I know that the main difference in fuels is the percentages but does one company make a better product or does it really matter either way. I'm just getting in to the hobby and don't want to mess my engine or something else up by using a fuel so I can save money. What would be the best fuel to use if it does make a difference.

Any advice on this or a link would be appreciated.

Cheers.

What engine and what use? Advice varies with engine.

.18 CXP Engine and mostly just for break-in and backyard driving until I get good enough to start racing.

You'll get lots of advice from car drivers to use car fuels but for what you want to do I'd say forget them. Car fuels have too little oil in them and way too much nitro. Look for a fuel that's got castor in it and minimum nitro. Something like Morgans Omega with 5% nitro is all you need (I can't believe I'm actually recommending Morgan fuels ). There are other fuels even better but basically stay with any fuel usually used in planes.

My son ran in and still uses for racing just a basic fuel that's got no nitro and 20% all castor. That's the simplest possible fuel and yet he keeps up with the others using 25% nitro .

Excellent advice. Don't waste the money. By the time someone gets good enough that nitro percent matters they will know what to run and the extra oil in the beginning will not hurt a thing; maybe even help.

Just my two cents. [8D]

Thanks for the input guys, it really helps. That should save me a bit of money for the time being.

The only major difference I know of is how they determine the nitro percentage. I've always believed that mixing by volume is the accepted practice and the majority of fuel blenders mix by volume. I did some research a few years ago and found that the only blender that mixes by weight is Byrons. We created a graph of nitro content that you get in a gallon when measued by weight vs. content by volume and found that at a target volume of 10% nitro by volume the equivelant by weight is about 8%. Now you know why I don't buy Byrons fuel.

One thing that is important in fuel is for it to be consistant from one gal. to the next. I have been having an issue with one brand, (name withheld until I call the mfg) of running 4 engines in my herk well for several gallons, then buying a gal that won't run. It is a [:@] to have to retune 4 engines because of getting a bad gallon of fuel. Now it has happened to me twice in the last 4 years from a major supplier. Next week we will find out how they manage their system for customers. I lost 3 hrs flying my herk at a major war bird event and was scheduled to fly after the jets. Finally I went to Mk 7 fuel and it ran well.

Jim

Yea there are differences. One difference that I have seen over the years is that some fuel producers seal each container with an air-tight seal and some don't. The ones that don't I won't purchase because a fuel container that is not sealed air-tight will absorb moisture (water) over time from the ambient environment. Containers that are sealed air-tight with a seperate seal under the cap can be stored for quite a long time with no water being absorbed from the atmosphere. It is especially a problem if you buy fuel by case lots and don't use it right away. Just my 2 cents.

This is false logic. Regardles of being heat sealed or a secondary cap on the jug is not a factor with absorbing moisture from the atmosphere. The heat seals are tamper seals only and offer no aditional protection from the atmosphere if the cap is installed correctly in the first place.
All that needs to happen is to cap the jug tightly so that when the bottle is squeezed, you can not hear air escaping the bottle with your ear held close.

Fuelman---I guess we disagree. I've never purchased Cooper Fuel, but judging by your response I'll bet Cooper Fuel does not have that seal. Some caps seal better than others though. I'm only speaking from my personal experience. Your experience may be different. And your logic may be different. That's OK by me. Everyone has their own opinion, and sometimes it's not the same as somebody else's. Oh well, that's life in the big city.

Thanks guys, I took all your advise in mind when buying my fuel. I appreciate you guys taking the time.

Cheers