Glycol in Boiler

[steamboatmodel]

In an article in Model Boats the author says " have now steamed Alexandra a number of times using Glynn Guest's idea of putting 5% glycol into the boiler water to get a more visible steam effect on hot days. This works wonders and as Glycol contains a rust inhibitor and is also a lubricant, I think it can't do any harm (please see Model Boats March 2008 for his 'Hints and Tips' piece)."
I have never tried or heard of this before, has anyone else tried this, does it have any ill effects?
Regards,
Gerald

 

[Bernd]

Well Gerald, if you drink it you die. So inhaling the steam can't be to good for you.

Bernd

 

[Maryak]

I've never heard of it before, (there are lots of things I've never heard of), but I would be reluctant to use it until I understood its' interaction with the chemicals normally used in boiler water treatment.

Best Regards
Bob

 

[Kermit]

I'm almost 100% certain this is refering to ethylene glycol (AKA - Antifreeze)

They nasty green stuff in your car radiator, although its chemical cousins, methyl etc. have the same uses, ethyl is the chem of choice for some reason I never caught.

Sleeping through class again,
Kermit