Is there an expiration on glow fuel?

by Steve
(Caseyville, IL, USA)

Is there an expiration on glow fuel? I'm probably adjusting the engine wrong, as I've had the engine quit in flight a couple of times (two different planes).

But also I'm using fuel that must be about three years old. Should I abandon the old fuel and buy new fuel to help with my engines quitting in flight?

Thanks.

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Is there an expiration on glow fuel?

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Yep
by: Shane

Glow fuel is mostly made up of alcohol which over time will absorb moisture. If your fuel was opened it is probably contaminated and needs to be replaced.

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It all depends.
by: MIke from Oz

G'day As they say "the proof of the pudding is in the eating". If your engine runs OK, then the fuel is probably OK.

But ...

If your engine does not run OK, the fuel may still be OK.

You said your engine stops in flight. This is more likely to be that the engine is tuned too lean or the tank is in the wrong place and as the flight goes on, the mixture gets leaner and eventually the engine stops.

The test for freshness with fuel is generally how well the engine idles (assuming it is correctly adjusted). Stale water contaminated fuel is a sure way to have an engine that won't idle. It will still run OK at higher revs usually though.

The other thing that wrecks idle is a dying glow plug.

But if an engine will start, run at full power and then idle OK, the fuel and plug are probably OK. If it then stops in flight, this is usually a tank or adjustment problem.

The simplest way, I guess, is to borrow some known good fuel (or buy some) and if you still have the same problem, the tank or the tuning is the problem.

You can use older fuel for washing engines etc.

If you find your engine is still stopping in flight, try a Uniflow tank system. This has two clunks - one for the fuel to the engine as normal and a second one for the vent to the muffler. This setup requires a third connection which goes to the top of the tank to use as a vent when filling. It is blocked off in use.

Have fun.

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Glow fuel quality
by: Anonymous

I have noticed in recent years glow fuels quality has gone down im lucky to get one season out of it as well as other pilots I know.

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