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Rc Fuel Faq - 9/5/2002 12:57:42 AM   
RadioJets


 

Posts: 37
Joined: 7/18/2002
Status: offline 		Fuelman, What do u think about adding acetone to methanol to keep water out ?

RadioJets

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       Post #: 26

Rc Fuel Faq - 9/5/2002 2:28:54 AM   
Fuelman


 

Posts: 980
Joined: 12/31/2001
From: Jordan, NY, USA
Status: offline 		I will try to research that one a bit, however I believe that Acetone is hygroscopic (absorbs water from ambient atmosphere) like methanol. If in fact my beliefs are correct, it would probably not serve the purpose of reducing the water absorption affect of methanol.

I realize that many home brewers use it as a flame speed modifier to help idle with low or zero nitro fuels, and to some extent it works just fine in low percentages for that purpose.

Fuelman


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Fuelman
Cooper Fuels LLC

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       Post #: 27

Acetone - 9/5/2002 1:54:31 PM   
DerFly



Posts: 227
Joined: 3/11/2002
From: sydney, AUSTRALIA
Status: offline 		Hi Fuelman,

A very commonly used fuel ingredient in Australia is "Shell Racing Fuel A". This is 97% Methanol and 3% Acetone, comes in 20 litre drums. The other common ingredient is "Castrol M", castor oil which comes in 5 litre jugs. As you can imagine, mixing FAI fuel doesn't come any easier or painlessly than this. You would of course be right that it isn't really FAI fuel because of the acetone in it!

Anyway, I have been using this fuel for years and am happy with it. Sure, the power is not as high as with nitro fuels but idle is always good. I attribute this to the acetone in the mix. Your insights into this would be appreciated.

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       Post #: 28

GETTING WATER OUT OF FUEL - 10/21/2002 6:22:35 PM   
jettstarblue



Posts: 3199
Joined: 10/5/2002
From: Ashtabula county, OH, USA
Status: offline 		The way to get water out of your fuel is simple;
a.) set the CLOSED jug out in the sun or warm area until it is completely warm.
b.) Bring the fuel into a cool area, and after the condensation forms on the flat part of the top of the jug, use a J shaped wire with a guaze or cotton swab to remove the droplets- just be careful not to bump the jug or you have to start all over again!


Jetts

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       Post #: 29

Rc Fuel Faq - 10/22/2002 6:21:22 AM   
Fuelman


 

Posts: 980
Joined: 12/31/2001
From: Jordan, NY, USA
Status: offline 		DerFly,
Acetone will help idle and transition a bit in small quantities (3%) when using zero nitro fuels. I have used it on the bench to test theories and yes it does just what I mentioned. As far as top end performance, no difference was noted.
When you add acetone to a nitro based fuel, I could not notice any change in idle or transition, so I essentially call it a needless addition, in fuel with 5% nitro or greater.


Jetstarblue,
The little droplets you see are condensated methanol, not water.
This has been a common miscoception about the "sweat" in the bottle being water. I can fill a jug half full of pure methanol (with a nitrogen blanket) and get the same small dropletts forming on the upper part of the bottle. Water will not evaporate out of methanol, methanol evaporates out of water.

Still, as I have mentioned many times, and I'm sure every other fuel manufacturer will agree; The best way to get water out of fuel is to prevent it from getting in there in the first place. Tightly capped, in a cool dry dark place is your best bet. Only open it enough to get fuel transfered.


Fuelman


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Fuelman
Cooper Fuels LLC

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       Post #: 30

Water in fuel - 10/22/2002 7:54:37 PM   
jettstarblue



Posts: 3199
Joined: 10/5/2002
From: Ashtabula county, OH, USA
Status: offline 		Fuelman,

WOW,!
Thanks for the info- I am a firm believer that you CAN teach old dogs new tricks!- And you just did.
I guess that I have been spending way to much time "maintaining" my fuel!!
I always leave the red plug in the bottle when I put the cap on, and even go so far as to close the bottle between squeeze bulbs of fuel. After 15 years in the hobby, I am going out TODAY to get a fuel pump. My bulb is shot anyhow.
Once again thanks for the insight.

Jetts

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       Post #: 31

Rc Fuel Faq - 10/22/2002 10:31:22 PM   
Fuelman


 

Posts: 980
Joined: 12/31/2001
From: Jordan, NY, USA
Status: offline 		Remember that even with a pump system, you need to maintain an excellent seal on the jug where the fittings go through the cap and at the refueling ends of the hose.


Fuelman


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Fuelman
Cooper Fuels LLC

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       Post #: 32

Fuel Pump - 10/22/2002 10:34:03 PM   
jettstarblue



Posts: 3199
Joined: 10/5/2002
From: Ashtabula county, OH, USA
Status: offline 		ROGER THAT, FUELMAN- OVER AND OUT.

Jetts

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       Post #: 33

4 Stroke Fuel Additive. - 11/20/2002 11:48:07 AM   
Pepe J



Posts: 511
Joined: 10/7/2002
From: Canada, BC, CANADA
Status: offline 		Hey Fuelman,

Can you use an automotive fuel additive like STP, Pennzoil etc, to help control carbon build-up on valves in four stroke engines? I know the majority of them contain petroleum distillates which may not blend well with glow fuel . How about a synthetic of some sort if one is available? Thanks.

Pat.

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       Post #: 34

Rc Fuel Faq - 11/21/2002 9:49:07 AM   
Fuelman


 

Posts: 980
Joined: 12/31/2001
From: Jordan, NY, USA
Status: offline 		Pepe,
To the best of my knowledge, at this time, none of the additives that are commonaly available for the automotive world will do what you are looking for. I assume you intend it to be an additive to the fuel you are currently using. The best cure is to prevent it altogether in the first place.

Nothing that we have tested in the automotive market will remove castor varnish or carbon deposits when added to a glow fuel. That is not to say that nothing exists, we just know that nothing we've tried that's currently on the market works.


On the bright side, in four strokes, carbon reduction can be reduced by running a low castor formula fuel or an all synthetic fuel. Through extensive testing of four stroke engines and ringed engines, we found that a fuel containing 18% synthetic and 2% castor did not produce a carbon build up on the valves or ring. Discoloration yes, build up- NO. One engine was run on the bench for at least half of the 1000, 12oz tanks. No carbon build up, only a slight discoloration from castor varnish was present. The ring was free and clear with a marvelous seal, bearings were clean and smooth and corrosion free. Results were the same with an all synthetic, only no castor varnish was present. These tests were with engines correctly tuned and not intentionally abused.
Fuel tested in four strokes with 16% synthetic and 4% castor had a slightly greater varnish but other than that, the valves and ring were free and clear without any deposit formations that would inhibit proper operation.

I hope this helps shed at least a little light on your question.



Fuelman


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Fuelman
Cooper Fuels LLC

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Fuel Additives - 11/21/2002 12:05:14 PM   
Pepe J



Posts: 511
Joined: 10/7/2002
From: Canada, BC, CANADA
Status: offline 		Lights are on HIGH BEAM. Thanks Fuelman. The fuel I'm using is 15% nitro, 20% oil (75% syn. 25% cas.) which I also use in my 2 strokes just for convenience. I like the idea of Castor in glow fuel and don't mind tearing my engines down every couple of season's to deal with it's negative effects.
Thanks again.

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       Post #: 36

Rc Fuel Faq - 12/5/2002 11:40:17 AM   
Torque'n


 

Posts: 59
Joined: 8/21/2002
Status: offline 		Fuelman is providing some great information about our fuels. The best thing he does in his information is backup. Sounds like a real engineer if you ask me. Keep up the good work Fuelman.
Garrett Morrison

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       Post #: 37

Rc Fuel Faq - 1/15/2003 3:00:00 AM   
awaddle322


 

Posts: 1
Joined: 1/15/2003
From: nashville, tn
Status: offline 		fuelman,
I believe the reason for coiling fuel lines has to do when cars ar up side down and have the clunk hard mounted to the bottom of the tank. the extra fuel line gives you extra time to get the car turn right side up before it runs out of fuel. coiling it is just a neat way of arrainging it.
Allen Waddle

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       Post #: 38

Rc Fuel Faq - 1/15/2003 5:58:37 AM   
Fuelman


 

Posts: 980
Joined: 12/31/2001
From: Jordan, NY, USA
Status: offline 		Allen,
Yes, coiling the fuel feed line on an R/C car/ buggy is to help avoid a flameout due to starvation when flipped.
Coiling the pressure line from the muffler or pipe is what the above posts are refering to. In the muffler pressure side, I found no conclusive evidence to a benefit.
If you know of any conclusive evidence to a benefit, please post so we can all gain from the knowledge.
Excellent post Allen, thank you for visiting the forum.


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Fuelman
Cooper Fuels LLC

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Rc Fuel Faq - 1/15/2003 11:31:22 AM   
ArayRC


 

Posts: 85
Joined: 10/3/2002
From: Cape Ann, MA, USA
Status: offline 		Fuelman:

78% Methonal, 14.5% Klotz, 7.5% Castor with no nitro is what I use. I find if I use anymore castor oil... it gums up the engine. My goal is to use as much castor as possible to help cool the engine, but not to much to gum up the engine.

What do you think about this?

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       Post #: 40

Rc Fuel Faq - 2/7/2003 5:00:21 AM   
uagrad90


 

Posts: 31
Joined: 2/3/2003
From: Hartselle, Alabama
Status: offline 		Fuelman, I sent you a Pm but not sure how often you check those so I thought I would ask you here just in case. If I were to run a fuel with 17 to 18% oil (Cast/Syn Mix) in a .12 CV-R would I be better off using 15% Nitro or 25% Nitro. I am racing but I do not wont nor have the budget to rebuild 2 or 3 times a year.

Thanks for your input

Guy

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