H5606

At times in the past I've encountered very pleasant smells from other's glow powered aircraft. It seems to only come from four stroke engines usually upon start up. I don't know if this is castor oil or some particular brand of fuel I'm smelling but is a very pleasant, cooked rather than burned smell. I'm using a four stroke powered airplane now but don't seem to ever encounter it in my own airplane. Perhaps my nose is desensitized due to using a different fuel, familiarity, or saturation of the senses.

I like glow smells regardless of type, however this is over and above all else - even burnt kerosene, avgas, and 1/2A fuel odors.

I heard one can add cologne/aftershave to a gallon of fuel to achieve a pleasant aroma; have you ever done this? What kind and how much have you added?

SC4life

I am with you H5606. I love the smell of glow fuel. I guess it goes back to my days as a kid starting my Cox control line plane in my bedroom. I wonder if the fuel you are smelling is Wildcat. They use Klotz synthetic oil in their mix. I have always used Klotz in my motocross bikes and jetskis for this very reason. Smells great!!

acdii

Wildcat has an aftershave type smell to it. I often notice it when running up a plane on the ground. I use nothing but Wildcat in my 4 strokes, it is the only one I found that lists oil content on the bottle, the other brands on the shelves don't. Maybe it is the Klotz that I smell. I did see on the shelf at Hobbytown perfumes for glow fueled cars. I gave it a fleeting thought, but then realized, only the birds would be smelling it.

H5606

I know I've never used Wildcat fuels before perhaps because I've either overlooked it, was afraid of it, or I use what is available at local hobby shops here in the mid-Atlantic region. Thanks for the advice.

acdii

It costs less than Cool Power, which is the other brand they stock, which is one that does not list the oil content on it. I think I get it for $18, and the CP is $20+.

blvdbuzzard

AHHH the smell of coffee and castor glow fuel in the morning. That brings back memories. Good ole K&B 1000 fuel had the best smell to it. Not like the synthetic fuels today. It was sweet and satisfying.


Buzz.

WhiteRook

My Feedback: (38)

its funny , but glow fuel does smell like coffee.

acdii

I drink a lot of coffee, and I never thought the GF smelled like coffee(good thing too I might drink it by mistake!).

hookedonrc

I bet it would really wake you up if you did.

Gray Beard

My Feedback: (-1)

I have always used Powermaster fuel but for the year they weren't making it I used Wildcat and it has a distinct order to it. Smells different then any other fuel I have used.

JollyPopper

My Feedback: (6)

One of the guys at our field swears it is the castor oil that provides the pleasant smell. He even puts a little castor oil in his riding mower and says it smells good.

acdii

Dont breath in too many of the castor exhaust fumes. You do know why the pilots of old wore scarves, right?

aspeed

Fox Missile Mist used to have some perfume in. I put some castor in my Virago motorcycle's gas tank when it was new to break it in. It smelled like my models.

Jetdesign

My Feedback: (8)

I would absolutely buy a glow fuel scented candle. The stuff smells great. I fly electric now but am grateful for that first whiff at every contest

I think the 'good stuff' might be castor oil based.