{"id":1121,"date":"2020-11-01T11:43:18","date_gmt":"2020-11-01T10:43:18","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.goodiesrc.com\/?p=1121"},"modified":"2022-11-16T21:07:04","modified_gmt":"2022-11-16T20:07:04","slug":"what-is-rc-nitro-fuel-made-of","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.goodiesrc.com\/what-is-rc-nitro-fuel-made-of\/","title":{"rendered":"What Is RC Nitro Fuel Made Of?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Even if you are not interested in mixing your own nitro fuel, you can still benefit from having more intimate knowledge about what is found in nitro fuel.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This can help you improve the performance of your RC model. It can even help you in extending the life of the nitro engine significantly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What is RC nitro fuel made of? RC nitro fuel (also known as glow fuel or model fuel) is made of methanol, nitromethane, and oil. RC nitro fuel is made of methanol (between 60% to 80%), nitromethane (between 5% to 40%), and oil (between 8% to 25%). Fuel dyes and other fuel additives can sometimes also be found in nitro fuel.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

As you will find in this article, not all nitro fuel is created equal, and there are some important details that you need to be aware of. And manufacturers may not always tell you the whole deal. So let’s take a look.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What Are the Ingredients in RC Nitro Fuel?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Generally speaking, there are two types of RC models when it comes to their power source\u2014electric or battery-powered and fuel-powered RC cars.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

While battery-powered RC models are powered by a battery and have an electric motor, fuel-powered RC models have fuel tanks and engines that run on fuel. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Most RC models have a two-stroke engine that runs on nitro fuel. Nitro fuel is made of methanol, nitromethane, and a lubricant, and it is also known as glow fuel or model fuel. It is the type of fuel most RC model cars, trucks, boats, planes, and helicopters use.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Methanol<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Methanol is a type of alcohol. It is used in the preparation of fuels, antifreeze, and some solvents. Originally it was derived from wood, but today it is made from natural gas. This is why it is also known as methyl alcohol or wood alcohol.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Related post: How to Start A Nitro RC Car Without A Glow Starter<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Methanol is the main ingredient found in nitro fuel, and it provides the bulk of the power output and the main reason why the fuel burns.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Methanol has a very low flash point of 52 to 54 \u00b0F, which means that it gives off ignitable vapors at those temperatures. The autoignition temperature of methanol, on the other hand, is fairly high or 878 \u00b0F.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This low flash point makes methanol a serious fire risk if not stored properly and not handled with care. The fact that methanol burns with an extremely pale blue flame that is nearly impossible to spot during daylight makes it even more dangerous.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Nitromethane<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Nitromethane is a colorless oily liquid and has some very interesting properties.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Nitromethane has its own nitrous oxide and oxygen atoms. Because of the extra oxygen, it can be said that nitromethane, to a certain degree, can replace the oxygen needed for burning fuel.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As a result\u2014although nitromethane is not as powerful as gasoline\u2014you can pump a lot more nitromethane in the cylinder generating more power. On average, you can pump up to 2.5 more fuel, but The increase in power is not too extreme.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Nitromethane has a flashpoint of 95\u00b0F and an autoignition temperature of 784 \u00b0F.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Nitromethane is used for several reasons:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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  1. It keeps the engine running smoother and improves idling.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  2. It helps the fuel burn quicker, translating into more power and higher rpm.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  3. It makes for easier tuning of the engine in some instances.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n

    That being said, the use of nitromethane is not mandatory. Using too much nitromethane can lead to excessive wear of the engine or overheating.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Lubricant<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

    Some kind of a lubricant is necessary for the majority of RC nitro engines simply because they are two-stroke. Lubricants are added to the fuel mixture used in two-stroke engines to keep their internal parts in good working condition.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    However, not all types of oil can be used. For a nitro engine, you need an oil that has good viscosity at low temperatures, mixes well with methanol, and does not burn at high temperatures so that it can retain its lubrication qualities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    When it comes to nitro fuel, the most commonly used lubricant is castor oil or synthetic oil. Castor oil provides better lubrication but leaves a residue inside the engine that should be cleaned; otherwise, it will accumulate and gum up the engine. On the other hand, synthetic oil will generally leave less residue, but its lubrication is not as good.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Sometimes a mixture of castor and synthetic oil is used in order to get the best of both worlds.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Related post: Nitro Fuel 20 vs 30: Which One Should You Use?<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Fuel Dyes and Additives<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

    Some manufacturers may choose to add other additives like anti-foaming additives, anti-corrosion, and degumming agents.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Usually, nitro fuel is clear and does not have any color. However, many manufacturers will also add fuel dyes to their nitro fuel. They do it for safety purposes or due to local regulations. For example, in some countries, it is required by law manufacturers to dye some types of fuel.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Usually, nitro fuel can be found in different colors like pink, red, green, blue, or yellow, but other color variations can also be found. The color itself does not affect the nitro fuel in any way. However, some manufacturers may choose to use different colors for nitro fuels with different nitromethane content. That being said, there are no hard and fast rules when it comes to nitro dying.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Fuel dyes and additives are usually in negligible quantities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Ingredient Ratios in RC Nitro Fuel<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

    The ratio between the three main ingredients in nitro fuel can vary a lot depending on various factors.<\/p>\n\n\n\n