Denatured alcohol as fuel
04-11-2008, 12:16 PM
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Denatured alcohol as fuel
Hello all,
Has anyone tried Denatured alcohol in the glow engine?
I like to make my own custome made fuel and want to know anyone tried this before.
Thanks
Borna
Has anyone tried Denatured alcohol in the glow engine?
I like to make my own custome made fuel and want to know anyone tried this before.
Thanks
Borna
04-11-2008, 01:59 PM
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RE: Denatured alcohol as fuel
Borna,
Since the introduction of the glow plug in 1947 people have been trying substitutes for the methanol in glow fuel, including all forms of alcohol. None work as well as methonol. The material in the glow plug acts as a catylist for the methanol.
If you wish to make your own fuel (as I do on occasion) you will need methanol, nitromethane and either castor oil or a proper synthetic. (Or a combination of both).
I expect a search would find many discussions of this topic. Should you wish to conduct your own experiments you are unlikely to harm your engine as long as your mix contains a proper amount of an oil that will mix with whatever you use.
jess
Since the introduction of the glow plug in 1947 people have been trying substitutes for the methanol in glow fuel, including all forms of alcohol. None work as well as methonol. The material in the glow plug acts as a catylist for the methanol.
If you wish to make your own fuel (as I do on occasion) you will need methanol, nitromethane and either castor oil or a proper synthetic. (Or a combination of both).
I expect a search would find many discussions of this topic. Should you wish to conduct your own experiments you are unlikely to harm your engine as long as your mix contains a proper amount of an oil that will mix with whatever you use.
jess
04-11-2008, 02:29 PM
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RE: Denatured alcohol as fuel
Borna, I just saw your Glow/Gas conversion on another thread. Beautiful work and great photographs!
Have you ever run any of the pre-glow era model engines? They are mostly bushing engines but run high oil content, tyoically 3 parts gasoline to 1 part 70 wt oil. All I am familiar with have manual spark advance. Your conversion is a whole new generation of technology!
jess
Have you ever run any of the pre-glow era model engines? They are mostly bushing engines but run high oil content, tyoically 3 parts gasoline to 1 part 70 wt oil. All I am familiar with have manual spark advance. Your conversion is a whole new generation of technology!
jess
04-11-2008, 03:04 PM
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RE: Denatured alcohol as fuel
Well maybe I should have been more descriptive. I converted a glow engine to Gas with spark ignition system. See the link below
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/m_61...tm.htm#6165393
I have 2 problems, I don’t like the smell of the gas and I have small problem with the Walbro carb. I’m using in it right now.
Therefore I want to change from Walbro carb to the original Carb that came with the engine and run it on alcohol with very low oil. As you can see from the pictures, I have converted the bronze bushing to needle bearing so the low oil should not be an issue.
I like to use methanol vs denatured alcohol but the problem is I can’t find methanol in area of West Palm Beach, Florida.
Where do you usually find Methanol?
In my case since I’m using spark ignition, does it matter if I use Methanol or denatured alcohol from local hardware store?
Thanks
Borna
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/m_61...tm.htm#6165393
I have 2 problems, I don’t like the smell of the gas and I have small problem with the Walbro carb. I’m using in it right now.
Therefore I want to change from Walbro carb to the original Carb that came with the engine and run it on alcohol with very low oil. As you can see from the pictures, I have converted the bronze bushing to needle bearing so the low oil should not be an issue.
I like to use methanol vs denatured alcohol but the problem is I can’t find methanol in area of West Palm Beach, Florida.
Where do you usually find Methanol?
In my case since I’m using spark ignition, does it matter if I use Methanol or denatured alcohol from local hardware store?
Thanks
Borna
04-11-2008, 03:15 PM
#6
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RE: Denatured alcohol as fuel
You might want to find a contents list on your denatured alcohol. One I saw some years back included sulphuric acid. On the other hand it may be denatured with methanol and nothing more. 
04-11-2008, 04:37 PM
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RE: Denatured alcohol as fuel
ORIGINAL: borna
Well maybe I should have been more descriptive. I converted a glow engine to Gas with spark ignition system. See the link below
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/m_61...tm.htm#6165393
I have 2 problems, I don’t like the smell of the gas and I have small problem with the Walbro carb. I’m using in it right now.
Therefore I want to change from Walbro carb to the original Carb that came with the engine and run it on alcohol with very low oil. As you can see from the pictures, I have converted the bronze bushing to needle bearing so the low oil should not be an issue.
I like to use methanol vs denatured alcohol but the problem is I can’t find methanol in area of West Palm Beach, Florida.
Where do you usually find Methanol?
In my case since I’m using spark ignition, does it matter if I use Methanol or denatured alcohol from local hardware store?
Thanks
Borna
Well maybe I should have been more descriptive. I converted a glow engine to Gas with spark ignition system. See the link below
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/m_61...tm.htm#6165393
I have 2 problems, I don’t like the smell of the gas and I have small problem with the Walbro carb. I’m using in it right now.
Therefore I want to change from Walbro carb to the original Carb that came with the engine and run it on alcohol with very low oil. As you can see from the pictures, I have converted the bronze bushing to needle bearing so the low oil should not be an issue.
I like to use methanol vs denatured alcohol but the problem is I can’t find methanol in area of West Palm Beach, Florida.
Where do you usually find Methanol?
In my case since I’m using spark ignition, does it matter if I use Methanol or denatured alcohol from local hardware store?
Thanks
Borna
Ashland Chemical Inc Subsidiary Of Ashland Oil Inc
200 Ne 181 St, West Palm Beach, FL
(800) 432-8980
The company I work for used to buy methanol from Ashland Chemical, and that location should be close by. Perhaps you could pick up 5 gallons? I doubt they would sell less than 5 gallons.
04-11-2008, 10:33 PM
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RE: Denatured alcohol as fuel
If you solder a tube on the metering diaphragm and run a line into you fuselage you find the engine runs better. With it facing the air stream the metering diaphragm is going crazy with the air pressure changes
Can’t help you with the gas smell
Can’t help you with the gas smell
