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Home brew dye - 5/1/2007 4:56:47 AM   
Durian


 

Posts: 88
Joined: 3/4/2003
From: , NEW ZEALAND
Status: offline 		I started mixing my own fuel to save on $
Have been given a drum of methanol and got me some castor oil.
Been mixing to 20% oil in the fuel

The question is, I want to make the fuel show up in the tank, like premix fuel
Can I use food dye ?

Thanks
       Post #: 1

RE: Home brew dye - 5/1/2007 1:44:54 PM   
Sport_Pilot



Posts: 7277
Joined: 1/21/2002
From: Acworth, GA, USA
Status: offline 		I think food dye has water in it, though I doubt it has enough to make a differance.

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       Post #: 2

RE: Home brew dye - 5/2/2007 12:40:38 AM   
Durian


 

Posts: 88
Joined: 3/4/2003
From: , NEW ZEALAND
Status: offline 		Oh did not thought of that.
They must be using some kind of dye to make those colours

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       Post #: 3

RE: Home brew dye - 5/2/2007 12:57:15 AM   
brewski


 

Posts: 216
Joined: 5/29/2006
From: , TN, USA
Status: offline 		Some speed shops have synthetic that is different colors. A local shop that I am buying from offered oil for methanol in various colors. I just don't know if his oil is okay for rc engines. Do you guys have a good source for synthetic oil?

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RE: Home brew dye - 5/2/2007 5:00:40 AM   
XJet


 

Posts: 3009
Joined: 3/31/2003
From: Tokoroa, NEW ZEALAND
Status: offline 		I've used food coloring for years, it has no perceptable effect on engine performance.

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RE: Home brew dye - 5/2/2007 6:28:25 AM   
Durian


 

Posts: 88
Joined: 3/4/2003
From: , NEW ZEALAND
Status: offline 		brewski

Yes have access to synthetic oil, are they normally coloured ?
I was using straight 80-20 methanol-castor, and have not bought any synthetic before

xjet

Can you tell me how much do you normally use ?
Like just dump the stuff in until the colour looks about right ?
Do the stuff like colour the side of the plane or car permanent ?

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       Post #: 6

RE: Home brew dye - 5/2/2007 10:44:49 AM   
XJet


 

Posts: 3009
Joined: 3/31/2003
From: Tokoroa, NEW ZEALAND
Status: offline 		It usually only takes a few drops (4-10) per gallon, especially if you're using that dark read immitation cochineal color -- it's wicked strong!

One thing to watch though is that most of the food dyes will get bleached by sunlight so if you leave your fuel-jug in the sun, the color will fade. But then again, the same thing happens with most commercial fuels anyway.

I've never noticed any staining when using food coloring in my fuel.

< Message edited by XJet -- 5/2/2007 10:45:18 AM >

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RE: Home brew dye - 5/2/2007 6:57:28 PM   
Jezmo



Posts: 657
Joined: 6/26/2006
From: Spring, TX, USA
Status: offline 		After using red food coloring in my home brew for a couple of months I took my engine apart to see how it was wearing with the home made fuel. The inside of the engine had just a slight red tint to it. I have also noticed that after using CoolPower green fuel the inside of the case was slightly green. I have never noticed any staining outside of the engine.

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RE: Home brew dye - 5/3/2007 9:05:59 AM   
Durian


 

Posts: 88
Joined: 3/4/2003
From: , NEW ZEALAND
Status: offline 		Thanks Xjet

Went to supermarket and got a bottle, and had a go at it and boy it sure looks like the pre mix stuff.
I put one drop into 1 litre and it still comes out when I mix up to 4 litres.

Jexmo
Thans for the info, tinting inside the engine does not bother me, all I am concern about is stains on the side of plane and truck.
Oh I spill some on the concrete and it did not stain that, I suppose that as a food dye, it should not stain anything, maybe the insides stomach. :-)

Thanks you for help

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       Post #: 9

RE: Home brew dye - 5/17/2007 3:00:11 PM   
Fuelman


 

Posts: 980
Joined: 12/31/2001
From: Jordan, NY, USA
Status: offline 		food dye will work just fine, they are either alcohol, glycol or water based. None of them will offer up any problems used in the quantities needed to tint fuel.


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       Post #: 10

RE: Home brew dye - 5/22/2007 3:15:27 AM   
biggy_boie


 

Posts: 14
Joined: 9/22/2005
From: barrie, ON, CANADA
Status: offline 		where do you get the methonal and do y ou need to a nirto it may sound dump but i have no clue on how to do this and it sounds like i could save some cash like this

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RE: Home brew dye - 5/22/2007 6:28:56 PM   
jetpack



Posts: 1393
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From: Portage, IN, USA
Status: offline 		biggy,

Just look for threads here in the fuel forum under home brew or methanol, nitro, oil...thats what this whole topic section at RCU is about

Methanol in small quantities can be bought as HEET gas line dryer...but look for motorcycle or race kart shops. Alky and oils can be found there, but you'll probably have to order Nitro from someone.

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       Post #: 12

RE: Home brew dye - 5/22/2007 8:18:35 PM   
Sport_Pilot



Posts: 7277
Joined: 1/21/2002
From: Acworth, GA, USA
Status: offline 		Do a yellow page serch for VP racing fuel. If no distributer in your area then search for their website.

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RE: Home brew dye - 5/22/2007 9:45:41 PM   
biggy_boie


 

Posts: 14
Joined: 9/22/2005
From: barrie, ON, CANADA
Status: offline 		thank you very much for the great help

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RE: Home brew dye - 5/22/2007 10:22:22 PM   
jetpack



Posts: 1393
Joined: 10/2/2002
From: Portage, IN, USA
Status: offline 		About your question concerning adding nitro...here's the deal on that...the answer is no, you dont have to...but a small amount helps with idle and throttle transitions. You can save money by simply using 80% methanol and 20% oil (usually castor oil, or a mix of synthetic and castor to keep things cleaner) and use less head clearance by removing the shim that's under it. There's fine points to all this that I have said though, so study up a little and you'll see its not that hard to do.

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       Post #: 15

RE: Home brew dye - 6/2/2007 10:37:25 AM   
Durian


 

Posts: 88
Joined: 3/4/2003
From: , NEW ZEALAND
Status: offline 		biggy_boie

When I was in Canada, I usually just buy the RC fuel at LHS, less hassle that way
But down here in New Zealand, rc fuel is not exactly cheap, hence worth the hassle.

Methanol is pretty cheap here, apparently we have a plant churning out these stuff in Taranaki.
But they not easy to get because of shipping due to dangerous goods transport.

I been getting them from a friend who is running methanol racing cars.
Nitro methane is another problem, so I just avoid it all together

If I am you, I would just buy them at LHS.

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RE: Home brew dye - 6/3/2007 9:06:33 AM   
XJet


 

Posts: 3009
Joined: 3/31/2003
From: Tokoroa, NEW ZEALAND
Status: offline 		Durian, how much are you paying for your methanol?

Our best price in recent months has been around $1.98 per litre.

As for nitro, you can buy it cheap/easily from USA Specialty Products in New Plymouth. They charge $85 for four litres of Nitro including courier delivery and (from memory) about $25 for 1 litre.

I believe they also stock Klotz oil (Super Techniplate is $59 for 4ltrs including courier delivery).

Give Gary a ring there, tell him Bruce Simpson sent you :-)

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