Home-brewing fuel (Full Version)

All Forums >> [Glow Engines, Gas Engines, Fuel & Mfg Support Forums] >> RC Fuels



Message

volare -> Home-brewing fuel (7/18/2002 4:33:21 AM)

Do any of you guys do this? How much does it cost you per gallon and how difficult is it to get a good mix?



downunder-RCU -> Home-brewing fuel (7/18/2002 2:09:47 PM)

Been doing it for the last 40+ years. It's way cheaper than buying from the shops and a bonus is you know exactly what's in your fuel :)
As a rough guide it'll end up costing about half what you'd pay in the LHS. Mixing is dead easy...just work out what proportions you want, pour them all in together and give it a good shake. It's even easier and cheaper for me because I don't bother with nitro.



rslstft -> Home-brewing fuel (7/19/2002 9:34:10 AM)

Guess my answer won't do you any good but the costs for me is very minumal. I work for a race team that uses nitro and alcohol, to the only cost to me is buying Klots oils. I use their Super Lubriplate for any fuel less than 20% and the all synthetic for anything I mix over 20%. Never had any engine problems and some of my motors are WELL used and have lots of flights on them. I down loaded a Excel spreadsheet from somewhere that you can plug in the percentages of oil and nitro you want and total amount of fuel you are mixing and it will figure what amount of each to add. Good luck



jaka -> Home-brewing fuel (7/20/2002 12:26:31 AM)

Hello!
Done it for 27 years!
Its sooo easy ! Just get a 1 liter jar and mix in methanol, nitro and oil to what ever % you want!
Here in Europe nearly everyone has converted to syntetic oils.
Most use 10-15% oil!!
Nobody uses castor oil anymore!! ( I use it in pylonracing but only because the rules says so)
The oil mostly used here in Europe is sold by Graupner and is called "Aerosynt 2 " and "Aerosave".
The French Motul racing brand is also making there own glowfuel called "Micro"....which I use. I garantie that you will be stunned of how well these oils work ...no more carbon buid up and better trottlerespons and....longer engine life!!
Motul oil could be found in bike shops all around the world!
Try it ...

Regards!
Jan Karlsson
Sweden



Sense963 -> fuel mix (7/20/2002 10:35:20 PM)

Ok...this info is great, but where do you find the nitro, etc...I think this is a great idea that I'd love to try. What about the antifoaming agents and the other "secret ingredients" the companies use....?



300sflyer -> Home-brewing fuel (7/23/2002 10:06:57 PM)

I have 26 quarts of Klotz KL-100, 2 gallons of Nitro, and 2/3 of a drum of methanol if anyone is interested in it? $300.00 will take it all. Can deliver to Dayton Ohio labor day weekend.

Thanks
Mike



HighSierra -> Home-brewing fuel (7/24/2002 10:07:12 AM)

Where do you go to buy Nitro and Methanol????? How is it sold (ie. by the gallon etc)????



300sflyer -> Home-brewing fuel (7/24/2002 4:38:21 PM)

http://www.klotzlube.com/



jaka -> Home-brewing fuel (7/28/2002 12:05:31 AM)

Hallo!
The only ingredients we use in glowfuel is Methanol,oil (syntetic or castor) and nitro( nitro is not really necessary, but 5%-15% improves power and most importantly ...the idle)
Most sport engine ,both fourstrokes and twostrokes run good on this blend...
5% Nitro
75% Methanol
20% oil (castor or syntetic)
This is what I have used for 25% years in all my sport engines


In international pylonracing where we run 6,5cc (.40) engines at speeds up to 200 mph. We use
80% Methanol
20% castor oil.
This is an old blend that is used only in international pylonracing,
not that is good......better oil than castor oil is available today ,but because the rules says soo......!

In Europe today many flyers uses a blend like this....
15% syntetic oil ( Motul "Micro")
5-10% Nitro
75-80% Methanol


Regards!
Jan K
Sweden



Low Wing -> next (7/28/2002 7:42:40 AM)

:D just kidding...next



Dave Harmon -> Home-brewing fuel (7/30/2002 9:20:09 AM)

To High Sierra............nitro is sold in auto speed shops mostly for use in dragsters. That's where I get mine. They stock it in 55 gallon drums...bring your own jugs...but I get mine in sealed 5 gallon cans made by VP Fuels. I pay $26 in 5 gallon lots. Alky costs me $ 3 gallon and I use Klotz Heli Glow oil. I get 4 gallon cases of that oil for $100, mix a 24% oil, 30% nitro mix and use it in my YS 140-L and in my heli too.....works too good. They stock cases of KL-200 all synth oil for $48 a case....KL-100 too.
Optionally, you can add 1 oz Propolyene Oxide per gallon of mixed fuel for improved starting & idle. This stuff is commonly called 'igniters' in store bought fuel...but it's expensive so I'll bet most mfgrs don't use it anymore. I pay $8 a pint.
The shop I use stocks Klotz for the motorcycle & model guys, in addition, they will order the Heli Glow if asked.
Dave



fiery -> home brews (8/1/2002 12:12:02 PM)

Done it all my modelling life. Never bought pre mix (well, a jug of powermaster once in 1997, I was not overly impressed)

If you haven't give it a go. I store methanol and ether in my basement. I'm still alive. Heck, you've got gas in you car's tank ...

At least my containers are steel and rated for the use I put them to ... and sealed.

Methanol costs me $1.50 Australian a gallon. I fill a 20 litre container at a time. Nitro, well, $100 Australian a gallon (4.8 litres). That's why we don't use high %'s of it over here as a rule.

I use none or 5% in my 2's, and 10% of it in my 4's.

My 4 mix:

16% Klotz KL-200

4% Racing Castor

10% Nitro

70% Methanol

Best fuel money can buy ;)


fiery



GalenB -> Home-brewing fuel (8/2/2002 1:32:04 AM)

Does anyone have a spread sheet or other formula for mixing your fuel?



winglift -> Home-brewing fuel (8/22/2002 9:24:53 AM)

I too am very interested in this subject. I have methanol and castrol, but do yet have any nitro or synthetic. I have not had any luck getting a source for the nitro yet.

My question is the calculation used to determine the percentage.
Lets say you want 2% castrol, 18% synthetic, 10% nitro, and the rest 70% methanol. How do you actually calculate the quantities say for a gallon? The 70% methanol is not a gallon but only 70% of a gallon which means that 10% nitro would be something less than 10% of a gallon, etcetera? :confused:



DrV -> Home-brewing fuel (8/22/2002 10:36:06 AM)

I've never mixed fuel before but as I understand it you do the calculations by volume. In your case, by a gallon.

Well 1 gallon approximately = 130oz

2% of 130 = 2.6oz (castor oil)

18% of 130 = 23.4oz (synthetic oil)

10% of 130 = 13oz (nitro)

70% of 130 = 91oz (Methanol)


Add 2.6 + 23.4 + 13 + 91 = 130oz = 1Gallon

At least this is how I understand it. If I'm wrong someone correct me please.

Mike



winglift -> Home-brewing fuel (8/22/2002 11:11:17 AM)

Mike
I am not sure if the result will actually be accurate since in effect you are replacing part of the main ingredient methanol with the castrol, synthetic, and nitro which means that, using your measurements, the 13 oz of nitro is being combined with only 91 oz of methanol which is about 14% instead of 10%. :confused: etcetera.



DrV -> Home-brewing fuel (8/22/2002 11:28:53 AM)

You are correct in a sense that adding 13oz of nitro to 91oz of methanol will yield 14% nitro content. But my calculation yields 10% nitro content for a total of 1 Gallon liquid where 90% of the gallon comprises from 2 different oils and methanol.

My understanding (and I may be wrong) was that % of nitro content in our fuels means what part (in this case 10%) of the total Gallon content is nitro. You are saying that the percentage of nitro content in 1 Gallon only takes methanol in consideration and not the oils.

Like I said, I've never done this before and I was merely calculating the amount of each ingredient for a total volume of 1 Gallon.

Hopefully someone will step in and shine a light on the issue.

Mike



Ed Smith -> Home-brewing fuel (8/22/2002 5:15:04 PM)

I do know quite what winglift is saying. However the % of Nitro in a fuel is stated as a % of the total ingredients

So if you have 130ozs of fuel made up of oils, Alcohol and Nitro and the nitro quantity is 13 ozs you have 10% nitro fuel.

Ed S



downunder-RCU -> Home-brewing fuel (8/23/2002 7:37:13 AM)

Now this is where using metrics makes things so much easier :)
Say you want to mix 1 litre (about 2 pints) of fuel with 12% nitro, 18% oil and 3% acetone. Now 1 litre is 1000cc so go from there.

120cc nitro
180cc oil
30cc acetone
Top up with methanol to make 1 litre
Shake.......

If you want to make 4 litres (slightly over a US gallon) then just multiply the figures by 4.



RadioJets -> Home-brewing fuel (8/23/2002 1:07:53 PM)

downumber,

Do u need to shake fuel every time u use it?



DerFly -> Home-brewing fuel (8/23/2002 2:40:06 PM)

stirred with a lemon twist is usually OK too!



Ed Smith -> Home-brewing fuel (8/23/2002 5:26:29 PM)

I prefer mine stirred not shaken.

Ed s



Capgains -> Is there really a savings??? (9/3/2002 10:06:44 AM)

I have been reading this thread, and the idea of making my own fuel sounds great... but is there any real savings, or are you getting the assurance of knowing just what is in the fuel.

One of the earlier posts says that there is a huge savings between what he makes it for compared to the local hobby shop.

After looking at several racing fuel companies on the Internet, and klotz lubricants, if I were to buy large quantities of each component, it still averages to $14.00 per gallon for 15% nitro, and 18% synthetic lube. I can buy a gallon of Byron fuel for around $12 from our local dealer. Am I missing something?

I noticed that the post came from a flyer in Australia. Is fuel really expensive there, and the components are cheaper as well?

Just curious, I want to know if I am looking in the right places for supplies.


Dan



js3 -> where? (9/3/2002 7:06:59 PM)

This is an interesting thread. I would like to brew my own fuel (hey, I've brewed my own beer so why not?) but I cannot find the ingredients around town. Well, I have sources for the oil, but I do not know where to find methanol or nitro. I've called several motorcycle shops and they do not sell methanol; they cannot even refer me to a place that does. I've heard and read that I should look for my "local speed shop". I do not know of a "speed" shop in my area. Would someone please give me a heading in the yellow pages of where to look?

Thanks very much



Dave Harmon -> Where? (9/3/2002 9:10:25 PM)

John....every drag racer uses nitro by the drum. Sprint and Midget car racers use methanol alcohol. Call around to high performance parts dealers and ask where you might find this stuff in your area. They are there....but you have to search them out. I buy 5 gallons of nitro at a time and I pay about $27 gal in 5 gal quantity. Alky is about $3 gal. When you find the right place, enquire about ordering Klotz by the case. Klotz KL-200 costs me $48 for a 10 quart case...that's $19.20 gal. If you want the thin heli oil, Klotz has 'HeliGlow' oil available. I pay $100 in a 4 gallon case. I get all my stuff at one place here in Torrance. Using the above costs you can figure out how much per gallon your mixed fuel will cost and you can save some money, however, the main advantage is knowing that the fuel you mix will be exactly what you want and the ability to change it at any time is enjoyable as well as knowing the quality and content are the best.
Dave

I forgot to mention that the above prices I pay are much lower than Klotz mentions on their internet site. As an example, Klotz list price for 'HeloGlow is about $34 gallon...I pay $25. If you want only one gallon of nitro...$40. Get more...the price goes down rapidly. Whatever you do, don't by Byron fuel....Lots of burned up motors using that brown sewer water.



Page: [1] 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10   next >   >>  

Valid CSS!




SITE MAP!   : :   FORUM RULES

© 2001 - 2007 24-7 RC, LLC, all rights reserved.
0.1719971