OTS fuel selection for ignition engines

[Bill Little]

For those of you that run ignition engines, what type of fuel do you prefer?  Gasoline and oil, Coleman fuel and oil, glow fuel?

Thanks!
Bill

[peabody]

Bill
Pay attention to what Bob Zambelli says.....his ignition stuff works great....

[Mike Keville]

Bill
Pay attention to what Bob Zambelli says.....

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Also Jim Kraft, Floyd Carter and Don Hutchinson.

[Dan McEntee]

   If I ever get around to building my new Yates Dragon with a Madewell .49 in it, I plan on using glow fuel with at least 25% total oil in it, at the suggestion of some of the guys here. That way, if I have trouble with the ignition, I can replace the spark plug with a glow plug and keep flying. Probably won't work with the larger or older ignition engines, but works fine with the Madewell.
    Type at you later,
     Dan McEntee

[FLOYD CARTER]

I sent Bill L. a reply.   Some people use low-nitro glo fuel, which works OK.  I use Coleman fuel and 70Wt oil.

I'm posting here because people will have trouble finding 70wt. oil.  I use Castrol "nitro 70" and I have used Valvoline 70.  Both of these have a higher flash point.

I should warn that some motor oils will not work in high compression engines.  If that's what you have, then be careful and watch your exhaust goo.  If it is black, don't use that oil!

Most of the old time ignition engines are steel/cast iron.  This requires at least 25% oil content.

Floyd

[Bill Little]

Bill
Pay attention to what Bob Zambelli says.....his ignition stuff works great....

Hi Rich,

Seems Bob must be mad at me or something!  I sent him a pm earlier today but no reply............and he HAS replied to posts today so I am sure he saw my PM..........

Bill

[Bill Little]

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Also Jim Kraft, Floyd Carter and Don Hutchinson.

Hi Uncle Mikey!

I have those three on my PM speed dial! 

Thanks!
Bill

[Bill Little]

I sent Bill L. a reply.   Some people use low-nitro glo fuel, which works OK.  I use Coleman fuel and 70Wt oil.

I'm posting here because people will have trouble finding 70wt. oil.  I use Castrol "nitro 70" and I have used Valvoline 70.  Both of these have a higher flash point.

I should warn that some motor oils will not work in high compression engines.  If that's what you have, then be careful and watch your exhaust goo.  If it is black, don't use that oil!

Most of the old time ignition engines are steel/cast iron.  This requires at least 25% oil content.

Floyd

Thanks, Floyd!
Bill

[Andrew Tinsley]

I have run my ignition engines on all of the fuels mentioned. I tend to use FAI type glow fuel (No Nitro) or low nitro fuel. As everyone says you need at least 25% oil and if you are intending to run petrol then you need the correct oil! One source is your local airport. They will usually have Shell 140 weight oil (or equivalent). Now for some strange reason SAE70 weight is the same as 140 weight viscosity for airplane engines!
To be really honest, I don't much like using petrol, as the engine running temperature is significantly higher than with ethanol. I figure that using ethanol will reduce engine wear. However if you want to be like the old timers, then run petrol or Coleman,s fuel You will need a much larger tank for ethanol than petrol. The fuel type doesn't really matter, they all run fine as long as you have the correct ignition setup. 

[FLOYD CARTER]

Andrew is correct.  Typically, it will take twice as much glo fuel as gasoline fuel for the same run time.  So, allow plenty of space for a fuel tank!

A hot spark is the real secret to spark ignition use.  Modern batteries and transistor coil drivers have all but eliminated the old problems running spark ignition engines.

Floyd

[Robert Zambelli]

Hi, Bill - sorry I did not post earlier but I had to deliver a plane (full scale) today and I was away from the computer.

Anyhow, I use a mixture of 75% mid range UNLEADED gasoline, 20% castor oil, 5% synthetic and one teaspoon of nitrobenzine per quart.
I get the synthetic at Walmart.
I NEVER have to clean the plug and I usually get good fast starts.

Regarding motor oil, I know a lot of people use it but I prefer not to - because? It's really formulaled to be pumped through automotive/truck engines, not as a two-stroke lubricant. Although it mixes with gasoline, that's not what it's designed for. It is formulated with viscosity stabilizers and detergents which I do not believe contribute to the performance of our model aircraft engines.

My OK Super 60 has around 500 flights and has only be disassembled once.

I use three AAA alkaline cells - Energizer, NEVER Duracell.

Since the specific heat of gasoline is approximately three times that of alcohol, I use 1 3/4 ounces of fuel for the pattern.

I also modify all my coils.

This is what has been working for me since 1975. Other people have good results with other formulations.
Use what works best for you.

Bob Z.

[FLOYD CARTER]

Bob Z.  Yes.  Coil modification is important.  Modelectric and Aerospark coils are assembled using bee's wax.  Over time, and with vibration,  the wax lets go and the end plates move around, causing breaking of the internal wires.  Modification is easy, and just amounts to a bit of epoxy on the outside of the end plates to keep them in place.

Floyd

[Bill Little]

Thanks, Bob!

I guess I will have to run all three types to find out which works best for me!  I have not run a spark engine yet..........  I need all the help I can get! LOL!!  I'll talk with you soon.

Thanks
Bill