RC Car/Plane Fuel Differences?
02-17-2009 | 12:07 AM
#1
Thread Starter
Member
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 45
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
From: Rupertswood, AUSTRALIA
RC Car/Plane Fuel Differences?
I Team,
Have searched around a fair bit for an answer to my question with limited success.
Recently I purchased 4 litres of new nitro/glow fuel for my OS 46LA plane engine, problem is after about 4 tanks full I noticed that the stuff I bought is actually for R/C Cars and Buggies - doh! The brand of fuel is called "Glow-Max CB" green in colour it contains 5% Nitro there is no other info on the bottle as to oil/methenol content etc. (I found out later that the correct stuff is "Glow-Max AC" blue in colour)
I have run 4 tanks through my engine (before realising it was incorrect type of fuel) and after about 8 - 10 minutes of flying the motor cuts out, sort of splutters then shuts down. I read somewhere of the net that the oil content of the car and buggy fuel is 8% not up around 18 -20% as required for a bushed 2 stroke engine? Could this be what is causing my engine to cut out i.e. overheating.
One other thing I have noticed there appears to be bubbles in the fuel inlet line to carb upon landing, have replaced all fuel lines and tested for leaks all seems well - could this fuel be foaming causing this? Does plane fuel have an anti foaming additive in it?
Also the engine seems fine and has plenty of compression but do you think I have done any damage to it, from my mistake?
Any comments / advise appreciated,
Cheers,
Sweetdudeplanes.
Have searched around a fair bit for an answer to my question with limited success.
Recently I purchased 4 litres of new nitro/glow fuel for my OS 46LA plane engine, problem is after about 4 tanks full I noticed that the stuff I bought is actually for R/C Cars and Buggies - doh! The brand of fuel is called "Glow-Max CB" green in colour it contains 5% Nitro there is no other info on the bottle as to oil/methenol content etc. (I found out later that the correct stuff is "Glow-Max AC" blue in colour)
I have run 4 tanks through my engine (before realising it was incorrect type of fuel) and after about 8 - 10 minutes of flying the motor cuts out, sort of splutters then shuts down. I read somewhere of the net that the oil content of the car and buggy fuel is 8% not up around 18 -20% as required for a bushed 2 stroke engine? Could this be what is causing my engine to cut out i.e. overheating.
One other thing I have noticed there appears to be bubbles in the fuel inlet line to carb upon landing, have replaced all fuel lines and tested for leaks all seems well - could this fuel be foaming causing this? Does plane fuel have an anti foaming additive in it?
Also the engine seems fine and has plenty of compression but do you think I have done any damage to it, from my mistake?
Any comments / advise appreciated,
Cheers,
Sweetdudeplanes.
02-17-2009 | 01:02 AM
#3
Senior Member
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 2,158
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
From: Burtchville,
MI
RE: RC Car/Plane Fuel Differences?
ORIGINAL: sweetdudeplanes
I Team,
Have searched around a fair bit for an answer to my question with limited success.
Recently I purchased 4 litres of new nitro/glow fuel for my OS 46LA plane engine, problem is after about 4 tanks full I noticed that the stuff I bought is actually for R/C Cars and Buggies - doh! The brand of fuel is called "Glow-Max CB" green in colour it contains 5% Nitro there is no other info on the bottle as to oil/methenol content etc. (I found out later that the correct stuff is "Glow-Max AC" blue in colour)
I have run 4 tanks through my engine (before realising it was incorrect type of fuel) and after about 8 - 10 minutes of flying the motor cuts out, sort of splutters then shuts down. I read somewhere of the net that the oil content of the car and buggy fuel is 8% not up around 18 -20% as required for a bushed 2 stroke engine? Could this be what is causing my engine to cut out i.e. overheating.
One other thing I have noticed there appears to be bubbles in the fuel inlet line to carb upon landing, have replaced all fuel lines and tested for leaks all seems well - could this fuel be foaming causing this? Does plane fuel have an anti foaming additive in it?
Also the engine seems fine and has plenty of compression but do you think I have done any damage to it, from my mistake?
Any comments / advise appreciated,
Cheers,
Sweetdudeplanes.
I Team,
Have searched around a fair bit for an answer to my question with limited success.
Recently I purchased 4 litres of new nitro/glow fuel for my OS 46LA plane engine, problem is after about 4 tanks full I noticed that the stuff I bought is actually for R/C Cars and Buggies - doh! The brand of fuel is called "Glow-Max CB" green in colour it contains 5% Nitro there is no other info on the bottle as to oil/methenol content etc. (I found out later that the correct stuff is "Glow-Max AC" blue in colour)
I have run 4 tanks through my engine (before realising it was incorrect type of fuel) and after about 8 - 10 minutes of flying the motor cuts out, sort of splutters then shuts down. I read somewhere of the net that the oil content of the car and buggy fuel is 8% not up around 18 -20% as required for a bushed 2 stroke engine? Could this be what is causing my engine to cut out i.e. overheating.
One other thing I have noticed there appears to be bubbles in the fuel inlet line to carb upon landing, have replaced all fuel lines and tested for leaks all seems well - could this fuel be foaming causing this? Does plane fuel have an anti foaming additive in it?
Also the engine seems fine and has plenty of compression but do you think I have done any damage to it, from my mistake?
Any comments / advise appreciated,
Cheers,
Sweetdudeplanes.
It's my worthless opinion that you should tun 18 - 20% oil regardless of application (Plane, boat, or car). 8% oil will deliver more methanol to the engine and in theory more power but possibly the car guys aren't worried about the frequncy with which they have to replace/repair their engines. It's primarily the piston, ring, and cylinder that enjoy heavy doses of oil. Roller, ball and needle bearings can be very happy on 8% oil. If I were you I would use the fuel after supplimeting the oil bringing it up to 20%. I doubt that there is any long term damage. Your fuel frothing could be due to vibration and foaming in the fuel tank. Try additional vibration insulation around your tank.
Bill
02-17-2009 | 07:03 AM
#4
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 4,865
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
From: Jacksonville, FL
RE: RC Car/Plane Fuel Differences?
I just recently started adding castor oil to my fuel as well.....
the big difference in car/buggy fuel and airplane fuel is the oil content...Omega 15% is something like 18% oil
oil serves 2 purposes lubrication of course but it also carries away heat.....to cool a model engine you either have to increase airflow over the engine, or richen the mixture...
When you tune the engine never set it for max RPM on the ground..instead richen the mixture 1/8 to a 1/4 turn to rich from max RPM as the engine will lean out in flight...
bubbles in the fuel lines means a leaner mixture as well...when you replaced the fuel lines did you replace the lines inside the tank?
Is the fuel tank isolated from the airframe with foam...this lessens vibration to the fuel....lastly the high end needle could be leaking a little...in that case a little heat shrink around the knob to stop a leak, but that would be the last thing to try
good luck
the big difference in car/buggy fuel and airplane fuel is the oil content...Omega 15% is something like 18% oil
oil serves 2 purposes lubrication of course but it also carries away heat.....to cool a model engine you either have to increase airflow over the engine, or richen the mixture...
When you tune the engine never set it for max RPM on the ground..instead richen the mixture 1/8 to a 1/4 turn to rich from max RPM as the engine will lean out in flight...
bubbles in the fuel lines means a leaner mixture as well...when you replaced the fuel lines did you replace the lines inside the tank?
Is the fuel tank isolated from the airframe with foam...this lessens vibration to the fuel....lastly the high end needle could be leaking a little...in that case a little heat shrink around the knob to stop a leak, but that would be the last thing to try
good luck
02-17-2009 | 09:16 AM
#5
Senior Member
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 2,158
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
From: Burtchville,
MI
RE: RC Car/Plane Fuel Differences?
ORIGINAL: jetmech05
I just recently started adding castor oil to my fuel as well.....
the big difference in car/buggy fuel and airplane fuel is the oil content...Omega 15% is something like 18% oil
oil serves 2 purposes lubrication of course but it also carries away heat.....to cool a model engine you either have to increase airflow over the engine, or richen the mixture...
When you tune the engine never set it for max RPM on the ground..instead richen the mixture 1/8 to a 1/4 turn to rich from max RPM as the engine will lean out in flight...
bubbles in the fuel lines means a leaner mixture as well...when you replaced the fuel lines did you replace the lines inside the tank?
Is the fuel tank isolated from the airframe with foam...this lessens vibration to the fuel....lastly the high end needle could be leaking a little...in that case a little heat shrink around the knob to stop a leak, but that would be the last thing to try
good luck
I just recently started adding castor oil to my fuel as well.....
the big difference in car/buggy fuel and airplane fuel is the oil content...Omega 15% is something like 18% oil
oil serves 2 purposes lubrication of course but it also carries away heat.....to cool a model engine you either have to increase airflow over the engine, or richen the mixture...
When you tune the engine never set it for max RPM on the ground..instead richen the mixture 1/8 to a 1/4 turn to rich from max RPM as the engine will lean out in flight...
bubbles in the fuel lines means a leaner mixture as well...when you replaced the fuel lines did you replace the lines inside the tank?
Is the fuel tank isolated from the airframe with foam...this lessens vibration to the fuel....lastly the high end needle could be leaking a little...in that case a little heat shrink around the knob to stop a leak, but that would be the last thing to try
good luck
Even though I didn't pose the questions thanks for your feedback.
Bill
02-17-2009 | 06:43 PM
#6
Thread Starter
Member
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 45
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
From: Rupertswood, AUSTRALIA
RE: RC Car/Plane Fuel Differences?
Many thanks for the useful advise.
A mate of mine owns cars/buggies and is more than happy to take this fuel off my hands i will advise him about adding a little extra oil - I will also purchase the correct fuel for my plane in future[:@]!
As far as the tank vibration issue goes I believe this is the main cause of the foaming in the tank, it was a rather tight fit in the compartment and could only get foam top and bottom of it not on the sides (theres only about a 3mm gap around the sides of the tank)
I changed the lines inside and out but still no good, pretty sure it's a vibration issues which is causing the foaming.
I guess the only way to eliminate this is to purchase a slim tank, and maybe check the spinner is not out of balance or something.
Thanks for the help team,
Cheers,
Sweetdudeplanes.
A mate of mine owns cars/buggies and is more than happy to take this fuel off my hands i will advise him about adding a little extra oil - I will also purchase the correct fuel for my plane in future[:@]!
As far as the tank vibration issue goes I believe this is the main cause of the foaming in the tank, it was a rather tight fit in the compartment and could only get foam top and bottom of it not on the sides (theres only about a 3mm gap around the sides of the tank)
I changed the lines inside and out but still no good, pretty sure it's a vibration issues which is causing the foaming.
I guess the only way to eliminate this is to purchase a slim tank, and maybe check the spinner is not out of balance or something.
Thanks for the help team,
Cheers,
Sweetdudeplanes.
02-18-2009 | 03:04 PM
#7
Senior Member
My Feedback: (2)
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 3,354
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
From: Emmaus,
PA
RE: RC Car/Plane Fuel Differences?
I ran some 15% plane fuel (18% synthetic oil and 2% castor) in a nitro buggy, just because I have several gallons of the stuff for my planes. I found I got lots of smoke and not much performance out of the buggy engine. After that, I bought a case of 20% car fuel, and was much happier with the performance (and smoke level).
