ALLERGIC TO GLO FUEL?

[Phil Coopy]

Been having probems with my hands breaking out, and the doc thinks I may be allergic to something in glo fuel, probably rust inhibitor which machinists hav a lot of trouble with.  At first tiny pinhead size spots appear under the surface of the fingerprint side of my finger, and then later peeling and cracking.  I've been using nitrile gloves when I fuel up but it seems to keep on happening. Anyone here ever had problems like this?

Kind of strange after 60 years of glo engines.

Phil

[Louis Rankin]

When fuel makers state there are rust inhibitors in the fuel they really mean castor.  Castor is an excellent rust inhibitor.  When they say their fuel has detergent additives, they mean synthetic lube.  Klotz especially is a good detergent.  

Had one of the men that worked for me when I was an Aviation Maintenance Officer complain of the same thing you describe.  His hands would break out underneath the skin and also crack and peel like you describe.   The Navy doctors thought he had some alergy to lubes or cleaning compounds; however, eventually diagnosed that he had a fungal infection similar to athletes foot on his hands.  They treated him with antifungal drugs and the problem went away.

I am not a doctor; however, I do play one with my girlfriends from time to time.

[RandySmith]

When fuel makers state there are rust inhibitors in the fuel they really mean castor.  Castor is an excellent rust inhibitor.  When they say their fuel has detergent additives, they mean synthetic lube.  Klotz especially is a good detergent.  

Had one of the men that worked for me when I was an Aviation Maintenance Officer complain of the same thing you describe.  His hands would break out underneath the skin and also crack and peel like you describe.   The Navy doctors thought he had some alergy to lubes or cleaning compounds; however, eventually diagnosed that he had a fungal infection similar to athletes foot on his hands.  They treated him with antifungal drugs and the problem went away.

I am not a doctor; however, I do play one with my girlfriends from time to time.

Hi louis

There are several rust inhibitors other than castor that some mfgs  use in model fuels, I use 2 of them myself
There is also several detergents that fuel makers use other than just synthetic oil. I use  several of them myself also. Some are pretty good other are not

Regards
Randy

[kenneth cook]

       Phil,  l've had some similar experiences. My hands break out terribly especially as were nearing the fall. I get severe cracking and scaling in the middle of my palms and also fingertips. Last year was truly the worst averaging a box of band aids a week . My occupation has a lot to do with it but the hobby surely contributes. Its very difficult to nail down an exact source. Doctors have told me the only way to ward off a break out is to not expose yourself AT ALL. We both no this is quite hard to do and surely doesn't make the experience enjoyable. I will add that the exposure to the alcohol is probably more of the problem than the other. I have to use hand creams that don't contain any version of alcohols. Once the damage is done and the healing begins its this critical stage as to not expose your skin to harsher chemicals, glues, epoxies and also paints. This prolongs the healing and the whole cycle starts over again. It seems as if they never heal. One thing to also beware of is the type of glove your using. Sometimes, certain gloves can be just as much of a contributor of problems as well. I'm not saying to not wear them, its good that your cautious in protecting just to experiment with some others. Ken

[Louis Rankin]

Hey Randy,

Yep, Aero One, use it all the time and recommend it to everyone!!!

[Russell Shaffer]

Phil, try this stuff. It is called Working Hands.   http://shop.okeeffescompany.com/working_hands_1.aspx    It has really worked for me and my wife and even my doctor likes it.  It has stopped my fingers from cracking in the winter, a very painful experience.  Also does wonders for chapped and peeling skin.  The gal who developed it grew up just down the road from me and she says it owes its effectiveness as much to what it DOESN'T contain as to what it does.  Her dad was a sheep farmer and his fingers would bleed in the winter - he is why she developed the stuff.  It won't cost much to try it and if it works, well the cost doesn't much matter. If you live in the Northwest, you can probably buy it at local store.  I know it sounds like snake oil, but it works for me and others. 

[Howard Rush]

Extra ingredients are unnecessary.  You could find a brand that doesn't have them or mix your own fuel from methanol, nitro, and oil.

[Alan Hahn]

Extra ingredients are unnecessary.  You could find a brand that doesn't have them or mix your own fuel from methanol, nitro, and oil.

or go electric!

[George]

Diesel!

[RandySmith]

I would doubt very seriously that it is any extra ingredients that he is getting the reaction from, Most likely it is the methanol and oil

Randy

[Neville Legg]

We have a couple of club members that have an allergy to diesel fuel too! You could try the rubber gloves that surgeons, and motor mechanics use?
Is it an allergy or an intolerance?


Cheers       Neville

[john e. holliday]

In my years of plalying with diesel fuel I never had a problem.  Even using glo fuel no problems.  But, when I do oil changes and grease jobs my hands break out in a rash within a couple of days.  Usually goes away in a couple of days.  Amazing that at one time I made my living doing oil and grease jobs on vehicles.  Now as far as hands getting dry and cracking, the wife put me onto a lotion called "Cornhuskers".  Sod in pharmacy in Wally World.  I remember it as a kid of using it on cows udders in the winter as they too would get dry and crack.  That condition is no good for a mild cow let alone the person milking her.  Have fun,  DOC Holliday

[phil c]

What you describe is not an allergy, but plain, old irritation from one or more chemicals in the fuel.  A protective hand cream like Russ suggest should help.  If you can't find the one suggested, something with lanolin in it should work too.  Thin nitrile gloves aren't particularly resistant to many chemicals.  Polyethylene gloves might work better, but are slippery.

[Scott B. Riese]

Diesel fuel eats me up. I break out with a bad rash. SO when the flyer's come out with DIESELS  and start them up in the pits, AS Always they do....I leave. 

As far as glow fuel...I have noticed the skin drying out a little more. I have to use lotion to keep my hands soft and pleasent...smells good too! 

[Jim Kraft]

I have switched to gasoline and oil, as I am allergic to the price of glow fuel. Been flying sparkers almost exclusively as of late. Three ounces of gas to get through the old time pattern. I save my glow fuel for contests, and flying my Bi-Slob. Sorry! I kind of got off topic here.

[Gene O'Keefe]

My 2 cents worth - I am a certified heavy/medium duty truck mechanic and was wearing nitrile gloves alot of the time and my hands would break out like yours - went to the dermatologist and found out I was allergic to the
'POWDER' inside the gloves - switched to a non-powdered glove ...problem solved.

    Geno