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Engine basics => Engine set up tips => Topic started by: frank mccune on August 18, 2014, 06:57:32 AM
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Hi All:
Recently I have been thinking about keeping my engines "clean" by adding a synthetic oil to my fuel as suggested by others. Clean is translated into avoiding a castor buildup on the piston, sleeve, wrist pin, ball bearings etc.
In the past, I have used ATF to store my engines and as an after run oil with no problems. For example, I took my ST G21/.35 out of storage, mounted it on a plane, fuel it up and it started and ran well after only ONE flip of the prop. This engine had been in storage for over 30 years! What could be better? I checked the engines once a year and added a drop or two of ATF, wrapped them up again and placed them in storage.
As an after run oil, it appears to keep the engines "clean."
Years ago, I used only FAI fuel and did not have a castor build up. I then switched to a fuel that contained only Klotz 100 as a lube and I could not see any problems. This was a mix of 25% Klotz and 75% alcohol.
Oh yes, I have found that ATF mixed 50% with acetone makes a great penetrating oil!
Perhaps we are overthinking the "Castor Build up" in our engines.
Thoughts or suggestions concerning the idea of keeping the engine clean?
Stay well,
Frank
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Did you know that the pro bike racers use ATF on there bicycle chain. That is all I have used since the 1970's
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The ATF that is widely available in the UK will not mix with acetone. Anyone have any theories as to why?
Andrew.
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Acetone is organic water based solvent whereas ATF is a mineral based oil.
Similarly organic castor oil will not be miscable with mineral kerosene (without the ether is act as a binder.)
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After running when the engine is still warm I mix 25% ATF with 75% naptha and run three good primes through the engine. This flushes the castor out and coats everything inside the engine with ATF.
MM
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Hello Chris,
Acetone s certainly not a water based solvent. It is an organic liquid, but should have very little water in it and then only as an impurity.
Andrew.
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True, poor choice of words on my part.
Better to say that acetone is fully miscable with water ( able to break down the meniscus in all proportions) whereas a mineral oil base fluid is not.
It is my understanding that acetone and ATF is partly miscable and will benefit from mechanical agitation before use.
Thanks.
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Hello Chris,
I didn't mean to sound critical, my poor choice of words too! The ATF you get in UK will appear to be miscible if you shake it up, but it only takes maybe 30 seconds to separate again. I got the impression from some previous posts on the subject, that the ATF in the US was completely miscible with acetone. Maybe I construed too much. I thought that this was supposed to be a super penetrating brew, but sadly my experiments have failed . Neither acetone or ATF or a mixture doesn't seem to do much for freeing anything. A great pity as I am always in need of a really good penetrating solution.
Regards,
Andrew.
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Hmm, the few times that I have used an acetone/ATF brew was fully contained within a glass jar.
Engine place inside if it, shaken - not stirred like Bond's martini, stuck parts tested frequently and then left to sit for a couple of days.
It was very cheap to concoct, easy to use, did not have a chance to evaporate and imminently reusable.
Oh, and it worked a treat!
Perhaps the key here is to acknowledge that NO solution can penetrate unless there are micro fine fissures or fracture lines available for it to do so and giving the parts a wiggle every now and then helps to create them.