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Adding Castor oil to your fuel

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Old 12-11-2007, 07:48 PM
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Post Adding Castor oil to your fuel

stumbled accross this article today, in regards to adding castor oil to aircraft and automotive fuels.

http://www.wipo.int/pctdb/en/wo.jsp?...6&DISPLAY=DESC


I know the castor oil improves cylinder piston seal against the rings, so your cylinder pressure should increase, not to mention the benifit of more lubrication. They also mention emisions are also reduced.

their testing showed a 25% increase in MPG. I think I will have to order some Castor oil and a quart of Klotz race oil, and try this for an experiment
 

Last edited by Maxwell; 12-11-2007 at 10:09 PM.
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Old 12-12-2007, 05:51 AM
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Default Re: Adding Castor oil to your fuel

Actually, castor oil was the standard lubricant in WWI. They mixed it in the fuel like you would for a chain saw or outboard. You still find it today in R/C and aircraft engines built in 3rd world countries.

I have flown aircraft using castor oil and it is not a pleasant experience. It makes you sick!
 
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Old 12-12-2007, 07:42 AM
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Default Re: Adding Castor oil to your fuel

we'll see what happens, I might use a synthetic race fuel oil instead, but castor oil is cheap, and they where only using 1-2 ounces in the test, so smell is not an issue
 
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Old 12-12-2007, 09:08 AM
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Default Re: Adding Castor oil to your fuel

So castor oil is supposed to help your rings seal against the cylinder wall, thus improving your compression...funny...I didn't think castor oil was viscous enough to plug up the ring end gaps!?!?!
 
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Old 12-12-2007, 09:31 AM
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Default Re: Adding Castor oil to your fuel

Originally Posted by apkano
So castor oil is supposed to help your rings seal against the cylinder wall, thus improving your compression...funny...I didn't think castor oil was viscous enough to plug up the ring end gaps!?!?!
no, it's not sealing the ring end gap, but making a tighter seal around the ring surface that contacts the cylinder on the compression ring.
 

Last edited by Maxwell; 12-12-2007 at 12:35 PM.
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Old 12-12-2007, 04:44 PM
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Default Re: Adding Castor oil to your fuel

these guys are seeing a 2 mpg increase, not bad for only pouring in 4-8 ounces of oil! that will easily offset the cost of running premium for those cheap bastards out there. Just calculate the fuel savings for the year, not a bad trick! this could pay for a new set of tires.


http://www.rx8club.com/showthread.php?t=99636
 

Last edited by Maxwell; 12-12-2007 at 04:47 PM.
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Old 12-12-2007, 06:37 PM
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Default Re: Adding Castor oil to your fuel

I see...you're going to run oil into your combustion chamber along with the fuel so you can make a better seal with the rings...even though there's a HUGE RING END GAP!

Kind of like I said before!
 
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Old 12-12-2007, 07:44 PM
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Default Re: Adding Castor oil to your fuel

well the end gap doesn't have nearly as much surface area for leakage, when compared to the entire circumfrence of the piston ring.

in the link to the arcticle I posted in the first post, they did testing on a Pontiac 3800 v6, and also gained 15-20% improvements. I just found it interesting
 
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Old 12-12-2007, 07:55 PM
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Default Re: Adding Castor oil to your fuel

Originally Posted by apkano
So castor oil is supposed to help your rings seal against the cylinder wall, thus improving your compression...funny...I didn't think castor oil was viscous enough to plug up the ring end gaps!?!?!
Will it not crass up the injection system , very very expensive replacing those little suckers..
 
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Old 12-12-2007, 08:06 PM
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Default Re: Adding Castor oil to your fuel

It shouldn't but I'll find out if it does I wouldn't mind swapping in some srt6 injectors, for when I do the ecu flash. so I'm not worried about the stock injectors.

Actually I'm going to start with 4OZ. /10 gallons, then on the next tank mix 8oz./10gal fuel. currently I'm getting 17-18mpg, so we'll see what happens
 

Last edited by Maxwell; 12-12-2007 at 08:09 PM.
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Old 12-13-2007, 06:37 PM
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Default Re: Adding Castor oil to your fuel

Mine is stored, it doesn't stop snowing here, at least another foot on the way...

I will give it a try in March when this crappy weather goes away...
 
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Old 12-13-2007, 06:40 PM
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Default Re: Adding Castor oil to your fuel

tonight I will pour in 4 oz. of regular 2 strroke oil and test that out, but I will order up a gallon of Klotz Benol next month.
 
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Old 12-15-2007, 09:58 AM
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Default Re: Adding Castor oil to your fuel

Castor bean oil was an excellent lubricant in the old days. We used it racing motorcycles. However, it leaves some nasty residue and does not mix with other types. I will use nothing but Mobil 1 in every engine/transmission I have. Gary
 
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Old 12-15-2007, 03:18 PM
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Default Re: Adding Castor oil to your fuel

yeah, your right the Castor oil will case issues with carbon build up, but maybe not so at 300:1 mix, either way I will be using Klotz synthetic two stroke oil intead just to avoid any carbon build up down the road.

I'm still on my first tank full right now, so maybe by the end of the week I'll have some numbers.
 
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Old 12-17-2007, 05:45 AM
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Default Re: Adding Castor oil to your fuel

When your rings get all glued up, you will be sorry......Also if you add oil to your feul you will reduce the RON so a less powerful burn will mean less power.

2 stroke engines work well for this, but even then you need to strip the engine to clean the rings.
 
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Old 12-17-2007, 06:22 AM
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Default Re: Adding Castor oil to your fuel

What about emission levels? it doesn't mean it is harmless for our high performance engines. In the good old days the compression ratios where a lot lower and hence the thermal stress!
Since it is a natural product
Oil should not be present in the combustion chambers! The combustion by-products can be harmful not only to the environment but also to your engine.
This sounds like one of those snake oil inventions again.

HJM
 
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Old 12-17-2007, 12:44 PM
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Default Re: Adding Castor oil to your fuel

it won't hurt emmisions, and the synthetic stuff doesn't get gummy. I'm still experimenting, and have a couple more tanks to fill up.
 
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