Re: Ethanol vs. Methanol

fredvon4 on Sun Sep 01, 2019 10:05 am

Ethanol is not cheap....100%

https://www.laballey.com/collections/ethanol/?gclid=Cj0KCQjw2K3rBRDiARIsAOFSW_7SLReACVnYgwPeVw4hzVMUGVXvyK_bUnDzlEAgmWNDHFWyUYCzB4QaAlkzEALw_wcB

RCU discussion from 2009 may recognize some screen names...grin

http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/rc-fuels-161/8754272-catalytic-reaction-ethanol-platinum-what-percent-methanol-platinum.html

ian1954 on Sun Sep 01, 2019 12:50 pm

Both methanol and ethanol absorb water. Methanol is actually more corrosive to rubber seals etc than ethanol. While they are not direct replacements as ethanol runs hotter than methanol the important consideration is the final fuel mix and glow plug choice,

I can't see any problem running a Cox engine with the fuel mix produced in Germany provided it is using castor oil. Standard Cox engines do not like no nitro (nitromethane) fuel so I am not surprised that the engine above will not run without the glow head being powered.

Nitromethane is substance in the UK so it is not possible to try a Nitroethanol fuel. In fact, Nitromethanol fuel is restrited to under 25%.

I don't see an Ethanol based fuel causing any damage to a Cox engine but as to performance - I am unable to comment.

Here we have Ethanl based fuels for cars. My experience with the Mini was using 97 Octane and not E10 (measued on the same traffice free 400 mile return trp) was a 5 mpg saving. Also the injectors did not need cleaning at major service,

Newer vehicles have been tuned and built to accept this fuel but I still find a performance and fuel saving difference but I am comparing petrol to ethanol not methanol to ethanol.

fredvon4 on Sun Sep 01, 2019 1:44 pm

My last few cars were E-85 rated but we still fill with Regular at 10% Ethanol... Politically I am not at all happy converting a food/ feed crop to some pseudo science BS..Another rant for another day in the Red Neck Zone

I am astounded that we have now 2 decades of Corn based augment Gasolines in the USA and wheil the cars have been adapted to deal with the detrimental effects of alky diluted fuels our 140+ Million adults, yard business, and home owners---- still have to buy products with gas engines that have not had the same materials changes applied as the auto industry did.... I know a LOt of small engine repair guys that have every conceivable Walbro, Briggs, Honda, Ryobi, Husqvarna Carb on hand for any weed eater, chain saw, or lawn mower, or pressure washer....yada yada

I personally changed to commercial yard equipment a few years back...a SUBSTANTIAL cost for Stihl, Echo, Gravely, John Deere (comercial)

the John Deere XR320 is only one fed pump gas....I pay roughly 15 bucks a gallon for pure gas in quart cans at ace hardware orr tractor supply.
....yes E85 , 10% but NO zero alky gas to be had at any pump in my rural local. We are rural enough to have more Diesel than Gas pumps

back to the subject...we collectively know a lot of EU modelers...no one seems to lament not finding Glow fuel..Most are distressed that NitroMethane is high cost of prohibited so they make due with FIA (80% meth 20% oil)

If you google the catalysts for Ethanol and Methanol or different...Platinum Rhodium, Palladium, core materiel has some impact...decades of converter research on chemical Power cells is worthy of reading....

And a parting thought ...If Ethanol was a cost effective alternative the glow fuel industry would exploit that...to my knowledge they do not

Anyone know why ENYA has a BUY back program for dead glow plugs?

America has 350 million population and best guess +/- 600,000 aero modelers
India 1.3 population and about same ratio of Aero modelrs
China over 1.6 Billion and estimated higher ratio of aero modelers

The world wide customer base of glow plug and glow fuel uses is still impressively big... and as MFGs drop off more and more choose Electrickery to be effective and cost equivalent....BUT they too impact the world supply of magnets, copper, and Lithium...just thoughts to ponder as we transition from 6+ Billion to 9.3 + Billion the tipping point in about 9 or 12 years....Hell Maybe AOC is right....OK sorry, bad Fred

jmendoza on Mon Oct 14, 2019 5:18 pm

There is a reason they use Methanol for model engine fuel:
Methanol has 3 times the vapor pressure of ethanol and therefore volatilizes much faster...which is why you need to have the glow plug clip on to keep your engine running with ethanol. Simply put, the ethanol does not evaporate or light off as easily as methanol.

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