Fuel purchase
 

Hey,

I have a chance to buy a mix batch of 5 gallons of fuel for $20 off of the local Craigs List. I call the guy and he said 4 jugs have not even been open yet, but they are around 4-5 years old. Should I go for it?

I'm currently using Omega 15%.

This is the lot.

2- Cool Power 5%, 1- Morgans 12-1/2%, 2- Omega 10% and 15%.

RE: Fuel purchase
 

If you consider the cost of your plane , fuel is probably not a good place to cut corners. You could be fine buying it and then again you could spend your next day at the feild wrenching on a plane that just won`t stay running or get a dead stick at the wrong moment.

I say you got a 50/50 chance of it being O.K

RE: Fuel purchase
 

I would assume if the fuel was stored in the proper manner it would be O.K., but take note to the word I used ASSUME since I do not know any facts about this.

I am also old school I guess because I see where some people use two or three types of fuel for the same plane/engine because one may be cheaper today than the last brand they bought last time. Myself I think once you start using a brand and nitro% you should stay with it if it is working good for you.

RE: Fuel purchase
 

brianengy,
One thing to keep in mind is shipping it to you. UPS, Fed Ex, and USPS have to charge a $20/case handling charge above the normal shipping when shipping fuels. So make sure you know how much it's going to cost you to have it shipped to you before you make any deal

Ken

RE: Fuel purchase
 

yah, it will be ok, i ran 10 year old fuel in my trianer and spad it ran well. i started by putting a small percentage in my tank of old fuel then put good fuel in the rest of the tank after each flight i would put more old fuel and less good (new fuel)in the tank and once i was at 100% old fuel, it ran as well as the good fuel.

dave trimmer

RE: Fuel purchase
 

I got several gals of omega at an auction this winter, and it`s pretty old . Works great for breaking in new engines , and runs them with no problems.
But I can guarantee you . the minute I try flying with it, Murphy will show up. seems that dang guys always looking over my shoulder.
Kens right, Hazmat fee,s are spendy.

RE: Fuel purchase
 

They only live 3 miles from where I work. From what I understand, nitro only goes bad if exposed to sunlight, air and extreme heat. I talked to him and he said it wasn't expose to any of the above.

RE: Fuel purchase
 

i took a little over 4 yr break from flying after my daughter was born, when i got back into flying the gallon that had been opened previously (only had about 8oz out of the jug) flamed out constantly but the unopened jugs were fine, flew perfectly. all were Cool Power 30% heli fuel. all stored in my 'junk room' that has ambient sunlight and gets fairly warm during the summer months.

kc

RE: Fuel purchase
 

I have unopened fuel that is going on 5 years old. I just opened a jug this spring and the fuel is fine, HOWEVER, my fuel has been stored in the basement. The temperature ranges from 40 in the winter to about 60 in the summer and the basement is dark.

The major question you should be asking yourself is: What percentage fuel do I USUALLY run ? Most people run 10% or 15% for sport flying. Very few people run 5% nitro (at least where I fly in Connecticut).

If you are presently using 10% nitro you will see the following changes:

With 15% nitro - little noticable change in performance. MAYBE a slight increase in power/performance.

With 5% nitro - A distinct, noticable change in performance (less power/performance).
Retuning the engine AND a different glow plug MAY bring the performance back up somewhat close to what you now have.

If you remove the head gasket you will not see any difference in power from 10% (possibly a slight increase ).

Be VERY CAUTIOUS about removing the head gasket. Make triple sure you are going to have adequate clearance on the head, glow plug and piston. If you are planning to do this with a 4 stroke, DON'T (you will have major damage ).

RE: Fuel purchase
 

An AMA member was recently severely burned when a model fuel can exploded as it was being opened. He received very severe burns, requiring extensive grafting, and is facing a long recovery period.

The metal can he was trying to open had been in storage for over 20 years. There is no evidence of an external spark or ignition source other than the container itself. Consultation with experts in the field indicates that materials, such as ether, propylene oxide and nitro methane, commonly used in model fuels may become destabilized and shock sensitive over a period of time. As best we can determine, this fuel, whose composition included two of these substances, was in a state of change. It is probable that this change in combination with the heat generated by the friction (metal to metal) in trying to open the container initiated the explosion.

AMA advises that it would be unwise to open fuel containing these products that have been stored for some period of time in metal containers. Such fuel should be taken to a Hazardous Waste disposal facility. (Any fuel stored for over 5 years would be suspect).

RE: Fuel purchase
 

that was Nitro, not Nitro-methanol (glow fuel), and it's potential for explosion is regardless of age, it's shock sensitive.

kc

EDIT: see below for reasoning for correction....

RE: Fuel purchase
 

the 'nitro' that we burn is nitromethane. its just that nitro is so much easier to write.


http://www2.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin...?&I=LXGHB3&P=0

a link to some fuel sold at tower. notice how they describe it.

RE: Fuel purchase
 

It's in plastic jugs.

RE: Fuel purchase
 

Send all of your old fuel to me for disposal. Oh Yeah, and give it a friggin BREAK!! Glow fuel tuns into an explosive? Riiiight....

Thanks for the warning.

RE: Fuel purchase
 

Well I think the easy way to get a correct answer would be to ask the maker of the fuel. Here's what Morgan Fuel has to say ;

What is the shelf life of the fuel?

Unopened and stored in ideal conditions (between 60-80 degrees) it will remain usable for several (5-7) years. As the fuel begins to degrade it will increasingly lack the punch of new fuel. Really the only way to tell if the fuel is good is to run it. If it idles well and the transition is good on the ground, use it. You might notice a little less "bark" in a fuel that has been stored for several years but it won't hurt the engine.

RE: Fuel purchase
 

COME ON!!!


Yes, I'm sure the makers of model TOY AIRPLANE fuel have waited 20 years and tested the contents of these cans. The reports of instability and explosions are posted on their websites and publicized in their weekly newsletters.

OF COURSE the people who make these toy fuels can afford to pay the TOP chemists, biochemists and corrosion experts on the planet for their expertise in developing these formulas which have barely changed since the 50's.

Don't you think it's possible that this is a farce, a troll, or even a joke? And if not, could it be possible that the genius who bothered to open a 20 year old fuel can may have forgotten what was actually in it?


Perhaps we have only just begun to explore the possibilities of properly aged castor and alcohol mixed with nitromethane.

To hell with the studies of Physics and Chemistry...WE HEARD A STORY!!


What a joke. Here's an idea...go fly!!

RE: Fuel purchase
 

sorry my spell checker changed my nitromethonol to Nitromethane in the previous statement, thought it was only changing the capitalization. our fuel is a mixture of nitro and methanol, when mixed with the methanol the nitro is whats called 'sensitized' and is no longer has an explosive characteristic.

kc

RE: Fuel purchase
 

well thats true. can you imagine if your jug of 15% had habit of exploding. It would sure change the scope of the hobby.

RE: Fuel purchase
 

For twenty dollars. I hope you have already picked it up. Mix the two gallons of 5% with the two gallons of 10% and 15% it'll be a little less than 10%. the 12 1/2 percent i think was some kind of heli fuel blend. I tried a gallon of that once that someone gave me and did'nt like it. But the other four gallons i think you'd be a fool for not buying it. five bucks a gallon!!!!!!!!!!! your not going to beat that price anywhere.
As for the old fuel can exploding i read about that myself. It had to be at least five years ago, heck maybe even longer than that.
Now i do expect a thread later this year saying just how good your engine runs on this five dollar a gallon fuel. I've got fuel in my basement and garage older than that. Still works perfectly.
Run fast to get this fuel and don't waste time in front of this screen. Heck it's almost worth it for me to drive there for that price.

Dennis