methanol and alcohol
03-30-2011, 03:58 PM
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RE: methanol and alcohol
Methanol (CH3OH) is an alcohol. It is the most simple of the alcohols with 1 CH3 group and is poisonous to humans. It is also called wood alcohol. Ethanol (CH3CH2OH) is the drinking type of alcohol. Denatured alcohol is ethanol with methanol mixed in it, too. That also is poisonous. Glow fuel is methanol with some percentage (0-20%) oil added plus 0-20% nitromethane.
From an organic chemistry point of view, an alcohol has a -OH hydroxy radical attached at the end of a strong of hydrogen saturated carbons.
From an organic chemistry point of view, an alcohol has a -OH hydroxy radical attached at the end of a strong of hydrogen saturated carbons.
03-31-2011, 02:09 AM
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RE: methanol and alcohol
No, denatured alcohol is predominantly ethanol with enough methanol (typically 10%) to make it non-consumable for drinking by humans (poisonous). Ethanol does not have enough energy to fire off in an engine. Remember also, that your glow plug has a platinum coil in it. That is what glows. One of the properties of platinum it that is will continue to glow in the presence of methanol. That why you don't need an ignition on a glow engine.
The downside to methanol mixes for model engines is the expense (and mess) of methanol/oil/nitromethane mixture (about $18-$26 per gal). That's why so many people switch to gas engines (gas around $3.40 per gallon presently).
That help?
The downside to methanol mixes for model engines is the expense (and mess) of methanol/oil/nitromethane mixture (about $18-$26 per gal). That's why so many people switch to gas engines (gas around $3.40 per gallon presently).
That help?
03-31-2011, 03:02 AM
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RE: methanol and alcohol
That is not true.
An engine will run on ethanol, even as low as 80% (medicinal) with rest water. The platinum element will stay lit. Been there, done that with CL engines.
03-31-2011, 06:16 AM
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RE: methanol and alcohol
Why would you not use it?
We have experimented with fresh methanol fuel and 10% water added. It very effectively avoided prop throwing of YS engines. Use this fuel the same day.
The Germans used MW80 mix (80% methanol, 20% water) for war emergency power at high altitude in their WW2 fighters. This allowed them to run full boost pressures , which otherwise would blow the engines apart.
04-01-2011, 08:02 AM
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RE: methanol and alcohol
As an experiment, I have run store bought denatured alcohol in a SuperTigre G51. At a mix of 82% fuel to 18% oil the only thing I had to do to get a reliable idle was switch to an OS A3 plug. It didn't make the same power (it was down about 5 or 6%) and the needles were more sensitive but it ran great.
04-01-2011, 02:07 PM
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RE: methanol and alcohol
Same as my experience.
Mind you, the denaturated (rubbing) alcohol is 80%/20% alcohol/water!, and of the alcohol fraction, at least 95% is ethanol, but more likely 98%, with rest methanol.
Mind you, the denaturated (rubbing) alcohol is 80%/20% alcohol/water!, and of the alcohol fraction, at least 95% is ethanol, but more likely 98%, with rest methanol.
04-01-2011, 04:33 PM
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RE: methanol and alcohol
In the U.S., what is sold as "rubbing alcohol" is isopropyl alcohol. It is available in drug stores in 80% and 92% concentrations. It is great for cleaning flux off solder joints, thinning epoxy and many other uses, and is not as toxic as methanol. I have not tried it as a fuel.
Edit: 1QwkSport2.5r is correct. The concentrations available around here are also 91% and 70%. My mistake.
Edit: 1QwkSport2.5r is correct. The concentrations available around here are also 91% and 70%. My mistake.
04-01-2011, 06:55 PM
#13
RE: methanol and alcohol
ORIGINAL: JPMacG
In the U.S., what is sold as ''rubbing alcohol'' is isopropyl alcohol. It is available in drug stores in 80% and 92% concentrations. It is great for cleaning flux off solder joints, thinning epoxy and many other uses, and is not as toxic as methanol. I have not tried it as a fuel.
In the U.S., what is sold as ''rubbing alcohol'' is isopropyl alcohol. It is available in drug stores in 80% and 92% concentrations. It is great for cleaning flux off solder joints, thinning epoxy and many other uses, and is not as toxic as methanol. I have not tried it as a fuel.
Any kind of alcohol other than methanol will most likely run fine, but the needles will be more sensitive and will require a hot or very hot glow plug.
04-02-2011, 04:07 AM
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RE: methanol and alcohol
This is the stuff I have used, as well as medicinal ethanol. Both work OK
nl.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brandspiritus
Compare this with rubbing alcohol, which can be both ethanol or isopropyl alcohol
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rubbing_alcohol
nl.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brandspiritus
Compare this with rubbing alcohol, which can be both ethanol or isopropyl alcohol
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rubbing_alcohol
04-02-2011, 04:25 AM
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RE: methanol and alcohol
ORIGINAL: pe reivers
Why would you not use it?
We have experimented with fresh methanol fuel and 10% water added. It very effectively avoided prop throwing of YS engines. Use this fuel the same day.
The Germans used MW80 mix (80% methanol, 20% water) for war emergency power at high altitude in their WW2 fighters. This allowed them to run full boost pressures , which otherwise would blow the engines apart.
Why would you not use it?
We have experimented with fresh methanol fuel and 10% water added. It very effectively avoided prop throwing of YS engines. Use this fuel the same day.
The Germans used MW80 mix (80% methanol, 20% water) for war emergency power at high altitude in their WW2 fighters. This allowed them to run full boost pressures , which otherwise would blow the engines apart.
Moreover, isopropyl alcool was used in glow fuels as a way to reduce consumption in old C/L class B team racers with .29 glow engines
Not to remember the recent OS bioethanol line ..
04-02-2011, 05:39 AM
#16
RE: methanol and alcohol
ORIGINAL: latinRClover
True, even Maynard Hill did experiments in the late sixties with water in glow fuel as the most effective cooling agent . The only problem was idle and castor oil mixability, fuel became more an emulsion than a mix...
Moreover, isopropyl alcool was used in glow fuels as a way to reduce consumption in old C/L class B team racers with .29 glow engines
Not to remember the recent OS bioethanol line ..
ORIGINAL: pe reivers
Why would you not use it?
We have experimented with fresh methanol fuel and 10% water added. It very effectively avoided prop throwing of YS engines. Use this fuel the same day.
The Germans used MW80 mix (80% methanol, 20% water) for war emergency power at high altitude in their WW2 fighters. This allowed them to run full boost pressures , which otherwise would blow the engines apart.
Why would you not use it?
We have experimented with fresh methanol fuel and 10% water added. It very effectively avoided prop throwing of YS engines. Use this fuel the same day.
The Germans used MW80 mix (80% methanol, 20% water) for war emergency power at high altitude in their WW2 fighters. This allowed them to run full boost pressures , which otherwise would blow the engines apart.
Moreover, isopropyl alcool was used in glow fuels as a way to reduce consumption in old C/L class B team racers with .29 glow engines
Not to remember the recent OS bioethanol line ..
