Hey all, I was going to post this in the GGL thread, but thought that it might conjest it with not so related info. Also, since it has been stated, that anything other than the proven mix is an experiment. So i figured that i would make a new thread about it. Anyone else doing this, please feel free to contribute.
I thought about posting this in the glow engine forum, but we all know what will happen I have had alot of "advice" against doing this, and some is just flat out rediculous! When i was trying to find a substitute for klotz oil locally, one guy said that i wont gain any power with methanol over gasoline, and gas and methanol wont mix and there is no oil that exists that will mix with both types of fuel. Im thinking that guy needs to find a new line of work! Anyways enough ranting, and back on topic...
I have tried working out glow fuels that can be cut with gas, but havent found a miracle fuel with just the right ratios, so i had to make my own. Since nitro is unavailable here unless i drive about 2 hours one way, thats out. I got a jug of gasoline, methyl hydrate from canadian tire, klotz oil from mail order hobby shop and after i mixed the fuel, acetone
I know from the other thread that we need roughly 1/3 methanol for plug to stay lit, and nitro helps with power/idle/transition, so i made a mix using regular gasoline (purple gas to be exact) methyl hydrate, oil (12% cause of the added viscosity of gasoline) and acetone as a substitute for nitro.
in my mix each consists of ( per 4 Litres)
480ml Klotz Super Techniplate (12%)
2200ml purple gasoline (55%)
1320ml methyl hydrate (33%)
It was a last minute decision to add the acetone, so I added 75ml to the overall mix which is about 2%. I know it changes the ratios a bit, but not too much to make a difference.
The next mix will be:
2125ml gasoline (premium only cause thats what is used in proven mix and to see the difference it makes) 53%
1320ml methyl hydrate 33%
480ml oil 12%
75ml acetone 2%

On the mix that i have now, it was very hard to start (cold, and a fairly new engine) and the needle was fairly touchy and had to be leaned a bunch from when it was on glow. It ran only at high rpm (didnt have time to tune it) and i wanted to get some more run time on it before i really try and tune it. It ran without glow power with an OS F plug (will try other plugs i have later). The low end is still slobbering rich (does this affect starting? ) and i havent touched it. It was so rich, that i couldnt really get it to idle very low at all.
On the high end, one or two clicks goes a long way, but with the methanol and acetone, i think it tames it down a bit. Run time was good at 20 mins on an 8oz tank. which translates to .4 oz/min (full throttle) I imagine that if i had throttled it like a normal flight, i could have easily made it last for 30 mins, cause in reality, i only cruise at 75% max and save full throttle for climbs, take off, and aerobatics.
From the results that i saw today, i think that this is an option to escape the high dollar glow fuel and crappy burn rates. there is also WAY LESS oil residue. Once i get this thing tuned, i will post a video of how it runs. I wont video tuning, but will record how it starts once it is tuned. There is no need for me to have foul language on camera, cause when i am having troubles with something, the F-bomb flies freely.
I hope that during the week, i get more time with this, so i can get it running real good in time for flying season.
Stay tuned!