Can old glow fuel still be used?  
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Can old glow fuel still be used? - 6/18/2007 10:21:44 PM   
Kmot



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Joined: 6/11/2003
From: Northridge, CA, USA
Status: offline 		This question seems to pop up frequently. I have wondered about it myself.

Well, I just happen to have some fuel stored in my garage, that has been in there since I moved into this house 11 years ago. And IIRC, the fuel is actually from 1984 which was when I stopped doing r/c for a very long hiatus. I didn't get back into r/c again till 2001 and purchased new fuel. I cannot even remember what brand of fuel I have in there, but most likely it is Powermaster.

So, in the spirit of this forever endless question I am going to do something about it. I am going to document on video and still photography opening up that box of stored fuel (I think I know where it is!). We will all see together what it looks like, what brand it is, etc. Then I will fill the tank on my engine stand and try to run a model airplane engine with it. All on video.

Might be interesting, and might answer some questions. Stay tuned.........

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RE: Can old glow fuel still be used? - 6/18/2007 10:24:34 PM   
Kmot



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Joined: 6/11/2003
From: Northridge, CA, USA
Status: offline 		Here is the box of old fuel, I estimate most likely 20+ years.

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RE: Can old glow fuel still be used? - 6/18/2007 10:26:15 PM   
Kmot



Posts: 7745
Joined: 6/11/2003
From: Northridge, CA, USA
Status: offline 		Here is the first video documenting this test.

Part I:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ETlJCpSaL8s

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RE: Can old glow fuel still be used? - 6/18/2007 10:47:26 PM   
Kmot



Posts: 7745
Joined: 6/11/2003
From: Northridge, CA, USA
Status: offline 		Here is video #2, opening the box of old fuel:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GyqjwXQJTvo

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RE: Can old glow fuel still be used? - 6/18/2007 11:30:07 PM   
RussianFlyer



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Joined: 12/15/2001
From: New Orleans, LA, USA
Status: offline 		The old fuel might be good enough to run, but its likely that you won't have reliable performance. I've just come back to the hobby after a 6 year break and opened up a brand new jug of fuel I had living under my bed the entire time. My engines run just fine on it, but it was still factory sealed and all the while kept at room temperature and out of sunlight. Looking at the jugs you unpacked, they don't seem to have been sealed as well as I feel is necessary for fuel to retain its qualities (ie not suck up water). Hope to see the engine test videos

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RE: Can old glow fuel still be used? - 6/18/2007 11:32:13 PM   
Kmot



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Status: offline 		Well, we will all find out soon enough.

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RE: Can old glow fuel still be used? - 6/19/2007 12:05:50 AM   
Flyboy Dave



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From: San Bernardino County, CA, USA
Status: offline 		If it's still pink, and smells good....it's probably OK.

If it's brown, and smells bad....it probably is bad.

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RE: Can old glow fuel still be used? - 6/19/2007 2:31:11 AM   
Kmot



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Status: offline 		Dave, are you talking about glow fuel or something else?

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RE: Can old glow fuel still be used? - 6/19/2007 3:15:46 AM   
Hircflyer



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Status: offline 		Old fuel makes a GREAT weed killer!

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RE: Can old glow fuel still be used? - 6/19/2007 3:26:55 AM   
Kmot



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Status: offline 		Weeds? Who has weeds?

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RE: Can old glow fuel still be used? - 6/19/2007 3:30:15 AM   
Flyboy Dave



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quote:

ORIGINAL: Kmot

Dave, are you talking about glow fuel or something else?


....well, I was talking about fuel....but now that you mention it.......ROFLMAO


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< Message edited by Flyboy Dave -- 6/19/2007 3:40:02 AM >

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RE: Can old glow fuel still be used? - 6/19/2007 3:58:41 AM   
w8ye



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From: Taylortown, OH, USA
Status: online 		When I was in the southeast, we would pour it on the fire ant mounds.

I used up all my old fuel running engines on the bench. Would have to keep the glow heat on.

It can be very unreliable up in the air.

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RE: Can old glow fuel still be used? - 6/19/2007 5:18:07 AM   
Kmot



Posts: 7745
Joined: 6/11/2003
From: Northridge, CA, USA
Status: offline 		I have been thinking about this deal. I have dusted off a few cobwebs out of my old brain bucket and come to the memory banks that reminded me I had built a nitro powered hovercraft in 1990. So, I must clarify my estimated time frame for this fuel. It may be as fresh as 1990 manufacture. Although I doubt it. But just to be on the up and up.....

As for reliability? Well if it runs reliably on your test stand on the ground, why would it be any different when flying the model? Isn't that why we test and tune on a bench?

Hey, maybe I can pour this old stuff into the tank of my '97 Ram. My truck has been stalling out lately. Yesterday it stalled on me 5 times coming home from Sepulveda Basin, a 5 mile drive. I think my fuel pump is going out. Maybe this ol' witches brew will clean out the fuel pump!

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RE: Can old glow fuel still be used? - 6/19/2007 7:55:15 AM   
DarZeelon



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Status: offline 		Tom,


In theory, old model glow-fuel can be good for very long periods, perhaps even several decades.

When stored in a sealed container and not exposed to the elements, or to sun-light, the components of glow-fuel will not chemically combine, decompose, break-down, rot, form mold, or deteriorate in another manner.

I emphasize the sealed container, since methanol is hygroscopic and will absorb moisture out of the air.
This will not change the color of the fuel, but the engine will run badly on it, if it does run, that is.

In a metal container, with a sealed metal cap, its shelf-life is nearly indefinite.

Plastic containers vary, and some may allow a limited osmosis of some of their components, through their seemingly sealed walls.
This is said to be the reason for some these 'sealed' containers, to become somewhat oily in storage.


If a fuel jug has become 'sweaty', its contents is probably better used as a herbicide...

If not, it should be good enough to use in a model engine.

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RE: Can old glow fuel still be used? - 6/19/2007 8:42:03 AM