Got birds? Click Here!

Turning Fuel Into Fun

The molecular balance for the combustion of methanol (CH3OH)

2(CH3OH) + 3O2 --> 2CO2 + 4H2O

The molecular balance for the combustion of nitromethane (CH3NO2)

4(CH3NO2) + 3O2 --> 4CO2 + 6H2O + 2N2

Of course, in lay terms, the formula is simply:

FUEL --> FUN

But seriously... if anyone gives you any crap about the pollution created by your glow-powered helicopter, calmly inform them that the exhaust consists primarily of plant food (CO2), water (H2O), and more plant food (N2).

And if they drove out to tell you that, remind them that the MTBE belching forth from their gasoline-burning automobile is bad news for plants and animals alike, and that they probably burned more fuel on their commute every day than your heli burns in a whole week. (Of course, if you drive 20 minutes to work every day in an SUV that gets 14 miles per gallon, you might want to avoid the subject of automotive emissions entirely...)

Unfortunately I have no idea what might be in the synthetic oils we're all using. Castor oil, being made from beans, probably doesn't hurt anything. With synthetics it's hard to say. What's in them? If you have information about this, please use the form below to share it with the rest of us.

Thanks.