Red Max Fuels

[Colin McRae]

I have never used Red Max Fuels. Is Red Max considered to be a high-quality glow fuel? Any reason not to use it in my glow engines?

Thx in advance.

[Dan Berry]

Use it.

[bob whitney]

i had nothing but good results with Red Max when i was using it

[Colin McRae]

Thx for the feedback. Much appreciated!!

[Perry Rose]

Make sure of the oil content/percentage.

[David_Ruff]

They quit making fuel.  Just went to the web site.  Seems we IC glow engine guys are going to have to work harder to continue the hobby.

[Don Jenkins]

FHS Supply is about 15 minutes from my home in Clover, SC. Before going to electric I just dropped by and they would mix my fuel while I waited. Two good ole boys run the place. Looks like their web site is up and running as usual but they may not have any nitro. I'll stop by there next week to see what's going on and report back.

Don

[Jim Svitko]

For those who are able to get the components, mix your own.  I have been lucky in that I can get nitro from a fellow who supplies fuel to area race tracks.  I get methanol from a local auto performance store.  The oil from Summit, the auto parts place.

Local motorcycle shops will sometimes have the oil but Summit's prices are lower.  And, they ship a 4 gallon case to my house, no shipping charge, but I can't escape the sales tax, of course.

[Marty Hammersmith]

Red Max is fine. It was a barren land around here the last couple of years until just late this Summer when one of the hobby shops that is left in this area started bringing in several versions of Morgan's Cool Power. Between that and Brodak's quarts. I'm good for a while. Grab it where you find it from any of the common brands. Rich's Brew, VP, S&W, Morgan's. Store it cool dry and in the dark it'll last a decade or more. I'm still finishing up some Wildcat and Byrons.

[Carl Cisneros]

I am on the Red Max (FHS Supply & Manufacturing) site just now (10:30 a.m. eastern time) and thisis what I just found that popped up imediately when I opened the page:

This is copy and pasted here guys..................

Red Max Model Fuels
FHS will discontinue the production of RedMax R/C Fuels. However, we remain committed to supporting your needs with 62RM RedMax Model Engine Oil and assisting you in creating your customized fuel blends. The 62RM Oil is essential for safeguarding your valuable R/C engine’s performance and longevity. Feel free to reach out to us for additional information!

not reasuring for sure..........
Carl

[David_Ruff]

That's why I posted.

[Carl Cisneros]

can't blame you for letting everyone know, thats for sure David.

Another one bites the dust (so to speak)

Carl

[Dennis Toth]

Is it time we start looking at alternative fuel mixtures that will still allow glow operation? Since fuel mix with nitro has been so easy to get in the US we just sat back and didn't worry about it. Now, with many if not all the big engine manufactures giving the small under "60" size market to electric, glow fuel may be as hard to get as model diesel fuel. At least for diesel there is a simple starter fluid/oil mix that works for sport flying.

Not to say the sky is falling, but before it does, I think we need to really start looking at what engine design changes might work to allow simple methanol/oil mix to work. I know there are some out there that do this now, Discovery Retro for one, but not most. Maybe something using 4 Stroke glow plugs or adding nitro propane (the guy I flew with as a kid use to mix fuel with this and nitro benzene) or a small amount of unleaded gasoline or starting fluid to act as an ignitor. For some a simple compression increase and head shape design will convert them. Some of our engine guys should start working on this kind of setup.

Best,   DennisT

[Dave_Trible]

All the ingredients to mix fuel are plentiful and not hard to find.  They are used for quite a few other things than simply mixing glow fuel.  There just hasn't been the demand (mostly from RC) to justify a business to continue to invest in the bottling operation.  About a year ago I got a three gallon fuel jug from VP to mix in,  a set of measuring beakers and some new jugs from Uline (or dumped out windshield washer fluid jugs) and began mixing my own.  It works as well as anything I've ever purchased and I can mix any flavor I want even in small batches.   I'm not looking back....

Dave

[David_Ruff]

Methanol, nitro and castor. I'm ready for top fuel racing.

[Dennis Toth]

Dave T
What are the sources for the fuel mix you are using? Nitro is tuff to get in small quantities. Other problem is if you have to mix it we will lose a lot of fliers who will either quit or go electric. That's why I think the engine guys need to step up and find a solution.

Best,   DennisT

[David_Ruff]

https://hyperfuels.com/collections/nitromethane.
Can get castor for $17.00 per gallon.

[Dave_Trible]

Dave T
What are the sources for the fuel mix you are using? Nitro is tuff to get in small quantities. Other problem is if you have to mix it we will lose a lot of fliers who will either quit or go electric. That's why I think the engine guys need to step up and find a solution.

Best,   DennisT

I see David already gave you my best answer.  Hyper Fuels will ship by the gallon-NO hazmat fees.  Don't really understand why it isn't in the same category as Methanol but not complaining.  You can also get 5 gallon pales from Torco. 
I get methanol locally from a packaging company in town.  Seems it is widely used by window cleaning companies and the like,  maybe also used in dry cleaning.   Of course there are other sources including Hyper Fuels and maybe VP.
Castor I get from an on-line apothecary MakeYourOwnBuzz.com.   It is sold there for making cosmetics mostly.  It says it's #1 castor whatever that means.  Still haven't figured out how or who grades it.  #1 means first time press of the beans.  They press them three or four times and the quality is less each pressing.  They also call first press 'de-gummed'.
I use Technoplate synthetic (red) oil which I can order on Amazon.

I hate to see Red Maxx giving up on fuel mixing.  I've had good luck with them.  I see they still sell the clear synthetic M62 oil.  Maybe they will still be a source for the other ingredients as well.  Fuel appears to be just a small side business for a much larger company there.

[Paul Smith]

Thx for the feedback. Much appreciated!!

One rule of thumb in fuel mixing:

Scribe the oil line on the container and also start with the oil, then you can't forget to add the oil.;

[944_Jim]

I fly small...and I don't fly a gallon per a year. Not even one every two years.

The problem for me is nitro. I wind up blending high nitro/low oil commercially available fuel down to mid-nitro higher oil fuel. I buy the fuel when I go near an RC shop 2.5 hours away...which is getting more and more rare as life changes minimized the opportunity a few years back. If I could buy a gallon of nitro, I'd straight blend my own on demand per engine type.

I buy by the gallon, mix into quarts, and keep straight methanol in gallon windshield washer jugs. I also bought a size of the red jug sealer plugs. I bet my next gallon purchase will be mail order.

Then there is the glow plug concern discussed in "that" thread.

I don't know how long I'll be in the hobby. I know I do it for fun, not for competition. But, hey. I'm a young dinosaur. I strongly suspect it may be time to consider electric for anything above 1/2A, especially as my sons keep a LiPo charger for their Airsoft toys.

I'm only sharing how I do it...not advocating.

[Marty Hammersmith]

I fly small...and I don't fly a gallon per a year. Not even one every two years.

The problem for me is nitro. I wind up blending high nitro/low oil commercially available fuel down to mid-nitro higher oil fuel. I buy the fuel when I go near an RC shop 2.5 hours away...which is getting more and more rare as life changes minimized the opportunity a few years back. If I could buy a gallon of nitro, I'd straight blend my own on demand per engine type.

As little as you are using, you can simply order a couple quarts of anything you want from Brodak along with some glow plugs. Pretty easy in your case. There's no hazmat fee for quarts either.

[dave siegler]

All the ingredients to mix fuel are plentiful and not hard to find.  They are used for quite a few other things than simply mixing glow fuel.  There just hasn't been the demand (mostly from RC) to justify a business to continue to invest in the bottling operation.  About a year ago I got a three gallon fuel jug from VP to mix in,  a set of measuring beakers and some new jugs from Uline (or dumped out windshield washer fluid jugs) and began mixing my own.  It works as well as anything I've ever purchased and I can mix any flavor I want even in small batches.   I'm not looking back....

Dave

Nitromethane isn't easy to get.  Where do you get yours?  Methanol and oil are easy to get.  We have dirt tracks, go-karts, and snowmobiles that run it, and in at least one place there is methanol in the pump. 
Castor and synthetic oils are available from multiple sources. https://franklinkart.com/ is 10 minutes from home. 

I can't get small quantities of Nitro.  A gallon would last a long time, 5 gallon pail seems to be the norm from VP fuel.  VP wants 300 for a 6-gallon case of fuel now.   

Has anyone heard if SIG is going to still mix fuel?

[Dan McEntee]

https://hyperfuels.com/collections/nitromethane.
Can get castor for $17.00 per gallon.

    This is from your link for that site. I didn't see anything that was 17 bucks a gallon.
    https://hyperfuels.com/products/castor-oil-1-gallon-bottle?_pos=2&_psq=castor+oil&_ss=e&_v=1.0
   Type at you later,
   Dan McEntee

[Reptoid]

Nitromethane isn't easy to get.  Where do you get yours?  Methanol and oil are easy to get.  We have dirt tracks, go-karts, and snowmobiles that run it, and in at least one place there is methanol in the pump. 
Castor and synthetic oils are available from multiple sources. https://franklinkart.com/ is 10 minutes from home. 

I can't get small quantities of Nitro.  A gallon would last a long time, 5 gallon pail seems to be the norm from VP fuel.  VP wants 300 for a 6-gallon case of fuel now.   

Has anyone heard if SIG is going to still mix fuel?

The best way to get nitro these days is to buy 50-50 (50% Nitro/50%Methanol) from any VP racing fuels dealer. If they don't stock it they can order it and it will come on their next truck delivery from VP. Comes in a 5 gallon sealed drum and is fgar cheaper than buying straight nitro. Around here it's about $150 which is less than I can buy 2 gallons of straight Nitro

[Dan McEntee]

Nitromethane isn't easy to get.  Where do you get yours?  Methanol and oil are easy to get.  We have dirt tracks, go-karts, and snowmobiles that run it, and in at least one place there is methanol in the pump. 
Castor and synthetic oils are available from multiple sources. https://franklinkart.com/ is 10 minutes from home. 

I can't get small quantities of Nitro.  A gallon would last a long time, 5 gallon pail seems to be the norm from VP fuel.  VP wants 300 for a 6-gallon case of fuel now.   

Has anyone heard if SIG is going to still mix fuel?

      I'm trying to find a local vendor for VP fuels that can get the 50/50 mix of methanol /nitro for me and maybe avoid shipping and hazmat fees. So far, no luck. I'm working on another angle through a kart racing friend. His supplier of VP Racing fuels for karts told him he would need a special license to order the 50/50 mix. He's check in another source. That would be easiest for me, only keep one can on hand and just buy alcohol as needed. Oil isn't a problem.

    I doubt that we will ever see anything out of SIG. They fired all their employees last January and were supposed to be moving. It's been almost a year now. Rumors were to Chicago area. The old buildings have been for sale for several years, and an auction of the entire contents of the building was held last April, and from what I saw on the auction com0any web site leading up to it, it included all production equipment, even the rugs and mats on the floors, all fixtures shelves and such. Some shelves still had balsa stacked on them and if it was on the shelf when you bought it, you got what was on the shelf. The owner Herb Rizzo, was one of the three partners that bought SIG from Chris LeHey after his heart attack. They had to sell it a few years later. I find it difficult to believe that he would be the hero that saves the company. The web site seems active for items on hand, but still shows the Montezuma address. Some one on another forum said the new address was in Des Plaines, IL. If you google that address, it shows the Evergeen Plastic Company, that markets structural plastics for model railroads and such through hobby shops.  If the name survives at all, I think it will just be an importer of R/C ARFs. They carried several brands before they shut down, but don't show any on the current edition of the web site. Items on the web site have inflated prices, and if not available are shown as "SOLD OUT", not out of stock. I think they are just still in the process of selling off existing stock and may be using the warehouse in Montezuma rather than move anything, which costs money. There is no one on the face of the earth that would like to see them come roaring back and have their great line of products available again, but who in their right mind would restart a model airplane supply company from scratch in this day and age??
   Type at you later,
    Dan McEntee

[David_Ruff]

Nitro at Hyperfuels
Castor at Bulk Apothecary

[David_Ruff]

Here is the castor link.  Of course, I don't know if this would be good for fuel?
https://www.bulkapothecary.com/raw-ingredients/bulk-natural-oils/castor-oil/
Please let us know.

[Marty Hammersmith]

      I'm trying to find a local vendor for VP fuels that can get the 50/50 mix of methanol /nitro for me and maybe avoid shipping and hazmat fees. So far, no luck. I'm working on another angle through a kart racing friend. His supplier of VP Racing fuels for karts told him he would need a special license to order the 50/50 mix. He's check in another source. That would be easiest for me, only keep one can on hand and just buy alcohol as needed. Oil isn't a problem.

    I doubt that we will ever see anything out of SIG. They fired all their employees last January and were supposed to be moving. It's been almost a year now. Rumors were to Chicago area. The old buildings have been for sale for several years, and an auction of the entire contents of the building was held last April, and from what I saw on the auction com0any web site leading up to it, it included all production equipment, even the rugs and mats on the floors, all fixtures shelves and such. Some shelves still had balsa stacked on them and if it was on the shelf when you bought it, you got what was on the shelf. The owner Herb Rizzo, was one of the three partners that bought SIG from Chris LeHey after his heart attack. They had to sell it a few years later. I find it difficult to believe that he would be the hero that saves the company. The web site seems active for items on hand, but still shows the Montezuma address. Some one on another forum said the new address was in Des Plaines, IL. If you google that address, it shows the Evergeen Plastic Company, that markets structural plastics for model railroads and such through hobby shops.  If the name survives at all, I think it will just be an importer of R/C ARFs. They carried several brands before they shut down, but don't show any on the current edition of the web site. Items on the web site have inflated prices, and if not available are shown as "SOLD OUT", not out of stock. I think they are just still in the process of selling off existing stock and may be using the warehouse in Montezuma rather than move anything, which costs money. There is no one on the face of the earth that would like to see them come roaring back and have their great line of products available again, but who in their right mind would restart a model airplane supply company from scratch in this day and age??
   Type at you later,
    Dan McEntee

This could be it's own thread but I agree, I think Sig is gone. I don't think we'll be getting and fuel help from them/him.

[Motorman]

Castor at Bulk Apothecary is good, been using it for years.

[dave siegler]

i just did a little simple math to make 10% fuel.   

if you start with a 5 gal pail of nitro and make 10% 20% fuel

VP 50- 50 methanol makes 25 gallons of 10%   (12.8 oz nitro 12.8 of meth per gal)             $187
for 20% oil you will need 5 gallons somewhere 70- 80 $ / gallon (25.6 oz/ gal)                    $272
you will need an extra 15 gallons of methanol   5 gallon pail is $61  (76.8 oz /gal)                $183


so that is about $740 to make 25 gals of fuel

No shipping no hazmat no containers are included.

$29.68 per gallon doesn't seem like a lot of savings.      

maybe I can find cheaper oil or cheaper methanol but the costs are direct pricing from VP Racing and Klotz. 

[David_Ruff]

Yep. I didn't see much that would be more cost effective vs premixed fuel.

[Dave_Trible]

It's been at least a year since I guesstimated my cost but it seemed that from my sources for stuff I figured $22-$23 a gallon.  Actually price was never the issue anyway - AVAILABILITY and not paying hazmat fees for shipping gallons was my goal when Byron's quit making fuel and I could no longer pick it up at the local hobby shop.  However you could still order (in quarts) whatever you need from Red Max until now.  The only fuel I can still purchase locally is stuff I'd never put in my engines.  The LHS now is trying to carry a little VP but with their shipping costs it's north of $35 a gallon and they only will order 15% and something like 30% for RC cars.  There aren't other good choices. I can use 25 or more gallons a season sometimes and so the fuel bill isn't trivial but is just the cost of the game.

Dave

[Reptoid]

i just did a little simple math to make 10% fuel.   

if you start with a 5 gal pail of nitro and make 10% 20% fuel

VP 50- 50 methanol makes 25 gallons of 10%   (12.8 oz nitro 12.8 of meth per gal)             $187
for 20% oil you will need 5 gallons somewhere 70- 80 $ / gallon (25.6 oz/ gal)                    $272
you will need an extra 15 gallons of methanol   5 gallon pail is $61  (76.8 oz /gal)                $183





so that is about $740 to make 25 gals of fuel

No shipping no hazmat no containers are included.

$29.68 per gallon doesn't seem like a lot of savings.      

maybe I can find cheaper oil or cheaper methanol but the costs are direct pricing from VP Racing and Klotz.

Buying direct from Klotz is not the way to go : Buy Klotz here with free shipping
https://www.amazon.com/Original-TechniPlate-128-Ounce-Gallon/dp/B01M6B8YRC/ref=sr_1_1?crid=10PNI5V43LL43&keywords=Klotz+KL%3D205&qid=1701662501&sprefix=klotz+kl+205%2Caps%2C160&sr=8-1&ufe=app_do%3Aamzn1.fos.17d9e15d-4e43-4581-b373-0e5c1a776d5d
Buy castor here with free shipping:
https://www.amazon.com/100-Pure-Castor-Oil-Cold-pressed/dp/B097HP7DQ6?pd_rd_w=lZWK6&content-id=amzn1.sym.d7b2d8b5-a4a1-4936-94ee-0a973f84d4dc&pf_rd_p=d7b2d8b5-a4a1-4936-94ee-0a973f84d4dc&pf_rd_r=Q3H2WF4W1V4XKV75E2MH&pd_rd_wg=SGkqa&pd_rd_r=23bd6cd6-ae31-4002-ad8c-9f1dd0606021&pd_rd_i=B097HP7DQ6&psc=1&ref_=pd_bap_d_grid_rp_0_1_ec_pd_gwd_bag_pd_gw_rp_2_t

Most dealers here sell it to us for less than Klotz direct; like $150/ no shipping or hazmat. Any dealer that sells VP can get it for you no shipping/no hazmat because it is delivered to them on a VP truck
You can buy Methanol from local race shops, industrial co's, or bio diesel shops for $5-$7/gallon.

Using  those numbers 5 gallons of 20% oil/ 10% Nitro fuel would cost:

1 Gallon of Klotz= $60
1 gallon of 50/50=$30
3 gallons of methanol= $18
Total =$108 or $21.60/gallon
 If you substitute a little castor for some of the Klotz it will be even cheaper.

[Jim Svitko]

As long as I can get the components, I will continue to mix my own.  Local hobby shops that have any fuel at all are pricing it way beyond what I will pay.

It has been a while since I bought nitro.  The last time I did, it was $40/gallon.  No doubt it is higher now.  I will need more in a few months so I have to contact the supplier to see if he is still willing and able to sell me a few gallons at a time.

The last time I bought methanol was about a month ago.  It was $6/gallon at the auto performance shop.  The oil I got from Summit (Klotz Super Techniplate KL-101) was around $63/gallon.  This oil is 80% synthetic, 20% castor blend.  Modern engines do not need the high amount of castor so this oil works very well.  Being pre-mixed, I do not need to mess with finding castor but I keep castor on hand just in case.  And, there are times I go with a 50-50 synthetic/castor oil mix.

I can mix a gallon of 5% nitro, 22% oil, for about $21.

[Dennis Toth]

Here's the problem - Mixing your own is OK for some die-hard's but if we don't have a reliable source of good pre-mixed fuel that one can at least order for a reasonable price then glow will go the way of diesel. Electric will be the only viable choice for most flyers.

Who is left that we can buy fuel from?

Best,    DennisT

[Jim Svitko]

Check with Ritch's Brew.  In the past, that is where I got my fuel.  Some hobby shops stocked it but not likely to find it now at retail outlets.

Let's face the facts.  Our hobby is on the endangered species list.  The good old days are over.  It is tough to get anything now.  Balsa, fuel, and other supplies are expensive, if you can even find what you need.  Without a place like Brodak, I would probably be forced to give up on this.

At a recent event at the RC field where we have a control line circle, I walked over to the RC area to check things out.  I looked at the planes, either on the tables, being readied, or in the vans and SUVs.  Most were foamie ARFs or RTFs.  Electric powered, for the most part.  Very few build anymore so why would hobby shops stock balsa and other building materials?  With electric taking over, why stock fuel, or the components to make your own?

I am hanging on, hoping for the best, but the end is in sight.

[David_Ruff]

Check with Ritch's Brew.  In the past, that is where I got my fuel.  Some hobby shops stocked it but not likely to find it now at retail outlets.

Let's face the facts.  Our hobby is on the endangered species list.  The good old days are over.  It is tough to get anything now.  Balsa, fuel, and other supplies are expensive, if you can even find what you need.  Without a place like Brodak, I would probably be forced to give up on this.

At a recent event at the RC field where we have a control line circle, I walked over to the RC area to check things out.  I looked at the planes, either on the tables, being readied, or in the vans and SUVs.  Most were foamie ARFs or RTFs.  Electric powered, for the most part.  Very few build anymore so why would hobby shops stock balsa and other building materials?  With electric taking over, why stock fuel, or the components to make your own?

I am hanging on, hoping for the best, but the end is in sight.

Yes.  Sign of the times and culture.  Sad.

[Jim Svitko]

One way to keep costs in line is to go back to smaller planes.  Not only are the larger ones (650+ square inch size) wearing me down now after a few flights, they need more of everything--more fuel, more wood, more paint, more storage space, etc.

My Brodak 40 needs 3.5 ounces of fuel.  The Magnum 36 needs 3 ounces.  The planes powered with these engines are not wearing me down after a few flights.  I can go a few hours at a time and enjoy the outing.

The larger planes are not as "jumpy" and can handle more wind but I have to consider everything here and go with what is working best for me.

[Marty Hammersmith]

Excellent self evaluation Jim.  Once I quit competing in Imac I downsized to what will fit in the Subaru. No more trailer of $6000 airplanes. Now its low stress fun. Im new to control line and working my way up to .35-.40 airplanes where I will probably stay. My .28 Ringmaster with 3oz tank is lots of fun on minimal everything.

[Dave Moritz]

Very good of Dave S. to add some needed facts to the thread here. Also, good on Don for his refinements. Thanks to you both. Fuel mixing isn’t difficult. I store ingredients in a metal cabinet.

Dave Mo…

[Reptoid]

      I'm trying to find a local vendor for VP fuels that can get the 50/50 mix of methanol /nitro for me and maybe avoid shipping and hazmat fees. So far, no luck. I'm working on another angle through a kart racing friend. His supplier of VP Racing fuels for karts told him he would need a special license to order the 50/50 mix. He's check in another source. That would be easiest for me, only keep one can on hand and just buy alcohol as needed. Oil isn't a problem.

    I doubt that we will ever see anything out of SIG. They fired all their employees last January and were supposed to be moving. It's been almost a year now. Rumors were to Chicago area. The old buildings have been for sale for several years, and an auction of the entire contents of the building was held last April, and from what I saw on the auction com0any web site leading up to it, it included all production equipment, even the rugs and mats on the floors, all fixtures shelves and such. Some shelves still had balsa stacked on them and if it was on the shelf when you bought it, you got what was on the shelf. The owner Herb Rizzo, was one of the three partners that bought SIG from Chris LeHey after his heart attack. They had to sell it a few years later. I find it difficult to believe that he would be the hero that saves the company. The web site seems active for items on hand, but still shows the Montezuma address. Some one on another forum said the new address was in Des Plaines, IL. If you google that address, it shows the Evergeen Plastic Company, that markets structural plastics for model railroads and such through hobby shops.  If the name survives at all, I think it will just be an importer of R/C ARFs. They carried several brands before they shut down, but don't show any on the current edition of the web site. Items on the web site have inflated prices, and if not available are shown as "SOLD OUT", not out of stock. I think they are just still in the process of selling off existing stock and may be using the warehouse in Montezuma rather than move anything, which costs money. There is no one on the face of the earth that would like to see them come roaring back and have their great line of products available again, but who in their right mind would restart a model airplane supply company from scratch in this day and age??
   Type at you later,
    Dan McEntee

   Your friend at the Karting shop is misinformed. The whole purpose of VP selling 50/50 was to avoid the severe restrictions on selling/storing pure Nitromethane. If he buys M1 methanol from them then he can order the 50/50. in 5 gallon sealed containers.

[Peter in Fairfax, VA]

We are very happy with S&W Fuels.  We've put in a couple of five case club orders and been quite pleased.

https://www.s-whobby.com/

[Bill Hummel]

I’ll second Peter’s findings. Very good service over the years.

[dave siegler]

Buying direct from Klotz is not the way to go : Buy Klotz here with free shipping
https://www.amazon.com/Original-TechniPlate-128-Ounce-Gallon/dp/B01M6B8YRC/ref=sr_1_1?crid=10PNI5V43LL43&keywords=Klotz+KL%3D205&qid=1701662501&sprefix=klotz+kl+205%2Caps%2C160&sr=8-1&ufe=app_do%3Aamzn1.fos.17d9e15d-4e43-4581-b373-0e5c1a776d5d
Buy castor here with free shipping:
https://www.amazon.com/100-Pure-Castor-Oil-Cold-pressed/dp/B097HP7DQ6?pd_rd_w=lZWK6&content-id=amzn1.sym.d7b2d8b5-a4a1-4936-94ee-0a973f84d4dc&pf_rd_p=d7b2d8b5-a4a1-4936-94ee-0a973f84d4dc&pf_rd_r=Q3H2WF4W1V4XKV75E2MH&pd_rd_wg=SGkqa&pd_rd_r=23bd6cd6-ae31-4002-ad8c-9f1dd0606021&pd_rd_i=B097HP7DQ6&psc=1&ref_=pd_bap_d_grid_rp_0_1_ec_pd_gwd_bag_pd_gw_rp_2_t

Most dealers here sell it to us for less than Klotz direct; like $150/ no shipping or hazmat. Any dealer that sells VP can get it for you no shipping/no hazmat because it is delivered to them on a VP truck
You can buy Methanol from local race shops, industrial co's, or bio diesel shops for $5-$7/gallon.

Using  those numbers 5 gallons of 20% oil/ 10% Nitro fuel would cost:

1 Gallon of Klotz= $60
1 gallon of 50/50=$30
3 gallons of methanol= $18
Total =$108 or $21.60/gallon
 If you substitute a little castor for some of the Klotz it will be even cheaper.

thanks, Don you are spot on,  I contacted VP-racing and they gave me a local supplier.  They supply the local dirt tracks and I ought to be able to get what I need. 


My earlier post was using MSRP pricing.  Oil is a lot more costly than expected. 
I want to be able to mix hot 1/2a fuel and other mixes for my engines.  A quart or 1/2 gal at a time if needed.   Not be stuck with 6 gallons.

With all the corn farmers I should still be able to find methanol or ethanol cheaply still looking. 

I am still hopeful for SIG as they are now 60 60-minute drive away.  They still list fuel but it may be remaining stock.

Just don't ask chatgpt for help finding nitro or methanol.  it would not find regulated items like nitro.

[Mike Morrow]

We are very happy with S&W Fuels.  We've put in a couple of five case club orders and been quite pleased.

https://www.s-whobby.com/

Our club buys from S&W. Usually, 2 55 gal drums every other year. It ends up costing $23/gallon. He'll mix it anyway you want.

Mjkwe

Sent from my SM-A146U using Tapatalk

[Dan McEntee]

   Your friend at the Karting shop is misinformed. The whole purpose of VP selling 50/50 was to avoid the severe restrictions on selling/storing pure Nitromethane. If he buys M1 methanol from them then he can order the 50/50. in 5 gallon sealed containers.

    I have no reason to doubt my friend. His supplier is in Illinois and is a VP dealer. When the dealer inquired about the product is when he was told about needing a special license. Remember this is Illinois where the current governor is forcing illegal gun legislation on his citizens!! It may vary from state to state. I'm still waiting for clarification.
  I have tried surfing the VP website in search of other dealers near me and only see "gas stations" listed and most of those aren't in the best part of town!!  Speed shops here are more rare than hobby shops now! I'm not really impressed with the VP web site as of yet.
    Type at you later,
    Dan McEntee

[Dave_Trible]

I never had much luck with VP.  There is a regional distributor in Manhattan Kansas, about two hours away.  They acted like they didn't want to sell to me directly and referred me to a VP gas station close by.  That station would never pick up and bring what I asked for.   Eventually that turned into a Shell station....

Dave

[Dan McEntee]

I never had much luck with VP.  There is a regional distributor in Manhattan Kansas, about two hours away.  They acted like they didn't want to sell to me directly and referred me to a VP gas station close by.  That station would never pick up and bring what I asked for.   Eventually that turned into a Shell station....

Dave

  I was going to take another try with the website, but this morning the "find a dealer" function doesn't bring anything up. I'll try again later but again I haven't had much luck with their website.
  Type at you later,
    Dan McEntee

[Reptoid]

Here's the problem - Mixing your own is OK for some die-hard's but if we don't have a reliable source of good pre-mixed fuel that one can at least order for a reasonable price then glow will go the way of diesel. Electric will be the only viable choice for most flyers.

Who is left that we can buy fuel from?

Best,    DennisT

  Not sure what your point is unless it's just that you can't easily buy it down the street at a local hobby shop anymore and/or it's too expensive. That would apply to almost any hobby item these days unfortunately. Prices have gone up substantially on fuel ingredients but in todays economy that shouldn't be a surprise. My grocery bill has more than doubled in just the last couple years. Pre Mixed Fuel is available from S&W, VP, Torco, Ritches Brew, Brodak, and Morgans's on line. S&W will also sell synthetic oil and racing castor and lists them on their website, as does Brodak. The places I listed above are the lowest prices I could find and help avoid shipping costs but the ingredients are available through many other sources

[Dan McEntee]

   I finally had some success with finding a VP dealer. It's a home heating oil supplier about an hour from me. He said he usually stocks a few cans of the 50/50 mix but is out of it right now. After we get through the holidays I'm going to pay him a visit and get set up.
  Type at you later,
   Dan McEntee