That can’t be right.

batjac Sat Jun 11, 2016 3:18 am

I was meeting the wife after work, and stopped in at the local hobby shop since it was close to the restaurant we had dinner at. I was wanting to get some of the 35% Cox Super Power Fuel, but they only had 25%. But, the fuel didn’t look too good. There were six bottles. One had fuel that was the amber-pink color I’m used to. One was slightly darker amber. But the fuel in four of the bottles was a dark brownish color. That’s more like the color of fuel I’ve had in the past that’s been contaminated. Has anyone seen new fuel that looks like this?

That can’t be right. 20160610_175612_zpsdqib2ssq

That can’t be right. 20160610_175612_zpsdqib2ssq

Also, if you look, no two bottles have the same fuel level in them. I’ve gotten two quarts of the new Hobbico Cox fuel, but if this is the quality control that Hobbico is putting out, I don’t know that I’ll be buying more, even if it does sell for only $11.99 for a quart of 35% nitro at the shop.

The Dismayed Mark

Ken Cook Sat Jun 11, 2016 4:07 am

Mark, two members of my club both use this fuel. I personally don't use this fuel but I have tried it. I have noticed the color differences as your pictures show. I haven't seen a degrade in performance due to this. I buy Sig castor by the gallon and I have bottles here that are very clear and some that are very dark. So, this could be a possible color difference or even the dye used in the blending of the fuel. I have seen color differences in many of the fuels of the same blends. I can't speak for the height difference in the bottle, but It wouldn't surprise me that the bottles are either overfilled or just not filled enough. Ken

**Admin** Sat Jun 11, 2016 5:32 am

Could contact them and see what they say. I'm sure you remember this. https://www.coxengineforum.com/t7143-cox-super-power-fuel

Other than variations in batches, UV light can cause color changes.

Oldenginerod Sat Jun 11, 2016 7:06 am

Any colouring/dye is usually in the synthetic oil used. Perhaps they have used different suppliers for different batches. To be safe, I'd use the pink bottle. I have seen dark brown fuel like that only once, which was "Wildcat" I believe. It really doesn't look right, but I guess if it doesn't perform then take it back & get a refund. Sadly, fuel & batteries etc tend to sit in hobby shops for long periods and neither have a really good shelf life and can't be guaranteed fresh unless the shop has a really quick turnover.

**RknRusty** Sat Jun 11, 2016 9:48 am

I expect those bottles are good UV blockers.

roddie Sat Jun 11, 2016 3:04 pm

If this is your LHS.. that you frequent regularly.. you could ask the management when they took delivery of the fuel.. and their source. Had you ever noticed this fuel on the shelves previously? Do the bottles have any labels identifying them as Hobbico's "new formula".. or a batch-date?

JPvelo Sat Jun 11, 2016 3:22 pm

I saw the same thing at my hobby shop.

Jim

batjac Sat Jun 11, 2016 6:25 pm

roddie wrote:If this is your LHS.. that you frequent regularly.. you could ask the management when they took delivery of the fuel.. and their source. Had you ever noticed this fuel on the shelves previously? Do the bottles have any labels identifying them as Hobbico's "new formula".. or a batch-date?

Roddie, they have the new label on the neck of the bottle with the new formulation. The shop got these in within the last three weeks, because that was the last time I was in the shop and all they had at that time was one bottle of 35% fuel. So these are recent arrivals. On the plus side, they must be selling more 1/2A fuel, as this shop rarely had more than one quart bottle at a time over the past few years. So if they're buying them in larger batches, there must be more guys here flying their 1/2A planes again. A good sign.

The Zodiac Mark

Sponsored content

That can’t be right.

That can’t be right.

Re: That can’t be right.

Re: That can’t be right.

Re: That can’t be right.

Re: That can’t be right.

Re: That can’t be right.

Re: That can’t be right.

Re: That can’t be right.

Re: That can’t be right.