Does fuel go bad

[Den73740]

I know that if you leave gasoline sitting around for a year or two it goes bad,
does Cool Power go bad, lose its volatility?

Dennis

[Courseyauto]

>I know that if you leave gasoline sitting around for a year or two it >goes
bad,
>does Cool Power go bad, lose its volatility?

>Dennis

It's bad when you buy it.................

[Joe Bill]

I think a lot depends on how tightly sealed the fuel can is. Tightly
sealed, kept at room temperatures, I suspect it would still be fine a year
or two later.

Not so tightly sealed so that it can absorb moisture from the atmosphere,
stored in a garage with temperature swings from summer to winter, and I'd
bet it would be unusable within 6 months.

Powermaster Fuels used to have a FAQ about fuels that talked about fuel
storage, but for some reason they've taken it off their website. What I say
above is what I recall from the last time I read it.

Jim

"Den73740" <den73740@aol.comspamdump> wrote in message
news:20040320213506.10096.00001794@mb-m17.aol.com...
> I know that if you leave gasoline sitting around for a year or two it goes
bad,
> does Cool Power go bad, lose its volatility?
>
> Dennis

[The OTHER Kevin in San Diego]

On 21 Mar 2004 02:35:06 GMT, den73740@aol.comspamdump (Den73740)
wrote:

>I know that if you leave gasoline sitting around for a year or two it goes bad,
>does Cool Power go bad, lose its volatility?

This thread is perfect in it's timing. While cleaning out the garage
in search of long stored/abandoned RC goodies, I came across a 4
gallon case of 30% Cool Power Helo fuel. The box was unopened and the
one jug I pulled out still had the seal under the screw cap in place.

I'm sure this stuff has been sitting for at least 9 years. I know
this because my oldest daugter is about to turn 10 and I stopped
flying anything RC when she was about 9 months old.

Can anyone answer definitively whether this stuff is good, bad etc??
Dunno if I'd trust it in a helo, but how about a plank?? I've got a
couple of "beater" planes with well thrashed O.S. engines in them I'd
kinda like to haul to the local schoolyard and play around with.

[James]

I was told that cold floors and moisture are things to avoid when storing fuel...


"Joe Bill" <golferd@swbell.net> wrote in message news:<sW87c.9237$i86.4807@newssvr22.news.prodigy.com>...
> I think a lot depends on how tightly sealed the fuel can is. Tightly
> sealed, kept at room temperatures, I suspect it would still be fine a year
> or two later.
>
> Not so tightly sealed so that it can absorb moisture from the atmosphere,
> stored in a garage with temperature swings from summer to winter, and I'd
> bet it would be unusable within 6 months.
>
> Powermaster Fuels used to have a FAQ about fuels that talked about fuel
> storage, but for some reason they've taken it off their website. What I say
> above is what I recall from the last time I read it.
>
> Jim
>
> "Den73740" <den73740@aol.comspamdump> wrote in message
> news:20040320213506.10096.00001794@mb-m17.aol.com...
> > I know that if you leave gasoline sitting around for a year or two it goes
> bad,
> > does Cool Power go bad, lose its volatility?
> >
> > Dennis

[Nigel]

Before moving to helicopters, I flew planks for years. At the beginning of
the 'season' each year I'd start using last year's fuel. In every occasion
I experienced problems getting my engines to run nicely. I used to put it
down to the engine's hibernation or after-run oil or anything but the fuel.
Each time I was eventually convinced to try new fuel and the problems went
away. It took me about 3 years of this to learn to always start a new
season with new fuel.

Now I accept that in each of these situations the fuel had not been stored
in the best of conditions and that fuel stored in perfect conditions may be
fine. Personally, I would not risk my heli with old fuel. Planks are less
of a risk because deadstick is a piece of cake (usually).

If its only one bottle and its been partly used, I would recommend not using
it. Sealed bottles may warrant further investigation.

Cheers,

Nigel

[Paul McIntosh]

It will most definately go bad if it has been exposed to humidity . If it
hasn' been completely sealed, temperature swings can cause it to "breath".
Alcohol is VERY hygroscopic and can absorbe up to 20-30% if its weight in
sater sithout you being able to see it. It will run like crap!

--
Paul McIntosh
http://www.rc-bearings.com
"Den73740" <den73740@aol.comspamdump> wrote in message
news:20040320213506.10096.00001794@mb-m17.aol.com...
> I know that if you leave gasoline sitting around for a year or two it goes
bad,
> does Cool Power go bad, lose its volatility?
>
> Dennis

[Beav]

"The OTHER Kevin in San Diego" <skiddz *AT* adelphia *DOT* net> wrote in
message news:018q50t5qavqb4di68hjladq1p036pjhji@4ax.com...
> On 21 Mar 2004 02:35:06 GMT, den73740@aol.comspamdump (Den73740)
> wrote:
>
> >I know that if you leave gasoline sitting around for a year or two it
goes bad,
> >does Cool Power go bad, lose its volatility?
>
> This thread is perfect in it's timing. While cleaning out the garage
> in search of long stored/abandoned RC goodies, I came across a 4
> gallon case of 30% Cool Power Helo fuel. The box was unopened and the
> one jug I pulled out still had the seal under the screw cap in place.
>
> I'm sure this stuff has been sitting for at least 9 years. I know
> this because my oldest daugter is about to turn 10 and I stopped
> flying anything RC when she was about 9 months old.
>
> Can anyone answer definitively whether this stuff is good, bad etc??
> Dunno if I'd trust it in a helo, but how about a plank?? I've got a
> couple of "beater" planes with well thrashed O.S. engines in them I'd
> kinda like to haul to the local schoolyard and play around with.

I'd try a couple of tanks in a plank and then use the rest in whatever you
want. It won't have gone "off" if my experiences with fuel are anything to
go by.

I store my fuels in the garage on a hgh shelf, and the level never drops or
rises (evaporation or hygroscpopic absorption)

Of course if it IS Coolpower, I'd use to fire up a barbie and that's about
all I'd use it for.


--
Beav


Please note my E-mail address is "beavis dot original at ntlworld dot com"
(with the obvious changes)

Beavisland now lives at
www.beavisoriginal.co.uk

[The Vail Family]

Short answer: If it is tightly capped I can definitively tell you it does
NOT go bad.

Ten years is not too long. If it is not tightly capped all bets are off but
you have nothing to loose by trying it. If the seal was opened ten years
ago but capped tightly it will probably be fine. Just run it and if it
idles like crap or doesn't run well you've answered your own question.
Nothing gained, nothing lost.

As a side note, there are very few hobby products that remain the "same" for
10+ years. It would not surprise me if CoolPower changed their formula or
suppliers in that time. Some times things get better some time they are not
as good. Not that you still can't use the fuel.

Bill Vail


"Den73740" <den73740@aol.comspamdump> wrote in message
news:20040320213506.10096.00001794@mb-m17.aol.com...
> I know that if you leave gasoline sitting around for a year or two it goes
bad,
> does Cool Power go bad, lose its volatility?
>
> Dennis