How well do 2 stroke engines run with 0% nitro? I live in a remote part of Canada so getting fuel is very exspensive ( Shipping is more exspensive then the fuel ). I can make my own fuel for $15 Gallon with the following. 80% Methanol, 10% Sig Caster, 10% Klotz synthetic oil. I will also run a HOT glow plug. Will there be much performance loss without the nitro?

Thanks
Pete

It depends a lot on the engine as to how much power loss you get.

If you can find engines with a high compression ratio (Webra and a few other European brands) then chances are they'll run *better* on 0% nitro than they would on 15%.

OS and Thunder Tiger 2-strokes will be pretty happy with 0% too.

Engines to avoid are hi-compression ones like the Saito and YS 4-strokes. The Saito will still run but will definitely be down on power and won't idle so well. The YS probably won't run worth a bean on 0%.

For what it's worth, we run the following engines around here on 5% nitro and they'd probably run almost as well on 0%:

TT46Pro, TT42GP, TT61GP, OS46AX/FX, SuperTigre 90, SK90, VMAR46, GMS47, GMS32.

I think you meant low compression. Early Saitos had very high compressions and were ideal for zero nitro.

I can't say for sure how much power loss there might be because I've never used nitro to get a comparison. The best I can say is that an Enya 60X gained 800 revs by raising the compression which would probably have needed maybe 20% nitro to get the same result. Raised compression on a car engine gave the same performance as 25% nitro.

But every engine I get my hands on is run on the test stand with 75/25 all castor fuel and I aim for a one flick start once I get them sussed out. As a guide though, on this fuel an ST GS45 turns an APC 10x6 at 14,600 and an OS 46VF gets 14,300 (still running in though).

One thing you can try is adding 3% acetone which is supposed to give about the same affect as 5% nitro as far as idling is concerned.

I do believe you are correct :-)

The engine is an Evolution 61NT. I don't know if anyone here has tried 0% nitro with this engine?

Downunder are you sure about the acetone? I don't want to distroy my engine.

Man I wish I was home in Australia! Canada sucks in the winter!

Yep, I'm positive about the acetone. I've got 3% in my running-in fuel right now. Here in Oz the Shell Racing A methanol comes with 3% acetone already mixed but the trouble is they won't sell from bulk, only their own new drums. BP A from bulk is pure methanol though.

Its not that bad Pete!! Rember this, -46 - 48 below zero centegrade, with a wind chill thats pushing mid fifties.........................

I just bought a plane with a Super Tigre S 3000. Supposedly, 0% nitro and 12% castor is the preferred fuel for these engines. Are you saying that all I need to do is buy some Sig castor, and a gallon of VP racing methanol, shake it up and I have fuel??? That's awesome because a gallon of methanol is $5 at the drag strip.

Yep, just shake it good -- and if it doesn't seem to mix properly, add a few percent of acetone (but you shouldn't need it if your castor and methanol are good).

Yes thats the norm in Castor or replace with typically 10% in high quality EDL synthetic but dont run lean or 8% in high quality EDL synthetic and 3% Castor for the mechanically challenged at tuning that might run it lean giving them a little head room protection

High compression motors like supertigre and MVVS all can run happily with zero nitro

$5 a gallon of methanol lucky you I pay in LHS ~$13 a USA gallon just for methanol neat and oil costs are on top of that

balsaeater

I just started my Webra .50 Speed for the first time today on some fuel i mixed with 0% nitro and 20% castor.

I'm breaking it in rich so didn't bother taching it but so far it has ran superbly and been extremely easy to run and tune. It idles well and throttle response is great.

It has made me re-think my preference for OS motors (based on their ease of use), especially when nitro is $80 a gallon here and castor is half the price of coolpower and klotz.

It might just help relieve some mortgage stress if can save on fuel costs. I calculate a saving of $20 a gallon based on the 15% nitro blend i've been mixing until now.

Here in BRasil we have roughly 30% of the glow 2 stroke pilots already using self-made fuel with zero nitro, with mixed results, but mostly with good results and just marginal drop in performance.

I`ve heard fo the Acetone tip, but as far as I know nobody is using it...not yet...

Does any of the gentlemas have heard of using zero nitro in 4 stroke engine?

Maybe with 3% acetone and a little increase in the compression ratio?

What do you think?

Blue skies to all

Tifoso

When you are using Zero Nitro Fuel, adding one percent Propylene oxide is a very good way to improve fuel/engine performance ...especially in cold weather. At low temperatures, methanol doesn't vaporize so well (low volatility). Adding 1% Propylene oxide to your fuel will improve starting and idling. Propylene oxide is extremely volatile, so it's best to add it to your fuel just before using the fuel. If you leave the cap off your fuel can, the Propylene oxide will soon be gone. It's best to buy it in small quantities and keep it cold... store it in your deep freezer.
http://www.dow.com/propyleneoxide/
Regards
JC

I've never used a 4 stroke but one of the others in my club has 4 strokes and runs them on zero nitro. He's found that raising the compression to 13.5:1 is ideal (exactly the same as I've found for 2 strokes) and uses 5% acetone which stops any backfiring or thrown props.

Thanks for the info, Gentlemen, I`m taking notes of everything.

BLue skies for all

Tifoso