Experimental densities, rho, and speeds of sound, u, have been measured at (293.15-303.15) K for the systems methanol, 1-butanol or 1-decanol + 3,6,9-trioxaundecane using a vibrating-tube densimeter and sound analyzer Anton Paar model DSA-5000. These values were used to calculate excess molar volumes, V-m(E), excess adiabatic compressibilities, kappa(E)(S), and excess speeds of sound, u(E). Data available in the literature on excess molar enthalpies, H-m(E), and on excess molar isobaric heat capacities, C-p,m(E), of 1-alkanol + linear polyether mixtures indicate that: (i) interactions are mainly of dipolar type, particularly for solutions with longer 1-alkanols; (ii) the ability of the ether to break the alcohol self-association increases with the number of CH2CH2O groups in the oxaalkane. The enthalpies of the alcohol-ether interactions, Delta H-OH O, have been determined. In mixtures with a given polyether, Delta H-OH O increases with the alcohol size. For 1-alkanol + CH3O(CH2CH2O)(n)CH3 systems, Delta H-OH O decreases for increased n values. Alcohol-ether interactions are stronger in mixtures with linear polyethers than in those with monoethers. V-m(E) data show the existence of free volume effects in solutions including methanol or ethanol. These effects become more important for large n values, which is supported by values of (partial derivative V-m(E)/partial derivative T)(P). The Flory model has been used to investigate orientational effects in the systems under study. It is shown that orientational effects are relevant in mixtures with methanol or ethanol, and that the behaviour of the remaining systems is close to that of random mixing. Solutions with 3,6-dioxaoctane slightly differ from this trend and are characterized by weak orientational effects. We have also applied the Flory model to 1-alkanol + PEG-250, or +PEG-350 mixtures, which behave similarly to those including linear polyethers. Orientational effects are much stronger in 1-alkanol + linear monoether systems, and are roughly independent of the mixture components. Results obtained in this work are consistent with those obtained previously when applying the Kirkwood-Buff formalism. (c) 2012 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.