Mode Zero

Site with many engine tests, some with variety of r/c model diesel fuels and the outcomes.
Don't know about other places, but here in Aus, getting hold of ether in small quantities is almost impossible.
A couple of enquiries have replied saying they have a "club purchase" for certain events which is fine for them but not much help to me.


https://www.youtube.com/user/hopeso/videos

Easiest way to get small amounts of ether , is John Deer starting fluid , it comes in 7oz pressure pack cans. The contents are 80% ether and the remaining is butane as propellant-(may also have upto %5 lubricant)
To use- 1/place can in freezer to chill contents, 2/then without shakeing contents invert can and spray out the gas 3/ let can rest to come to room temp 4/ invert and spray out remainng gas ( the double degassing loses less ether) 5/ turn can upside down and cut off base with can opener and pour out your ether (now 95-100% ether) -use ether as normal in your fuel mix.
re those alternative fuels - yes you can run most diesels on little or no ether - but its very hard on conrods as higher compression is needed fire the kero( or alternate fuel)

Have a look at the article ETHER-LESS DIESEL FUELS in this news letter......

http://www.modelflyingnz.org/sigs/Vinta ... %20160.pdf

Brian Winch AKA: "The Wizard Of OZ" did a lot of research into ether alternatives.

I may try number 2 myself when my $40 1 litre can of diesel runs out.

Cheers,

Dave

ChemSupply can supply 500 mil of diethyl ether

https://www.chemsupply.com.au/

If that's any help?

https://www.chemsupply.com.au/search?Pr ... yl%20ether

Any idea which one.......sadly have no chemists in the family.

I think any diethyl ether will be fine for fuel - you don't need medical-grade or laboratory-grade stuff. The stuff for sale on that site looks far too expensive to me - unless I'm looking in the wrong place. This one is $356.90 per litre, even though it's a "clearance item", and this one is a slightly more reasonable $136.00 for 4 litres (again, "expired stock clearance").

I think the engine starting fluid - which is mostly ether - is the way to go if you can't find a local chemical supplies place that will sell you ether at a reasonable price.

Nowadays I just buy the ready mixed D2000 model diesel fuel. It's £28.65 for half a gallon from Model Technics, and has the hard-to-obtain ignition improver already added. They even publish their mix formula: http://www.modeltechnics.com/diesel.htm

I went for the 4L of expired stock, should last a fair time.
However, I'm definitely going to try the "Shellite" trick as mentioned above, that is readily available in Bunnings

For those of us that don't know, what is 'SHELLITE'?

Shellite is a hydrocarbon solvent, similar to white spirit, used for cleaning and as a fuel (similar to lighter fluid)
ETA - actually it IS lighter fluid, aka Colemans fuel or naphtha

jackdaw wrote: 10 Jul 2020, 11:29 For those of us that don't know, what is 'SHELLITE'?

Guess you have to be an Aussie,,,...

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Naphtha