Kim's unofficial, totally non-scientific, Friday morning fuel tests

So, with winds coming up before I could finish a new GoPro mount for my old Kadet, I decided to test some of the samples of fuel that I've accumulated.  The ages and nitro contents vary, so it's NOT very scientific, but the test might still be useful to new guys and the ones returning to the wonderful world of live nitro.

From a Sport Flying standpoint, any of them will turn an engine fast enough to boost an R/C into the air, or pull a control liner around it's circle.

The test engine is one of my hard-working Cox Tee Dee .049's that has spent a lot of time hauling my 2 Meter Bird of Time Sailplane to altitude.  Well, broken-in and a good-natured starter, it was laying around handy while the B.O.T. tried out another Tee Dee.

It's topped with a Cox Tee Dee head, with 1 new gasket, and pulling fuel from an open vent test tank.  It's prop is a balanced Cox 5-3 Gray.  The Tee Dee was started, allowed to warm up with a rich setting, then peaked out for a minute or so before the RPM was recorded.  I knocked off what looked to be the top and bottom readings, going for the middle of the road numbers.

In what COULD be called Tee Dee abuse, I even tried some ancient Cox Super Fuel from Ye Olden Days, and was surprised to see it fire up the engine, though with a really fussy needle.

Not pictured, but also tested was some Sig .15%, which I use quite a bit because it will run the smaller engines very similar to the Fitz Fuels, while also running well in the larger .15 sizes that launch my 3 Meter B.O.T.













I know it's all pretty much a retread of the numbers we've gotten before but, as I said...I got bored and the little engine was laying there so...