Bad nitro on engines
 

hi guys,
what's the impact to your engines if you've got a bad batch of nitro fuel?

actually how can we tell if our nitro is 'bad'? :confused:

im currently in the process to find out the results of having bad fuel. just think it was mixed wrong. not enough oil content, or too much nitro. i have bad scratch marks down the exhaust side and transfer ports, pitting on top of piston, and head buttons. i ran an engine in on a different mix, all nice and clean no problems. then i run one meet, 2 plugs went bad, but didnt drop the elements. was inconsistant in tune, and being rushed, i had to get the engine out and in a box, as it was going interstate. i then run in a new novarossi with it, after about 4 tanks a plug went. i stopped. i checked all engine i run on this fuel. 2 brand new ones, one Mule motor tha came wit another engine. all 3 were no good. i wont name supplier. nor the shop i got it from. but after 2 months still waiting to see what happens. i think the best thing is to run a motor with a new plug, after a tank, remove the plug and see the top of the piston, and read the plug, before any major damage occurs.

keep fuel out of sunlight, and off the ground. a cupboard on the 2nd shelf up does it for me. otherwise the nitro will attract moisture making the fuel bad.

hi paul?

i suspect my 16%nitro is bad which i just bought. monitoring my engines currently.

similar to what you've stated, my 1st engine which was ran with this fuel got inconsistant tune. my 2speed didn't shift consistantly and when i checked my engine; found scratches on the sides of the piston; piston top and button have got pittings as well. engine temp was about 120+C. plug didnt die though. however i did notice that the engine sounds abit different from what it used to sound. :weird: about 4 or 5 tanks were ran in total.

to confirm whether really is the fuel, i've ran 2 tanks on my 2nd engine. to be on the safe side, i ran abit rich and engine temp about 100+C. open up my engine to inspect found still ok though, plug's fine too. however, engine sounds also abit different from it used to be! :sweat:

will run a few more tanks on my 2nd engine again to see how it'll go. :sneaky:

using an engine to test for bad fuel is 101% not economical at all!!! any suggestions?

My experience with bag nitro gas was realy baaaad, it cost me an engine.
to make it shirt I was running an IDM Picco Evo2 and at the middle of the main the engine was realy slow and I make a pit stopfor surprise the temp was 400oF:flaming: and for surprise the engine was smoking realy good so my pitman open 2 complete turns on high needle, I continue to run , the engine continues to run slow and the same temp when refueling and a lot of smoke cumming from the pipe, the engine never stall or flame out, but at the end the engine compression was gone:cry: the piston was melting, and the engine rest in peace on the Engine heaven:rolleyes::cry: end of the terror story then I change fuel brand

i had the same situation too 2 months back changing nitro brands. i was told by my racer master to run in at least 1 to 2 tanks before making any race tune :)

prevention?
 

any ways to tell a bad fuel before we put it through our expensive engines? :confused:

I tried a new brand of fuel and had a simular experience. I lost 3 Max Power engines in one day. Bearings went bad very quickly (2 tanks) and I pulled the engines, replaced the bearings and run what I know is good from batch to batch. Byrons gen 2. I even add extra caster oil to every gallon.

hey, i think i've got bad fuel too, my engine bearings went bad like your case!
keeping a close watch on the 2nd engine that i'm running now and seems like bearing issue too. :mad:

Used to run O'Donnell and switched to Byrons Gen2...wont run anything else but Byrons. Worst thing I've seen with Byrons is a slight orange tint after a few gallons from the dye. Everything inside is smooth as butter and shiny! mebe happy!

i know Serpent sell a Fuel tester, this is used at sanctioned events to make sure nitro content is with in limits. i guess if oil content is too little, or nitro too much it will show. but wont say what is actually wrong, just it will fail. i guess that is a good starting point. http://www.serpent.com/product/1450 only a 16% tester though.