Hi there!

I'm a (total) beginner looking for some advice about using ethanol in a nitro engine. So a little background info:

There's a group project I'm doing where we test the efficiency we can get out of various methods of propulsion in an RC car. So my task is to look into using biofuels for the experiment.

This of course includes standard methanol, but I'm quite interested in using ethanol as well. I intend on using a 2-stroke nitro RC engine with 0% nitro, 15-18% Klotz Benol castor oil and ethanol. However, my biggest concern is whether or not the glow plug can remain hot enough with ethanol. What do you guys think? Are there any other major things I need to be concerned about??

If it helps:
- The engine won't be running at full throttle (or at least for very long)
- The engine will likely be running for a somewhat prolonged period of time (although if we design the experiment in a different way, it will be running for a very short period for each reading)
- There will be no long term use of the engine


Excuse my lack of knowledge and any responses are greatly appreciated

Thanks, PotatoPatato

I don't think it will run at all with ethanol particularly with 0% nitromethane.

let us know what you find.

Alright, will do - should be interesting.

Do you think using a really hot plug will help?

I think some guys tried it with a hot plug, and had to leave the battery hooked up. They may have been using the E85 which uses 15% gasoline. A turbo plug head has a better seal and may help out a bit if you have a lathe and the right tools. It is your project , but as said, keep us posted as it is always interesting to try different things.

You may want to pick up and try an OS G-5 plug.

They are hot and made for their gaspoline fueled glow engines iirc.