOLATILE! Volatile as in evaporates quickly. Dictionaries are your friend, use them instead of misunderstanding what people say. Volatile fluids are solvents, among other things, which is something that I wouldn't put in a tire. I DON'T really care what you put in a tire or do otherwise!

Why would a tire manufacturer issue a warning not to ruin their tires? If you ruin the tire you have to buy a new one. Tire manufacturers sell tires not warnings, they're not stupid, they're in business to make money!

 

[Charolais]

Before you respond in a patronizing manner that has NOTHING to do with what I said maybe YOU should reread what I actually said. Did I say that water mixed with Methanol is flammable? NO! Did I say that WWF is flammable? NO! Did I say that Methanol is flammable? NO, although it is! I SAID IT WAS VOLATILE! Volatile as in evaporates quickly. Dictionaries are your friend, use them instead of misunderstanding what people say. Volatile fluids are solvents, among other things, which is something that I wouldn't put in a tire. I DON'T really care what you put in a tire or do otherwise!

Why would a tire manufacturer issue a warning not to ruin their tires? If you ruin the tire you have to buy a new one. Tire manufacturers sell tires not warnings, they're not stupid, they're in business to make money!

I've seen this Methanol issue come up over the years and I think this is the first time I've posted to it. I also must say I've laughed every time I've seen it posted too. I can't figure out why folks have a fear of Methanol mixed with water in a tractor tire. This was tobacco country where I live and every tractor had this mix for ballast. Thousands of tractors I might add. I can drive around and show folks tires that have been on tractors since the late 70's with Methanol in them. I sold a 1968 (bought brand new by me) Farmall 140 to a neighbor and it just had new rear tires put on 2 years ago and the old tires had Methanol. BTW they were Friestone tires on it" new" too. I've seen tires with methanol burst from wear in the field and it didn't kill any plants of tobacco. Had one changed in my hay field because of a deer antler rip and it didn't kill any grass. You'll find other sources of ballast that are heavier but for the cost and safety issues you can't beat Methanol mixed with water for ballast. Bought a new Agrofarm 100 last Nov. and the first thing I put in the deal was for the dealer to add Methanol ballast to each tubeless tire but only went 40% fill on the tires because they are radials. Wanted some extra weight without a harsh ride.

I'd hate to have to drive from my home and find a wet tire ballast that didn't have methanol in it. Might have to travel several hundred miles to find something other than methanol. It works and it works safe. Cheap ballast. I'm 58 years old and been farming all my life and never had any problem with methanol. So now I say I've done it and those that have a fear tell me you've done it and the problems you've had. LOL LOL Not trying to pick on you but you always see folks post about something is snake oil or it's a bad product and most have never tried it. Have a good day.

 

[IslandTractor]

Before you respond in a patronizing manner that has NOTHING to do with what I said maybe YOU should reread what I actually said. Did I say that water mixed with Methanol is flammable? NO! Did I say that WWF is flammable? NO! Did I say that Methanol is flammable? NO, although it is! I SAID IT WAS VOLATILE! Volatile as in evaporates quickly. Dictionaries are your friend, use them instead of misunderstanding what people say. Volatile fluids are solvents, among other things, which is something that I wouldn't put in a tire. I DON'T really care what you put in a tire or do otherwise!

Why would a tire manufacturer issue a warning not to ruin their tires? If you ruin the tire you have to buy a new one. Tire manufacturers sell tires not warnings, they're not stupid, they're in business to make money!

My apologies. You are correct. It was the post before yours and a few earlier ones that talked about flammability.

Still, volatility is not much of an issue in a closed system either. Do methanol/water mix tires freeze after the third year because the methanol has evaporated?

Theoretical concerns should be balanced with empiric data. There is a ton of experience strongly suggesting that methanol/water mixture is safe, long lasting and does not cause damage to tires. It is one of the cheaper and easier mixes to add in the field and is generally non toxic to plant or wildlife in the amounts likely to leak from a tractor tire.

I think you are wrong about tire manufacturers and methanol. If methanol was known to weaken tires and they did not inform you as such there would be a herd of personal injury lawyers filing lawsuits against them.

 

[Hematite]

My apologies. You are correct. It was the post before yours and a few earlier ones that talked about flammability.

Still, volatility is not much of an issue in a closed system either. Do methanol/water mix tires freeze after the third year because the methanol has evaporated?

Theoretical concerns should be balanced with empiric data. There is a ton of experience strongly suggesting that methanol/water mixture is safe, long lasting and does not cause damage to tires. It is one of the cheaper and easier mixes to add in the field and is generally non toxic to plant or wildlife in the amounts likely to leak from a tractor tire.

I think you are wrong about tire manufacturers and methanol. If methanol was known to weaken tires and they did not inform you as such there would be a herd of personal injury lawyers filing lawsuits against them.

Thanks for your reply. I was mostly concerned with damage to the the tire. The previous post to yours pretty well sets my concern aside. I'd say that with that many years of Methanol mix use in a tire, as reported by Charolais, that the Methanol mix idea is a proven safe concept. Good to know, can always learn something new.
Have a good day everyone!:thumbsup: