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Engine basics => Engine set up tips => Topic started by: Tim Redelman on December 29, 2013, 12:38:35 PM
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So I've been seeing some posts suggesting to add Armor All to your fuel to help stop fuel foaming. Is this a good thing to do or is this a bandaid for bigger problems. I've been flying R/C and C/L since I was 11 and have never heard of this. 48 now:-(
Tim
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I decant my fuel from the gallon jug into a quart can (easier to carry around). I add one capfull of Armorall (the Armorall cap) into a quart of fuel. Seems to work OK.
Floyd
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I've never had much problem with fuel foaming, so have used it only a few times. I add a drop or two to the jug and shake it. Generally a very few drops will stop the foaming.
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Hello Tim
We use a spray bottle and give it two sprays to the gallon and after that if you have a clear gallon you can shake it and will notice that it won`t foam. When I was flying R/C in the past we used to do it to the cool power 15% fuel we used and never had any problems.
Juan
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Armor All has been used in Australia for decades and generally all that's needed is one quick squirt into a gallon of fuel. There are stories floating around that it can foul plugs but I've never heard any Aussies complain and it's certainly never fouled any of my plugs.
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Wow thats cool, Learn something new every day!
Tim
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Obviously, too much doesn't seem to hurt anything.
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Obviously, too much doesn't seem to hurt anything.
Au contraire, a link between the anti-foaming agent and plug taters is pretty solid at this point. I recommend using as little as possible and only if there is an issue. I use zero now.
Brett
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Son of a Gun brand works just as well as Armor All. I've been using as little as possible, which amounts to at most, two drops to a quart. That usually makes it impossible to shake a foam into it. Any bubbles that do form when you shake it will disappear in a couple of seconds. I'm too worried about the aforementioned Taters to add more. If my profile has a super shaker for an engine, I make the tank pad out of a beer Koozie. and mount it with rubber bands rather than a metal strap.
Rusty
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It was also reported that Armor-all had changed their formula and didn't have the magic ingredient anymore. But I wouldn't know about that, 'cause I've never put any in my fuel and never will. IMO, if you need it, you need to fix the problem, not put a Band-Aid on it. I did have a fuel foaming problem one time, and fixed it. I sure as heck wouldn't put that in my fuel as standard practise. H^^ Steve
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Obviously, too much doesn't seem to hurt anything.
I tried an experiment some time ago to see what might happen so I put a huge amount of Armor All into a tank of fuel, I'd guess about the equivalent of enough for 100 gallons or more. The plug was still perfect about 10 minutes later when the tank was dry. I seem to recall the problem with taters had something to do with a particular brand of fuel used at that time. Steve is right though about the story with a a change of formulation and the magic ingredient (silicon) but I haven't checked to see if it's true because I still have my old (20+ yo) bottle of Armor All. It seems the silicon reduces the surface tension to a point where the largest bubble that can form is around 1mm diameter so presumably anything containing some silicon should work. I'd hesitate to use a bit of silicon car polish though :).
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Brian, if that's the case wouldn't pure silicon (like silicon spray) do the trick equally as well?
I've been using a spritz per gallon for years, and I've not noticed plug deterioration at all.
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Armour All seems to contain 'water based silicons.'
From their web site -
http://www.armorall.com/faqs/
"What are the ingredients in Armor AllŪ Protectants? Do they include silicone, alcohol, ultraviolet inhibitors and petroleum distillates?
Armor AllŪ Leather Care contains lanolin and natural moisturizers, and UV inhibitors. Armor AllŪ Leather Care Protectant Spray and Leather Wipes contain water-based silicone emulsions, surfactants, and ultraviolet light inhibitors. Armor AllŪ Original Shine Protectant contains water-based silicone emulsions, surfactants, and ultraviolet light inhibitors, humectants, dispersants and gloss enhancers. Armor AllŪ Ultimate Clean Protectant contains water-based silicone emulsions, surfactants, ultraviolet light inhibitors and a fragrance."
But I am guessing that the surfactants play a huge role in reducing surface tension also.
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the "tater" problem seemed to be specific to a certain type of engine run. If the motor was run in a two cycle and/or over heated and then quit rich they could form in one run. Didn't seem to require Amorall either, although it seemed to be more common with it. A healthy dose of castor oil in the fuel was enough to cause it at the end of a two cycle run.