Mixing fuels

[davew]

Is it OK to mix different fuels?

I have a gallon of Rapicon 15 left over and would like to mix it with a gallon of Optifuel 30 I have. Is this OK to do and would the resulting fuel have a nitro mix of 22.5?

Similarly can I mix a gallon of Optifuel 12 with a gallon of 30 to get 2 gallons of Optifule 21 ?

[CookieMan]

I seriously would doubt doing so Dave because of the difference in the percentages of the nitro content in each (not to mention the different fuel mixing ratios), but then I stand to be corrected.

Rather, can't you just fly each of them varieties on separate tanks (flights)?

[davew]

Hi Jason, The Rapicon 15 is sluggish and rather than endure its use I thought I'd mix it with some 30 that's available to me a right price.

BTW - looking forward to meeting up again at w/end

[jamiem]

Personally I wouldn't mix different brands. They are both going to have different raw ingriedients and as such may react when mixed, then you've lost 2 bottles of fuel and potentially could dage your engine.

You'd be better off selling the one your not going to use, and just use the one that you know is going to be right out of the bottle. Better safe than sorry

[CookieMan]

...
BTW - looking forward to meeting up again at w/end

Likewise Dave. Darn excited here! By the way, if I have to come across your Mrs. Il keep in mind that the helis cost just 20 quid each...

On a serious note though, I have to agree with Jamie's post above, better safe than sorry mate regarding the mixing idea. Would vouch against doing so.

[inferno]

I wouldn't have thought mixing 30 and 12 optifuel would pose a problem, maybe give optifuel a ring and see what they think?

Wouldn't be too keen on mixing fuel brands though...

[Spanner]

I doubt mixing similar brands would be a problem, I would guess that it is as you state, 15% and a 30% would make a 22.5% fuel.
I mixed some Byron 15 with some Optimix 20 and don't notice a difference!

He who dares Rodders..............

[Mojo]

Mixing the same brand of fuel is ok.. Just consider the nitro percentage is weight for weight.. So as you say, a gallon of 30% and a gallon of 12% would yield 2 gallons of 21%..

Not completely ideal and accurate though, as the ratio of the oil and the density calculations also differs with different nitro content, but for the sake of doing it once, I think it should be fine..

I wouldn't mix different makes of fuel though.. I know some people that do that as by trial and error they managed to get some sort of combination that they like.. But I'm happy with my fuel as it is

[ROSSCO]

I personally would'nt mix different brand of fuels but i do know people who mix different blends of the same manufacturers fuel.

A couple of year ago i knew a few people who mixed Coolpower to get a specific blend, what they used to do was mix a gallon of 30% Heli Blend (Orange) and a gallon of 15% Heli (Green) to get 2 x gallon of Brown'ish Coolpower at 22.5% Nitro.

Can't remember the exact reason but from memory it was down to a personal preference of these particular pilots who did'nt like the harshness of 30% in a particular engine and this mix seemed to suit there needs and the engines.

[Guest]

Guys,

You can mix the same brands of fuel together so OPTI20 and OPTI30 would give 25% blend but you cannot mix oils from one fuel brand to another unless you know the oil is the same type. Oils in most cases have very differenent charactoristics one to another and this could easily kill your engine. No one knows what oil Rapicon uses except there 23% of it so I would not mix. OPTI uses KLOTZ only at this time so you could mix Byron and OPTI if you wanted to!

[davew]

Thanks to everyone who replied. A few days after I posted the original thread, and having got back conflicting views, I asked Jason Platts my instructor the same question.

Jason from FL is sponsored by Optifuel and used to be sponsored by Rapicon and he tells me that its OK to mix the two.