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poor mans glow fuel - 1/1/2003 11:03:26 AM   
nose_dragger


 

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will rubbing alcohol mixed with some castor oil and maybee a tad of either run in a glow engine,,

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poor mans glow fuel - 1/1/2003 12:17:06 PM   
CaptKAOS



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Check with a tire shop that services large equipment....you can buy 5 gallon cans of methanol.....They use it in heavy equipment tires instead of water for weight......

Mix in some castor and/or synthetic oil......and go flying.....

Due to the fact that methanol collects water.....be sure that you put it in sealed gallon jugs as soon as it is mixed......

Happy flying.....

my $.02375 worth


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poor mans glow fuel - 1/1/2003 6:52:22 PM   
Ross Kean



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I don't know whether this a function of different practices in different places, but in this part of the world, windshield washer antifreeze contains methanol and water, not isopropanol (much lower freezing point). Gasline antifreeze (here) is mostly methanol - you would never add water since that is what you are trying to eliminate. (Methanol is a good co-solvent)

Rubbing alcohol (here) is principally isopropanol (70%) and water.

On the topic of denaturents, they are added to ethanol to prevent their use for consumption and the reasons (as pointed out) relate mostly to taxes. Ethanol is a useful industrial chemical/solvent, but something has to be added so people won't substitute it for the taxed stuff. Denaturents may include bittering agents, methanol, phenolphthalein, hydrocarbon mixtures etc., depending on the application.

All I have to say on the subject!

Ross

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poor mans glow fuel - 1/2/2003 12:00:21 AM   
Sport_Pilot



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[QUOTE]Originally posted by Ikaros

Rubbing alcohol wich is essentially ethanol, normally mixed with 5% methanol and "bitrex" (making it undrinkable), can be used as fuel for glow engines if top performance is not needed.

Cheers,
Ikaros
[/QUOTE]

You got everyone of them wrong! Why would an alcohol used to rub into wounds be 5% poison! Russ Kean has it right, read his post above for the correct contents.

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alcohol XXX - 1/2/2003 1:22:36 AM   
tinker-RCU


 

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i might as well jump in. i make my own corn XXX. out of a 5 gallon run the first quart is meth that i throw away. if i run a double thumper i can get 180 proof 1st shot out of the still. my point being you can run your own from much of what your talking about and get what your after.
BY THE WAY I DRINK MINE.......AND I HAVE LOST A LITTLE CHROME ONCE OR TWICE.

TINKER


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poor mans glow fuel - 1/2/2003 1:06:56 PM   
Ikaros


 

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Sport_Pilot,
Everyone

You are right,

I guess I mixed up "Rubbing-Alcohol" with that kind we use here as general-purpouse alcohol (so called technical alcohol).

However, both are denaturated ethanol.

The 5% methanol content does not make it dangerous in fact, its too small concentration (intentionally).

It is enough to make you ill but it wont damage body permanently.

If you drink it, the regular alcohol blocks the liver from burning methanol.


Cheers,
Ikaros

PS

Tinker you naughty boy!

DS

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XXX - 1/3/2003 12:33:10 AM   
tinker-RCU


 

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remember all if you want to cook your own, it is very flammable.
XXX turns to vapor [steam] at 183 degrees, below that your getting garbage, like meth. at 220 you get water. whats best is
between 185 and 200. after it has been run you want to run it thru de-activated charcoal to remove fusil oil which is nasty.

tinker


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poor mans glow fuel - 1/3/2003 3:24:16 AM   
volksman


 

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tinker why ya throw the first gal out of five away its meth its fuel.
or do ya do your flying without a prop???????????????

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XXX - 1/3/2003 3:46:35 AM   
tinker-RCU


 

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i buy my fuel. i drink my still stuff. corn, sugar, yeast and love.
i'm 68 yrs old, and a full scale pilot, untill i broke my neck. i wouldn't make fuel for a 260 Comanche[spelling] doesn't look right....lol, i certainly wouldn't cook or crash a hard bought engine or airplane. i think it's a great idea to find out how clever folks can be though.

tinker


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RE: poor mans glow fuel - 9/24/2003 11:10:06 PM   
SpaceCase



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I checked with our air port I can get bp-2380 and mobil jet 2 oils used, draind out of turbine choopers. Seems they get 300-500 hours befor they change oil. They say the change because of contaminates not degridation of oil. My question is, if you strain it out can you use this for mixing your fuel. This being free would greatly reduce the coast of fuel to the point where it makes it worth while.

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RE: poor mans glow fuel - 9/25/2003 4:29:48 AM   
Sport_Pilot



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That doesn't make sense. If the oil is still good then they wouldn't be changing it. The engine filter would strain out any metal or dirt in the oil.

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RE: poor mans glow fuel - 9/25/2003 7:30:44 AM   
downunder



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It's been so long since I worked on them now that I've forgotten the details but every so often (50 hours comes to mind) a sample of oil is taken from the engine and sent off for a SOAP test (Spectrometric Oil Analysis Program). The results go on a chart for each engine which shows a gradual rise each time for the amount (and type) of metal contaminants. If there's a sudden rise then something is wearing out faster than it should. The particular elements found help to pin point the likely location. This test is so sensitive that special tools are needed when opening the can as any torn metal from the can will contaminate the oil. The filters used are rather good (an understatement ) so any contamination is down almost to the molecular size.

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RE: poor mans glow fuel - 9/25/2003 12:59:20 PM   
Sport_Pilot



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Well, duh, if the contaminants are too small for filtering then the oil is used up!

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RE: poor mans glow fuel - 9/25/2003 3:25:03 PM   
SpaceCase



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Where talking "mil" spec vs. "r/c" spec. If this oil might not be good for them on a no oil consuming turbine, would it be ok to use in the 2 cycle prosses. Arnt these contaminates just carbons, microscopic amounts of metal (wear), and so small anyway they would just pass through the carb of a four stroke, no prob. Well the valves and all that too!

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RE: poor mans glow fuel - 9/26/2003 1:51:06 AM   
rsieminski



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Although I've never used it, many on this forum have used them for years. The particles must be too small to be abrasive to the cylinder and piston. I don't really understand how solids in the oil could not wear the engine faster?

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RE: poor mans glow fuel - 9/27/2003 7:17:36 AM   
Volfy



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As long as the particles suspended in the oil is no larger than thickness of the thin film of oil the lubricate bearing surfaces and cylinder walls, then the particles are not "seen" by the wearing surfaces. No wear will occur.

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