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RE: Home-brewing fuel - 3/12/2006 1:24:56 AM   
sopwith


 

Posts: 28
Joined: 3/12/2006
From: Canon City, CO, USA
Status: offline 		I have recently begun to mix my own fuel with great success. Now I pay about $5.00 per gallon rather than $15+. The only thing I need to know now is what can I mix with the fuel to make it more visible? It is hard to see in the fuel lines since it is clear. Does anyone know of a good ingredient to add color?

Thanks

Sopwith

(in reply to volare)
       Post #: 251

RE: Home-brewing fuel - 3/12/2006 1:33:19 AM   
sopwith


 

Posts: 28
Joined: 3/12/2006
From: Canon City, CO, USA
Status: offline 		I've just started mixing my own fuel with great success. Now I just need to add color so I can see it in the fuel lines. Do you know of any ingredient that will add some color?

Thanks

Sopwith@mesanetworks.net

(in reply to downunder-RCU)
       Post #: 252

RE: Home-brewing fuel - 3/12/2006 1:56:02 AM   
Fuelman


 

Posts: 980
Joined: 12/31/2001
From: Jordan, NY, USA
Status: offline 		A couple drops of food coloring will do just fine and not harm anything.


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Cooper Fuels LLC

(in reply to sopwith)
       Post #: 253

RE: Home-brewing fuel - 3/12/2006 2:32:39 AM   
sopwith


 

Posts: 28
Joined: 3/12/2006
From: Canon City, CO, USA
Status: offline 		I have been using water to replace some of the oil in the fuel that I mix to reduce the cost and mess. I have been using 10 percent "Morgan fuels Heavy Gold 4 stroke oil" with 5 or 10 percent water. I have good operation, cleanliness, needle valve response, and no overheating problems. I suspect there will be no detremental effects in the long run, but only time will tell. I figure that since the latent heat of vaporization of water is so high, it will be a far better coolant than the oil is with just conduction cooling. Has anyone tried this? I have identical or better power as when I use 20 percent oil, but the engine and plane are much cleaner. I also seem to have fewer dead sticks, can run the engine leaner, and the needle valve sensitivity is less.
I have been using these mixes for a few weeks, so haven't fried any engines yet. After a few months when summer arrives the story may change.


Sopwith

(in reply to volare)
       Post #: 254

RE: Home-brewing fuel - 3/21/2006 7:57:34 AM   
spacecase25


 

Posts: 104
Joined: 2/25/2006
From: sandy, UT, USA
Status: offline 		any suggestions on topic for off road nitro use

(in reply to sopwith)
       Post #: 255

RE: Home-brewing fuel - 3/23/2006 7:03:28 AM   
Dil



Posts: 517
Joined: 10/27/2004
From: Colombo, SRI LANKA
Status: offline 		i play with nitro trucks, on my tnx, its the stock engine, i run about 7-8 % nitro, it works great,
i use degummed castor and synthetic blend of 20% and the rest methanol!! the oil i use is the castor 927(degummed castor and synthetic blend) its a racing oil should be avaliable at the hobby shops

u can hardly tell any difference from the 30%nitro fuels, it idles great as well, and good power!!

< Message edited by Dil -- 3/23/2006 1:10:54 PM >

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(in reply to spacecase25)
       Post #: 256

RE: Home-brewing fuel - 4/23/2006 2:16:16 PM   
Arebeck



Posts: 112
Joined: 11/13/2002
From: Newark, DE, USA
Status: offline
quote:

ORIGINAL: Sport_Pilot

AntiFreeze, in all its versions is also and alcohol. Acetone is also and alcohol. Infact any hydrocarbon with an attached oxygen molecule is and alcohol.

Post 245

Some misinformation here.

Yes. No. No.

Alcohol is a molecule that has a -OH group. Methanol has one carbon (C) , four hydrogens(H) and one oxygen - arranged like this CH3-OH. It is useful as a fuel in our engines because of its high vapor pressure. The liquid does not burn- it is the vapors that will combust. As you increase the molecular weight of the alcohols methanol, ethanol, the propanols - your vapor pressure will decrease at a given temperature.

Ethylene glycol(antifreeze) has two OH functionalities and will not be useful as a fuel - very low vapor pressure.

Acetone in not an alcohol, it is a ketone - but has a higher vapor pressure than methanol - it will combust in our engines.

Antifreeze is typically ethylene glycol.

For a hydrocarbon to be an alcohol the OH function needs to be there. There can also be ketone's and aldehyde's- each contains oxygen but are not alcohols.

< Message edited by Arebeck -- 4/23/2006 2:19:12 PM >

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(in reply to Sport_Pilot)
       Post #: 257

RE: Home-brewing fuel - 5/2/2006 4:34:42 PM   
REFODGE


 

Posts: 12
Joined: 3/24/2005
From: BENTON, MO, USA
Status: offline 		HI too everyone.I have some questions for yal.I am mixing my fuel like this.128oz. plus 20% Subtract 128 from the total. The amount left is divided by two.I then round this off too the next whole number.I come up with 26oz.I use half castor and klotz.Is my formula okay??For 20% mix??Next I checked prices oil.9dollars plus,Too 8 dollars plus.For Klotz.Castor around 26 dollars a gallon. Alky 3.75 a gallon.I live about half way beteen St Louis,and Memphis.Can anyone tell where I can get these item cheaper??Address phone numbers of said places.I would be very gratefull for any help.Thankyou,
Ronald.

(in reply to Arebeck)
       Post #: 258

RE: Home-brewing fuel - 5/2/2006 5:37:36 PM   
Jim Thomerson



Posts: 2720
Joined: 10/9/2002
From: Austin, TX, USA
Status: offline 		I don't understand your figurin'. 20% of 128 is 25.6, rounds off to 26. So whatever you did worked this time. . I live in Texas, but I buy my Sig Champion 10% nitro 20% oil 50/50 at Schaffers in St . Louis. If you buy by the case you'll get a little price break. I make a once a year trip to the St. Louis area to visit. It's a little closer for you.

(in reply to REFODGE)
       Post #: 259

RE: Home-brewing fuel - 5/2/2006 11:56:35 PM   
REFODGE


 

Posts: 12
Joined: 3/24/2005
From: BENTON, MO, USA
Status: offline 		Jim,
thank you.I dont want any nitro.

(in reply to Jim Thomerson)
       Post #: 260

RE: Home-brewing fuel - 5/7/2006 6:25:52 PM   
sopwith


 

Posts: 28
Joined: 3/12/2006
From: Canon City, CO, USA
Status: offline 		I would like to know what engines run well on 0% Nitro fuel (.40 to .75 size). I have some that run well and others that don't . My experience is the Thunder Tiger Pro .46 runs great, the OS FX series not at all, the OS LA runs poorly, Older OS engines run decently, Magnum 4 stroke .51 runs well, K&B .61 Twister runs well. I only use homemade 0% nitro fuel now so will sell the poor running engines and buy some that run well.
Any experience you have on the subject would be appreciated.

(in reply to Dave Harmon)
       Post #: 261

RE: Home-brewing fuel - 5/7/2006 7:06:56 PM   
XJet


 

Posts: 2997
Joined: 3/31/2003
From: Tokoroa, NEW ZEALAND
Status: offline 		Supertigre engines run quite well on 0% and (as you've already found) so do Thunder Tiger engines.

Most 4-strokes (apart from the Laser engines out of the UK) prefer at least 10%.

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(in reply to sopwith)
       Post #: 262

RE: Home-brewing fuel - 5/7/2006 7:29:46 PM   
Campgems


 

Posts: 1283
Joined: 2/18/2006
From: Arroyo Grande, CA, USA
Status: offline 		Has anyone used the hardware store alcohol for fuel? I've used it for cooking fuel when I had my sailboat, and I use it for lapidary and jewelry work. It seems to be very clean burning and no soot or if left to evaporate, no residue.

I need to mix a small batch of fuel, a quart or so for breaking in a new 4 stroke. and it seems all the hobby shops around here are focused on 1, cars 2, helo's, and 3, electric power. Glow airplane engines, fuel, even balsa is hard if not impossible to find.

Don


(in reply to 1705493-AndyW)
       Post #: 263

RE: Home-brewing fuel - 5/10/2006 12:06:27 PM   
tasdevilmick


 

Posts: 25
Joined: 10/23/2005
From: Launceston, AUSTRALIA
Status: offline 		G'day
another Aussie here .Nitro ok I've used name brand fuel and recognise the the name nitro but what is it realy? above i have read the term alky and eather ect can some one please use the full names so I know what I'm looking for to make my own .I have just purchased 2 saito 180 engines and as they are 4 stroke and there is no comercially available 4 stroke fuel here I HAVE to mix my own.
I have got 20 lt of methonol cost Aus $45:00 Called into local BP servo (Service station/petrol station) and asked them to get the distributor to send us out a 20lt drum of the stuff and wallah next day was here.
So what else do I need ?
Thanks
Mick
Tassie Australia (the island down under Down Under)

(in reply to Dave Harmon)
       Post #: 264

RE: Home-brewing fuel - 5/10/2006 12:24:20 PM   
DesertHucker



Posts: 280
Joined: 9/23/2004
From: BoulderWest Australia, AUSTRALIA
Status: offline 		Tates hobbys will send the oil you need http://www.tates.com.au
Nitro is a little harder to get since most frieght services will not touch it.
Is there drag strip in tassie? if so there will be a performance drag shop some were that will sell nitro. Thats were i get it in perth from a performance shop.
Try to go to a caltex depo not a servo for your methanole should get it a little cheaper or again the performance shop may have it in 200lt drums that they will normaly sell it to you by the ltr if you take your own container or find a speedway freak they run methanol and get it in bulk drums.

I run saitos and normal model fuel works well in them 10%nitro 20%oil 70%methanol iwill run any were from 10%nitro to 30%nitro in my saito.
no need for special blends it just works out cheaper to mix your own.
quote:

ORIGINAL: tasdevilmick

G'day
another Aussie here .Nitro ok I've used name brand fuel and recognise the the name nitro but what is it realy? above i have read the term alky and eather ect can some one please use the full names so I know what I'm looking for to make my own .I have just purchased 2 saito 180 engines and as they are 4 stroke and there is no comercially available 4 stroke fuel here I HAVE to mix my own.
I have got 20 lt of methonol cost Aus $45:00 Called into local BP servo (Service station/petrol station) and asked them to get the distributor to send us out a 20lt drum of the stuff and wallah next day was here.
So what else do I need ?
Thanks
Mick
Tassie Australia (the island down under Down Under)



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www.gam.asn.au

(in reply to tasdevilmick)
       Post #: 265

RE: Home-brewing fuel - 5/10/2006 4:00:21 PM