New Fuel Technology - PowerMaster

[RSBXON at aol.com]

I have been doing some research on new fuel technology and had the 
opportunity to ask for help from Wendell Hammond of PowerMaster Fuels 
recently.  Specifically I was looking for a high quality fuel to run in the 
my OS 140 EFI  with the objectives of eliminating bearing corrosion, lowering 
the operating temperature and increasing main bearing life.

As it turns out, Powermaster has been developing new fuels for both the YS  4 
stroke and OS two stroke engines.  Powermaster has worked with some 
state-of-the-art oil and corrosion inhibitor manufacturers and have developed 
a new low viscosity fuel that appears to meet all of the objectives I have 
been working toward.  I asked  Wendell if I could try them out in my OS  140 
Electronic Fuel Injection engine (onboard computer and sensors that track 
both RPM -  instantaneous and maximum, and Cylinder head temperature   - 
instantaneous and maximum).  These onboard sensors make the engine a good 
candidate to test new fuels.  Powermaster provided a 20% nitro blend of the 
PowerPac fuel along with the standard Powermaster YS 20/20 fuel. 

I ran both the Powermaster 20/20 and the Powermaster 20% Powerpac Low 
viscosity fuels and compared the data versus other fuels from reputable 
manufacturers that I have been using.  The table below shows the results for 
the full throttle sustained RPM and the cylinder head temperature on a 
consistent fuel injector setting.  The engine is propped with a 17/12 APC 
wide blade which is a relatively high load and is fully cowled in a PL 
products Smaragd airframe.  The day I did the test, the temperature was 93 
degrees F and high humidity.

Fuel                                    Nitro content      Max RPM   Cylinder 
head temp - deg C
Powermaster PowerPac        20% nitro                7800          122 
degrees
Powermaster YS 20/20         20%                        7650          134 
degrees
Brand ZZ                             25-30%                   7600           
149 degrees
Brand ZZ                             20%                        7500          
 134 degrees
Brand XX                             20%                        7500          
 142 degrees

                 
The Powermaster powerpac 20% low viscosity fuel gave 300 more RPM  and  the 
cylinder head temperature was the lowest by far (122 degrees C vs 149
degrees C for the Brand ZZ fuel).  This means that the engine was producing 
more horsepower and the engine actually ran cooler with the Powermaster 
powerpac fuel.   Also the regular Power master YS 20/20 blend showed good 
performance in terms of higher RPM and lower cylinder head temperature as 
compared to other fuels.  My conclusion is that that not all fuels of the 
same nitro percentage are the same. !!!!   Also new fuel/ oil technology has 
the potential to translate into reduced bearing / mechanical wear with the 
lower operating temperatures.  Also the proprietary corrosion inhibitors have 
the potential to eliminate bearing corrosion.  I understand that YS engines 
may be recommending this new fuel for the YS DZ fuel injected engine in a 30% 
nitro blend.  Also some of the helicopter guys are running the fuel in very 
high stress environments. 

I have flown several flights with the Powermaster Powerpac low viscosity fuel 
and really like the way the engine runs.  It puts out a smokey exhaust
trail which generally indicates a good,  rich setting (safe for the engine) 
and excellent power.  The engine was set for 7800 RPM on the ground and
showed a maximum 8250 RPM in the air (the onboard computer captures the max 
RPM).  It was clear that the Powermaster powerpac low viscosity fuel provided 
the best power and smooth performance in the air. 

This information is provided solely to gain insight on the technology 
improvements for fuel manufacturing.   I am not sponsored by Powermaster.   
If you have interest in some new fuel alternatives,  contact PowerMaster and 
Wendell Hammond and see their website.  Wendell is very knowledgeable and 
great to work with.  

Note: I am not bashing other fuel manufacturers and will not disclose the 
real names of the other fuel manufacturers shown above -- they make good 
products as well.

Ron Barr
AMA 6507
NSRCA 249

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