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Author Topic: Help, fuel got rained in  (Read 2450 times)

Offline Ronald Eshleman

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Help, fuel got rained in
« on: July 02, 2013, 09:22:16 AM »
I left a gallon of fuel open and unattended for 15 minutes.  When I went back out, it was raining and had rained hard according to someone who was outside during the rain.  Is the fuel usable?  Can it be spared?
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Offline Jim Thomerson

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Re: Help, fuel got rained in
« Reply #1 on: July 02, 2013, 09:37:45 AM »
If the oil has not separated out, give it a try. It should run OK.
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Offline Ronald Eshleman

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Re: Help, fuel got rained in
« Reply #2 on: July 02, 2013, 09:50:52 AM »
Would the water go to the bottom or float on the top? or mix in?
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Offline RandySmith

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Re: Help, fuel got rained in
« Reply #3 on: July 02, 2013, 10:47:36 AM »
Quote from: Ronald Eshleman on July 02, 2013, 09:22:16 AM
I left a gallon of fuel open and unattended for 15 minutes.  When I went back out, it was raining and had rained hard according to someone who was outside during the rain.  Is the fuel usable?  Can it be spared?

I would not use it, The methanol will absorb the water and you will get inconsistent runs.
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Offline Brett Buck

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Re: Help, fuel got rained in
« Reply #4 on: July 02, 2013, 10:56:32 AM »
Quote from: Ronald Eshleman on July 02, 2013, 09:22:16 AM
I left a gallon of fuel open and unattended for 15 minutes.  When I went back out, it was raining and had rained hard according to someone who was outside during the rain.  Is the fuel usable?  Can it be spared?

    Not if it got significant water in it. It will mix in and change it.

     I would suggest this as a  solution to leaving fuel cans open:

http://www3.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin/WTI0001P?I=LXRS88&P=8

    This one is air-tight when the probe is inserted, and all plastic and aluminum so it will not degenerate in the presence of fuel vapor. The brass types will self destruct in a few years.

    Brett
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Offline Reptoid

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Re: Help, fuel got rained in
« Reply #5 on: July 02, 2013, 05:27:27 PM »
Quote from: Brett Buck on July 02, 2013, 10:56:32 AM
    Not if it got significant water in it. It will mix in and change it.

     I would suggest this as a  solution to leaving fuel cans open:

http://www3.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin/WTI0001P?I=LXRS88&P=8

    This one is air-tight when the probe is inserted, and all plastic and aluminum so it will not degenerate in the presence of fuel vapor. The brass types will self destruct in a few years.

    Brett
Excellent advice. Fuel with water in it will not run well

    In addition to the solution Brett listed above I use a Nalgene 1/2 gallon or quart wide mouth bottle with the fitting installed in the lid. That way you don't have to lug the gallon container around to the pits and/or flight line. If you're going to fly more than that you can easily refill the bottle from the gallon container and with the wide mouth lid, you don't need a funnel.
    The Nalgene bottles are available in round, square, or rectangular shapes on line or at some camping supply vendors. They are also impervious to fuel, don't rust or corode, allow you to see the fuel level, and are rugged enough to last a long time.
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Regards,
       Don
       AMA # 3882

Offline Allen Eshleman

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Re: Help, fuel got rained in
« Reply #6 on: July 02, 2013, 05:39:57 PM »
I almost never take a gallon to a flying site.  I was just a step outside my brother's garage and testing a hand-me-down McCoy 19 and just stepped inside to do a few phone calls. I had closed the gallon once because of the threatening sky.    Such things happen!

   
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Offline Steve Fitton

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Re: Help, fuel got rained in
« Reply #7 on: July 03, 2013, 11:43:52 AM »
I wonder if you could pour it through silica gel and get the water out.....
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Steve

Offline Allen Eshleman

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Re: Help, fuel got rained in
« Reply #8 on: July 13, 2013, 05:44:24 PM »
I did use it today in two McCoy 19's. They ran alright.  That fuel is a mix of 10% nitro and 5% nitro coming out to about 7%.   Then I switched to clean 10% nitro and had problems with my McCoy Ligtning version 19. 
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Offline John Moody

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Re: Help, fuel got rained in
« Reply #9 on: July 13, 2013, 06:39:27 PM »
I have not tried it myself but I have heard several times that you can put the fuel in the freezer and the water will become ice which can then be lifted off the top. You would need a suitable wide mouth container. Repeat the freezing until no evidence of ice remains. Apparently it works.
A good way to break your finger is to flick start an engine that has water in the fuel. n1

John
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Offline Jim Thomerson

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Re: Help, fuel got rained in
« Reply #10 on: July 14, 2013, 04:49:46 PM »
If you will just keep flying, you will have all that fuel used up long before we get through discussing it.  Z@@ZZZ And, no, you might be able to freeze the oil out, but not the water.  HB~>
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Offline John Moody

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Re: Help, fuel got rained in
« Reply #11 on: July 14, 2013, 05:30:47 PM »
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And, no, you might be able to freeze the oil out, but not the water.  Head bang

Sorry Jim. But water freezes long before oil, methanol or nitro. I will have to try it now with some old fuel and see for myself first hand. #^ I'll report the result later.

John.
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Offline John Moody

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Re: Help, fuel got rained in
« Reply #12 on: July 15, 2013, 05:28:59 PM »
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Sorry Jim. But water freezes long before oil, methanol or nitro. I will have to try it now with some old fuel and see for myself first hand.  I'll report the result later.

Has anybody got a fork or spoon? I have to eat some humble pie.
I poured a good "glug" of water into some fuel and immediatly the fuel separated out into 3 levels, methanol on top, water in the middle and oil on the bottom. It looked promising.
After placing it in the freezer, the water began to disappear and be absorbed by the methanol. NO ice formed after 24 hours at minus 15 degrees C.
It basically became an Antifreeze Solution.
Either I was bulls**ted to by several people or they were just innocently perpetuating the myth. Sorry guys, for the misinformation. This myth is BUSTED!!
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