Did I just ruin my engine with Powermaster PowerMix 25:1 Fuel?

Hi Ethan.  Welcome.  Hopefully we can help you out.  As Mark said, it's very doubtful that you've damaged your engine, unless you've been doing something silly like trying for a long time to start it with an electric starter.  I'd think that maybe the reed is stuck after all these years.  As Mark asked, if it's just firing when you prime the exhaust then it's not drawing fuel, indicating a stuck reed or blocked fuel passage.

Rod.

Cribbs74 wrote:Well,

Seeing it is just gasoline/oil mix, I am surprised it even started at all. Ruin it? Probably not. Worst thing I could see happening is a ruined glow plug, but I doubt that either.

You need to find a Nitro/methanol blend and at least 20 percent oil half of that being castor.

Thanks for your help! I ordered the good stuff (I hope anyway) on eBay. Should have it next week.

Ethan

Oldenginerod wrote:Hi Ethan.  Welcome.  Hopefully we can help you out.  As Mark said, it's very doubtful that you've damaged your engine, unless you've been doing something silly like trying for a long time to start it with an electric starter.  I'd think that maybe the reed is stuck after all these years.  As Mark asked, if it's just firing when you prime the exhaust then it's not drawing fuel, indicating a stuck reed or blocked fuel passage.

Rod.

Thanks Rod. That's a huge relief about the engine anyway. But it looks like the fuel I used etched the plastic of the fuselage pretty bad. Which is a shame because the plane was absolutely like new. Oh well...

Thanks again.

Ethan

Another thing, if it had a mylar reed you may have melted it with the gasoline.

Cribbs74 wrote:Another thing, if it had a mylar reed you may have melted it with the gasoline.

Well that doesn't sound good.

Just a possibility, not a sure thing. There is a good chance if it’s an older P-40 it would have a copper reed.

Personally I would try it agin with the proper fuel and if it doesn’t work then you will have to get into the engine. You said the gas etched the plastic so be sure you flush the entire fuel system (tank) before it eats through the plastic.

There are parts available to fix everything except the fuselage being etched. Even then you could probably find one of those too. If your end goal is to fly it then there is a good chance the marring of the plastic will be no big deal.

Ron

Ethan, at the age that it is, it more than likely needs a thorough cleaning. It certainly won't do any harm trying the engine once you obtain the proper fuel. It's always worth a shot and I have had 40-50 year old engines work like they shouldn't. If it was put away years back with even the slightest traces of fuel, it causes oxidation inside. I use a old toothbrush and hot soapy water to scrub the parts followed by a good rinse. Ron mentioned the copper reed, these tend to get green goo around them which doesn't allow for proper operation. The reed is as thin as paper and easily damaged. Use caution when placing the circlip back in that retains it making certain it's fully seated. I do this by carefully using a small screw driver and rotating it within the groove. Once disassembled, it only makes sense to replace the rubber o-ring between tank and tank back. The gasket between the front portion of the case and the tank will probably also be ruined upon taking it apart.

Thanks for all your help everyone! I'm going to take the engine apart and give it a good cleaning. I'm hoping to have new fuel next week. I'll let you know how it all goes. Thanks again, I really appreciate it. Ethan

Nobody mentioned air leaks. With the cleaning you may need new gaskets and fuel line.

Air in the wrong place will stop an enging from drawing fuel properly.

Phil

Hey guys, the engine starting is not the problem. He used 25:1 gasoline/oil mix designed for giant scale engines, also weedeaters, chainsaws etc.

is p40 use plastic tank ?if so tank is sur damage gasoline melt plastic hope tank is ok

davidll1984 wrote:is p40 use plastic tank ?if so tank is sur damage gasoline melt plastic hope tank is ok

I hadn't even thought of that. I think it's metal, but I'll check. Thanks!

emrlaw wrote:

davidll1984 wrote:is p40 use plastic tank ?if so tank is sur damage gasoline melt plastic hope tank is ok

I hadn't even thought of that. I think it's metal, but I'll check. Thanks!

I think the P-40 usually had just a standard Babe Bee tank. Gasoline shouldn't affect it.

Well, I got new fuel and I think I flushed out all of the old stuff. But I still can't get it started. Here's a video of my efforts: https://app.box.com/s/fcx4tn2188te1cfi6g8jjjuu88str2m5 (Hopefully the link works) The engine ran for about 3 seconds originally, so I think longer than just the prime. Since then, it will occasionally run for a millisecond, which I guess is just the prime. Anyway, if anybody has any advice, it would be greatly appreciated. Thank you! Ethan

3 seconds could be on prime. A full second is normal.

Hanging a drop of fuel on the closed exhaust port via surface tension is an appropriate amount of prime. Squirting fuel into the open exhaust port is an unknown state of prime, probably flooded.

Drain the tank and practice starting on prime till you can get a bark in 1 to 3 tries every time you reprime. Then close the needle gently, fill the tank, open the needle the indicated number of turns per the instructions which can be found here

https://www.coxengineforum.com/h24-instruction-sheets

Best luck.

Phil

pkrankow wrote:3 seconds could be on prime.  A full second is normal.

Hanging a drop of fuel on the closed exhaust port via surface tension is an appropriate amount of prime.  Squirting fuel into the open exhaust port is an unknown state of prime, probably flooded.

Drain the tank and practice starting on prime till you can get a bark in 1 to 3 tries every time you reprime.  Then close the needle gently, fill the tank, open the needle the indicated number of turns per the instructions which can be found here

https://www.coxengineforum.com/h24-instruction-sheets

Best luck.

Phil

Thanks Phil. I'll give it a try tomorrow.

Ethan

If it barks, your head is still good.  If it has compression, you didn't hurt the cylinder.  I'm guessing your reed, needle seat and fuel line are plugged with some gunk.  Not at all out of line for their age.  You'll probably have to pull the engine out and give it a good cleaning.  I wouldn't completely disassemble the whole engine though.  Just pull and disassemble the tank and reed like Ken said.  A good cleaning, a new case gasket, fuel pickup tube and venturi gasket (the tiny O ring between the tank tube and backplate) will probably do the trick.

And, test the engine while it is out of the model. A test stand can be as simple as a block of wood c-clamped to an outdoor table. You will find it easier to learn the engine if you aren't worried about damaging the model during starting...or trying to hold it once started.
I'm not intimately familiar with the model, but it may be wise to use the engine in a simple corrugated plastic trainer to learn the ropes. Then transfer the engine back into your prize model. No finishing skills will be needed for the Manwin trainer.
http://www.balsabeavers.com/information/plans/manwin.pdf

Thanks again everyone for your help. I've ordered some parts and plan on cleaning the engine as soon as they get here. I've also mounted it on a block, which should really make it easier to start it. Thanks again.

Ethan