JC Posted July 12, 2009 Share Posted July 12, 2009 Hi Guys Ive just got a SC52 4 Stroke from a club mate. I have had some advice with regards to which fuel to use. I use Cool Power 5% nitro in my SC40 2 stroke and a couple of guys at the club say that this fuel has insufficient oil for a 4 stroke. On reading up on the subject I found an artical on the net suggesting that 4 strokes need less oil than a 2 stroke. Is this the case? How do I work out how much oil content a fuel has as there is nothing on the fuel bottle of my Cool Power giving the oil %. Only the nitro %. as usual all advice welcome. Regards Jon Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
winchweight Posted July 12, 2009 Share Posted July 12, 2009 I use cool power 10% without issue. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ken anderson. Posted July 12, 2009 Share Posted July 12, 2009 hello jon-one of member's used to use his 2st fuel for both engine's-2st and 4st---he used to say that it was ok(and they used to run ok)but he used to say that he couldn't run his 2st on any 4st fuel as it had to much oil in..........so to sum up i think i'm right in saying that your 4st need's more oil than the 2st----as the 4st get's the oil second hand so to speak after the combustion process-not like the 2st that get's it straight away on it's way up to the piston / plug etc...apparentley that's why they are(4st) libel to corrosion more easly than the 2st's because the oil they get is full of the acid's etc after the big bang upstair's......hope all that help's/make's sense.... ken anderson........ Edited By ken anderson. on 12/07/2009 20:21:52 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JC Posted July 12, 2009 Author Share Posted July 12, 2009 Shaun, ken Thanks guys. One of the guys did say that I should use 10% nitro on a four stroke but it would run on 5% ok, so thanks for confirming that for me. I got a bit concerned when someone mentioned dedicated 4 stroke fuel. What is different about 4 stroke fuel is it just a higher oil content? I still dont know how you work out how much oil content a fuel has as there is nothing on the canister stating the oil content. Thanks Jon Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ken anderson. Posted July 12, 2009 Share Posted July 12, 2009 jon-18-20% oil in 4st..........use straight fuel- no nitro/it's cheaper.... ken anderson..... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andy Green Posted July 12, 2009 Share Posted July 12, 2009 For what its worth, I run all my engines (2 & 4 stroke) on Prosynth 5% and so far have never had a problem. These include Saitio 180, OS FS 70, SC70, Justengines 56, Supertigre 45 & 75. I believe (anecdotally) that a lean engine run will cause more damage than a slightly lower / higher than recommended oil content. Andy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
andy watson Posted July 12, 2009 Share Posted July 12, 2009 For a 4 stroke you need 18%+ oil. The nitro % depends on how/what you are flying- but it doesn't need to be much normally. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JC Posted July 13, 2009 Author Share Posted July 13, 2009 Thanks guys Still dont see anywhere on the canister labels the oil contnet of a fuel. Just gives the nitro %. Jon Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
andy watson Posted July 13, 2009 Share Posted July 13, 2009 It often says on the label, or describes itself as 4 stroke fuel. I suggest a look at the manufacturers web site if it doesn't Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Myron Beaumont Posted July 13, 2009 Share Posted July 13, 2009 I use "Model Technics Duraglo 5 "for all my engines . No problems ever ! 2 st & 4 st ! Stick to what you think is best I reckon & what you can get hold of easily ,-Don't believe everything you read or hear about . That's life though isn't it ? Always used castor oil based fuels for 50 years . Years ago I added a "drop" of Castrol "R" --Just for the smell --Same as in my Gold Stars petrol . Pure nostrilgia Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JC Posted July 13, 2009 Author Share Posted July 13, 2009 Very many thanks guys Myron I think you hit it on the head. Every one has a different opinion as to what is the best fuel,model,engine,radio ect. The guy I got the engine off ,Kurt, has been flying for years and said that I would have no problems using the cool power 5% that I have for the 4 stroke. I can understand why as the whole right hand side of the fuz and the right wing is covered in oil after even a short flight with the SC.40 I have fitted at present. Again thanks to all happy landings Jon Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Phil Claridge Posted July 14, 2009 Share Posted July 14, 2009 i'll second myron, been using duroglo 5 since 1995 on all engines no problem Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steve Hargreaves - Moderator Posted July 15, 2009 Share Posted July 15, 2009 Hi Jon.....some useful data here concerning fuel. Just Engines reckon a few percent less oil in a 4 stroke.....I guess because they are under less stress than a 2 stroke (only half the "bangs"!!) Personally I use Southern Modelcraft Mo-glow fuel in all my engines...2 & 4 stroke. 15% synthetic, 2% castor & 5% nitro. A bit of nitro helps with the throttling/idling on a 4 stroke.... Remember to always tune a little bit rich on the ground.....peak the motor & then unwind the needle a few clicks....always trade a bit of smoke for a few hundred rpm....your motor will love you for it, run cooler & last longer.............!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JC Posted July 17, 2009 Author Share Posted July 17, 2009 steve Thanks very much. i have got some Mollenburg 4 stroke fuel with 15% synthetic(we dont get castor over here) It was recomended by one of the more experienced guys at the club. You say tune a bit rich. What is a bit rich? how many turns out from fully lean is normal for a 4 stroke? Thanks again Jon Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steve Hargreaves - Moderator Posted July 19, 2009 Share Posted July 19, 2009 SC motors would normally be around 1.5-2 turns out on the needle......start her up & let it warm up at a fast idle for a couple of minutes....tune for max revs & check it still holds its revs with the nose pointing vertically then open up the needle about 4-5 clicks....you may need to adjust the idle needle to get a good tickover/transition. If you have an expert on hand get him to show you...4 strokes have a less easily defined "peak" than 2 strokes so its a little bit harder to judge....a lot comes down to experience I'm afraid.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bladerunner Posted August 18, 2009 Share Posted August 18, 2009 Posted by Steve Hargreaves on 19/07/2009 14:06:37:SC motors would normally be around 1.5-2 turns out on the needle......start her up & let it warm up at a fast idle for a couple of minutes....tune for max revs & check it still holds its revs with the nose pointing vertically then open up the needle about 4-5 clicks....you may need to adjust the idle needle to get a good tickover/transition. If you have an expert on hand get him to show you...4 strokes have a less easily defined "peak" than 2 strokes so its a little bit harder to judge....a lot comes down to experience I'm afraid.... As you say, and thats why a tacho is very handy on 4 strokes. Helps find peak quite accurately and helps to reference prop performance. Edited By Bladerunner on 18/08/2009 10:55:14 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brian Cooper Posted August 18, 2009 Share Posted August 18, 2009 Just use Prosynth. Job done. B.C. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bladerunner Posted August 19, 2009 Share Posted August 19, 2009 Posted by Brian Cooper on 18/08/2009 17:27:46:Just use Prosynth. Job done. B.C. And that has how much oil in it as per OP's query?... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brian Cooper Posted August 19, 2009 Share Posted August 19, 2009 Posted by Bladerunner on 19/08/2009 19:50:11: Posted by Brian Cooper on 18/08/2009 17:27:46: Just use Prosynth. Job done. B.C. And that has how much oil in it as per OP's query?... Don't know. And don't care. Frankly, we don't need to know. eg: I have never asked for a chemical breakdown of ingredients before I refuel my car. All we need to know is the fuel (Prosynth) works....... and wow, it works extremely well. Engines run faster, cooler, last longer and stay clean. In other words, it does what it says on the tin. B.C. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Martin McIntosh Posted August 19, 2009 Share Posted August 19, 2009 Re oil content. For what it is worth, YS fuel contains 23% synthetic. I run my `cooking` engines on Model Technics contest 10 which I believe has 17 or 18% oil including 2% castor. I also use a similar blend from Southern Modelcraft and have had no problems whatsoever, so I would say that you only require a high oil content for the more powerful motors, but would never use less than 17%. About time that this is stated on the container which I believe has been asked for before on this forum but as yet has not been responded to by the manufacturers. Wake up! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bladerunner Posted August 20, 2009 Share Posted August 20, 2009 Posted by Brian Cooper on 19/08/2009 21:09:03:Posted by Bladerunner on 19/08/2009 19:50:11: Posted by Brian Cooper on 18/08/2009 17:27:46: Just use Prosynth. Job done. B.C. And that has how much oil in it as per OP's query?... Don't know. And don't care. Frankly, we don't need to know. eg: I have never asked for a chemical breakdown of ingredients before I refuel my car. All we need to know is the fuel (Prosynth) works....... and wow, it works extremely well. Engines run faster, cooler, last longer and stay clean. In other words, it does what it says on the tin. B.C. Cool, I'll not try it sometime. I was told when I started out in this hobby never to trust fuel with unpublished mix ratio's - snake-oil, manufacturer-warranties and all that Hard to unlearn actually. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brian Cooper Posted August 20, 2009 Share Posted August 20, 2009 Posted by Bladerunner on 20/08/2009 08:20:52: Cool, I'll not try it sometime. I was told when I started out in this hobby never to trust fuel with unpublished mix ratio's - snake-oil, manufacturer-warranties and all that Hard to unlearn actually. No problem. It's a free country. However, Prosynth was developed by a chap who knows his trade, and was developed for high performance engines to run on it whilst withstanding the ferocious heat of a Spanish summer at over 40 degrees C. I can only speak as I find, and I have used Prosynth, without any problems, in all my glow engines for more years than I care to remember. The only thing I need to know about the fuel is that it contains absolutely NO castor oil. B.C. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Former Member Posted September 10, 2009 Share Posted September 10, 2009 [This posting has been removed] Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
batcho99 Posted September 10, 2009 Share Posted September 10, 2009 As above. Optifuel. I use 20% 4 stroke mix. The engines love it It's British you know! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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