Hi all,
I am using a blend of Lab Grade Methanol i.e.s 80% , Pharmaceutical Grade Castor Oil i.e.s 10 % and Klotz synthetic oil i.e.s 10 % again.

Is it a right mixture? Is it good for the engine?

Does Synthetic oil helps in anyway in the performance and life of the engine.

Thanks

Sharad

The percentages are fine...that kind of castor isn't though because it's had extra refining that takes away most of the good lubricating qualities. Everything's mixed by volume of course??

Hi Downunder,
Should I use a Degummed castor or just the synthetic to avoid carbon and wear of the engine.

Sharad

Just use a normal commercial degummed castor like Castrol M (probably the best there is) although I think some of the American brands are OK too. Bakers AA may be similar to Castrol but Klotz (according to their web site) has a few other things mixed with it. None of the synthetics will help give better engine life than castor.

As for avoiding carbon and wear by using a straight synthetic, you've got far more chance of damamging the engine with just synthetic. All it needs is for the muffler pressure line to fall off and you've got an instant mega-lean run. Synthetics protect in normal operation but fail instantly when something unusual happens. A 50/50 mix is fine though.

Dear Downunder,
Should I look for mixing degummed castor oil, or use the same pharma grade with synthetic.

Thanks

Sharad

Sharad
Use the degummed castor. The pharm grade is too refined and has lost the lubricating qualities the engines need.

Thanks Downunder,
I will try that.

Sharad

I would suggest you consider the three following castors as reliable and suitable for model engine use.

1. Klotz Benol racing castor, a higher film strength castor from http://www.klotzlube.com

2. Sig Manufacturing castor, a good AA castor at http://www.sigmfg.com

3. Overseas from the U.S., Castrol M castor

You will find all of these very suitable for your engine and much better than medicinal castor, which may have been processed a bit more than for good lubrication, and may have additives for taste and pallatibility. I agree with downunder that although we have some very good synthetics now, some high viscosity castor with a flash point of some 515 degrees is essentially unmatched for even today's fuels. I know of no single synthetic in routine use today in "modern" fuels that exceeds the capabilities provided by a good quality castor oil, period. Maybe there is a good reason that old Baker Brothers castor oil plant was built in New Jersey back sometime around 1886. :-)

Dear Fuel Dinosaur,
Thanks for your reply . The mockery is that our country India is one of the largest producer of the Castor Oil of different grades, but they only export to countries like US, European, Asia pacific.

We only get here is Medicinal Castor. Now I am seriously trying out for CASTOR DE GUMMED. Let see what happens.

Thanking you,

Sharad

Dear SHARAD,

I too am very surprised that I Too was looking out for de gummed castor but I could not get it in goa.

Ive used medical grade & screwed up my eng as M.grade has very less viscosity as its heated at a very high temp reason being for human consumption.

Ive seen seveal site for de-gummed castor oil & most of them are mfg at mumbai & gujrat.

Here at goa Im getting LR GRADE i.e 2 1/2 litre for 250/-approx $5.& BR GRADE i.e 2 1/2 litre for 350/-approx $7.5 & Im also getting commericial grade for just 25/- i.e just $0.5(half a dollor)but I dont know the purity of this commericial grade.

how can one check the purity of methonol or any test which could confirm on this.