Glow fuel is a special fuel used in model cars or glow engines, made from petroleum distillation byproducts and suspended in castor or synthetic oils. It can be used in two-stroke and four-stroke glow engines and varies in nitro content, affecting power and performance. Nitromethane is regulated in some areas due to its explosive properties. The fuel is named after the internal platinum wire in glow engines that emits a warm white light when exposed to an electric current.
Glow fuel is a special fuel used in model cars or glow engines. This fuel is used to power small machines such as model airplanes and helicopters as well as boats and remote controlled cars. Glow fuel is a byproduct of petroleum distillation and may also be known as nitro or model fuel.
Standard fluorescent fuel often contains a blend of two petroleum-based products. Methanol makes up the bulk of the fuel, and nitromethane, or nitro, is added for extra power and performance. In some parts of the world, the sale of nitromethane is highly regulated due to this fuel’s ability to act as an explosive under certain conditions. In these areas, nitro is omitted and the glowing fuel consists entirely of methanol.
These glow fuel components are often suspended in a base material made from castor or synthetic oils. These oils act as a form of lubricant in a model engine. Castor or synthetic oils also help cool the engine and keep it from overheating during regular, extended operation.
Each model vehicle manufacturer provides its own recommendations on the best fuel blend for the company’s line of vehicles. Generally, these recommendations differ based on the percentage of nitromethane mixed with the methanol. For example, a 15% fluorescent fuel blend typically contains about 15% nitro. The higher the nitro content, the more expensive the fuel and the more power and performance the vehicle has in most cases. Most model cars and airplanes require 10 to 18 percent glow fuel, although amounts of nitro up to 30 percent can be used under race conditions.
This special fuel can be used in both two-stroke and four-stroke glow engines. Two-stroke model engines provide the simplest operation and lowest maintenance requirements, but tend to consume larger volumes of red-hot fuel. Four-stroke glow engines require more maintenance, but they also offer a higher level of fuel efficiency, which could save you money on fuel bills. Very large remote control vehicles may also use standard diesel engines, such as those used for chainsaws, rather than a glow engine.
Glow fuel takes its name from the glow engine used in many model vehicles. These motors contain an internal platinum wire, or filament. When exposed to an electric current, this filament emits a warm white light, admitting fuel into the nearby combustion chamber. In this way, the filament works similar to those found in an incandescent light bulb.
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