Fuel supplies

[scottnewkirk]

Where do you get your fuel mixings? I'm returning to the fray after many years of doing family stuff.
All of my normal sources are long out of business so I'm starting the search from new.

Oil is dead easy but alky, nitro and prop all seem to be mail order or???

 

[Mike Hughes]

Prop is illegal for fuels I believe. Check you local race shop. I buy my methanol there. Finding and getting aproved for nitro is the hard part for large orders. They require a business address to ship it to. Last 55 gallon we bought, we got from a track in spokane. He had an excess of nitro since the 2020 pandemic shut down his track. He used to run some nitro dragsters for between round entertainment.

For small amount 5gallons or less, the internet is where it is at. Torco sells pure nitro and meth.

A good deal would be to buy from Seaducer, Bam, Technolgy. Tech ships race ready fuel. Seducer and BAM you have to pick up at a race.
Mike

 

[John Beardslee]

Prop is illegal for fuels I believe. Check you local race shop. I buy my methanol there. Finding and getting aproved for nitro is the hard part for large orders. They require a business address to ship it to. Last 55 gallon we bought, we got from a track in spokane. He had an excess of nitro since the 2020 pandemic shut down his track. He used to run some nitro dragsters for between round entertainment.

For small amount 5gallons or less, the internet is where it is at. Torco sells pure nitro and meth.

A good deal would be to buy from Seaducer, Bam, Technolgy. Tech ships race ready fuel. Seducer and BAM you have to pick up at a race.
Mike

Mike, Propylene oxide is legal in IMPBA. Not sure about in NAMBA, I’ll let you check that.

 

[David Krienke]

I called VP last week and I was quoted 215 per 5 gal of 100 nitro and 5.50 per gal of meth. it was actually cheaper in 5 gal for nitro he wanted 2100 for a 42gal barrel for 100 percent .I am also looking for fuel in the Kansas city area here. and I might have to order through technology now that red max stopped making fuel. keep us updated if you find something .

 

[Terry Keeley]

I called VP last week and I was quoted 215 per 5 gal of 100 nitro and 5.50 per gal of meth. it was actually cheaper in 5 gal for nitro he wanted 2100 for a 42gal barrel for 100 percent .I am also looking for fuel in the Kansas city area here. and I might have to order through technology now that red max stopped making fuel. keep us updated if you find something .

Sure that wasn't a 52 gal barrel? That's how they usually come as it's limited to 500 lbs. Seems the price has actually come down a bit, was up around $50/gal not long ago.

 

[Danny King]

• Chemical Facility Anti-Terrorism Standards (CFATS)
  The Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) requires reporting to them if you possess 400 lbs (42 gallons) or more of nitromethane. Failure to report can result in civil penalties.

 

[David Krienke]

I have it written over the top of the 42gal I asked him the weight and he said 500lb. I wonder if that is a 55gal then ?.then next line down I have a 54gal meth is 300.00 @5.50gal.He said I could bring a jug and fill the meth in any qty I wanted but the nitro was in 5 gal container or drum only and he would have to order it.

 

[Terry Keeley]

• Chemical Facility Anti-Terrorism Standards (CFATS)
  The Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) requires reporting to them if you possess 400 lbs (42 gallons) or more of nitromethane. Failure to report can result in civil penalties.

Ya, I just fill out the questionnaire from my VP dealer, it goes to Homeland Security and a week later it's approved.

Standard drum is 52 US gallons or 500 lbs.

 

[Alan Elzer]

Where do you get your fuel mixings? I'm returning to the fray after many years of doing family stuff.
All of my normal sources are long out of business so I'm starting the search from new.

Oil is dead easy but alky, nitro and prop all seem to be mail order or???

Where are you located?

 

[ACTION JACKSON]

I thought prop oxide wasn't allowed because it's an addative. If they made it legal then maybe that explains a lot of speeds or record's for the few that might use it. Am I wrong, but doesn't it oxengenat the fuel for better performance. Oxide was used many years ago & they band it. Any other input on this please chime in.

 

[Alan Elzer]

I thought prop oxide wasn't allowed because it's an addative. If they made it legal then maybe that explains a lot of speeds or record's for the few that might use it. Am I wrong, but doesn't it oxengenat the fuel for better performance. Oxide was used many years ago & they band it. Any other input on this please chime in.

It melts motors anyway in hot weather

 

[scottnewkirk]

Actually the prop oxide is for a pulse jet project... totally unrelated to reciprocating engine use

 

[scottnewkirk]

Where are you located?

Seattle area

 

[John Beardslee]

It melts motors anyway in hot weather

My old Rossi 80’s I bought new from Bill McGraw way back when came with fuel recommendations that included a receipt that had 10% Propylene Oxide in it but no nitro. Nitro was hard to get in Europe at the time so propylene was substituted. The only time I used it much was 3% to prime the old side port engines in cold weather. And the same in winter to start our air propeller driven powersleds.

 

[seaducerpete]

Read the mds on prope very scary stuff

 

[John Beardslee]

Read the mds on prope very scary stuff

Yup. We’ve learned to anticipate how nitro works as we increase percentages, it’s pretty linear in its progression. Prope jumps big time, going from 3 to 10 percent might result in a 10 fold increase in reaction.

 

[El Zorro]

Back in the 1970's they used a 50/50 mix of Nitro and prope for pulse jets in controline speed. The Langois, Huff, Hurlocker speed team set the jet record at 213MPH and change in 1978 using a 50/50 mix of Nitro and Prope. I was one of the persons there with a stop watch. Impressive!

Dick Tyndall

 

[Don Ferrette]

I thought prop oxide wasn't allowed because it's an addative. If they made it legal then maybe that explains a lot of speeds or record's for the few that might use it. Am I wrong, but doesn't it oxengenat the fuel for better performance. Oxide was used many years ago & they band it. Any other input on this please chime in.

Prope was not banned in the IMPBA (you might be thinking of Hydrazine which is banned) and some fuel manufacturers actually added small amounts in their premixed fuels. Messed with it a little years ago and found the biggest benefit was helping light very high nitro mixes in cold weather. Got away from it after a short bit, not worth the hassle or expense.

 

[El Zorro]

Don is correct with his assessment of Propylene Oxide and what it was used for. Back when I was in high school ( 1960's ) my Dad brought a glass bottle of prope home from work. I assumed he had gotten it from a chemist there. This was during the summer and in a matter of a week or so it exploded sending glass all over the floor. No wet spot left because the prope had quickly evaporated. Prope should always be kept in a metal can! The controline speed guys would mix the proper amount of nitro/prope for the next flight mainly because the prope evaporated quickly. Back in the 1980's I had a metal gallon can that was about 1/3 full of prope that I kept in my work room in a closet in my house ( not a good idea ). I would have to "burp" the can about every few weeks because it would build up pressure. If I didn't do this the can would expand and make a "bang" noise and scare the heck out of the wife and the dogs, especially if it did it at night. Anyway, the prope had to go and I never got to fly my pulse jet, which I still have. It's an early all aluminum "Ironsides " by Jerry Thomas with the upright engine. And if I'm not mistaken Ed Fisher ( NAMBA Hall of Famer ) use to fly the jets for Jerry in the Washington state area.

Dick Tyndall

 

[Terry Keeley]

I run 3% in my 60% heat race fuel, it helps the launch and mid range especially when it's below about 70F.

I've tried up to 15% with 70% nitro in my SAW boat and it does help burn the fuel when it's colder than about 50F.