So you’re stranded somewhere without gasoline, possibly due to a leak in your extra gas can. However, you have some charcoal lighter fluid on hand. Is it possible for your engine to run on it?
That’s exactly what our old pal at Project Farm discovers in this video, in which he puts charcoal lighter fluid to the test in a lawnmower, a go-cart, an engine with a see-through cylinder head, a small rotary engine, and a fuel-injected generator.
In case you didn’t know, charcoal starter, also known as charcoal lighter fluid, is made up of mineral spirits, which is effectively paint thinner. At the very least, every jug I’ve ever purchased has been mineral spirits; I’ve heard it can also be alcohol-based.
“Will charcoal lighter fluid run a gas engine?” is a yes answer. This is not surprising to me because my grandfather used to operate his ancient car on mineral spirits after starting it with a little gasoline when gasoline was scarce. When gasoline was rationed during World War 2, this helped him to go around so he could make a career building houses.
Returning to the video, we learn that every engine he tested ran on charcoal lighter fluid, and that some of them worked quite well, but that running on this fuel for an extended period of time is probably not a good idea due to increased pinging and significant carbon buildup inside the engine (and naturally on the spark plug).
What kind of fuel does a kitchen torch use?
Butane or propane is used in most kitchen torches. In your kitchen, both of these gases are perfectly safe to utilize. To promote ventilation, crack a window while using your kitchen torch.
Do kitchen torches come with butane?
Some torches will include butane, but this is not always the case. Before you buy, make sure you read the product description on the website thoroughly. If your torch didn’t come with butane, try for similar-brand butane cans. They might be available for purchase separately on Amazon or other markets.
What kind of butane do you put in a torch?
For your kitchen torch, you’ll want to look for refined butane. To be safe, look for butane made by the same company as your lighter. However, most butane is universal, which means it may be used to refill any type of butane lighter.
How do you know when the butane torch is full?
The torch is full when you detect fuel spilling from the stem of your butane can. Some butane torches contain a gauge that shows how much fuel is left.
Do you shake butane before filling?
Before filling your lighter or kitchen torch, do not shake the can of butane. A propellant, which is a compressed gas such as carbon dioxide or nitrogen dioxide that propels the butane into the lighter, is included in every can of butane. Shaking the container can cause extra propellant to enter your lighter, which will make it difficult to ignite.
How long do you fill a torch with butane?
It takes two to three three-second bursts of butane to completely fill most butane torches. To avoid overfilling your butane torch, make sure you fill it with more than one burst. For accurate fuelling times, consult the manufacturer’s website or owner’s handbook.
Do you have to wait after refilling a butane torch?
Before lighting your torch, wait one to three minutes for the butane gas to settle and stabilize. When you fill your lighter with pressurized butane, it will be rather cold. As a result, it’s critical to let it warm up before starting it.
Inside the can, butane is in liquid form. It, like other gases, liquefies under pressure. The lower the pressure required to keep the gas in liquid state, the better. Because of the low pressure, if you don’t wait long enough after refilling, your lighter may have difficulties lighting.
In chilly conditions, it may also struggle to light. However, you may warm up your lighter by holding it in your hand for a few minutes.
We hope you were able to locate the butane you required! Butane can be found in a number of different places. If in doubt, contact the manufacturer and inquire about butane refills for your torch or lighter.
Is butane a gas?
Butane is a highly flammable, colorless, odourless, and easily liquefied hydrocarbon. It is commonly used as a fuel for cigarette lighters and portable stoves, as well as a propellant in aerosols, a heating fuel, a refrigerant, and in the manufacturing of a variety of items. Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) also contains butane (LPG).
Hydrocarbons have been utilized to replace chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) as the propellant in most aerosols since 1987. Butane is a common propellant in home and industrial aerosols, therefore it can be found in a wide range of aerosol products. However, many aerosol goods’ packaging will list the propellant as ‘hydrocarbon,’ rather than directly mentioning butane.