Smoke Oil

[Bill Greenwood]

In looking at some of the flying at Oshkosh, I noticed that large volume of smoke, particularly from some planes like Aeroshell and on some still moist days.

I wonder what the health aspects of breathing this oil are on people. I've never seen anything on this or any studies of it, but I doubt if it is good for us. As I understand it, corvus oil is just as thin petroleum oil, so the fumes probably have the same harmful effects as any such oil. If it is not good for fish to have oil dumped it the Gulf, how bad is it for people? Normal engine oil has warnings with it that it is harmful and should not be on your skin for long exposure. And many oils,like regular cooking oil become carcogenic if they are heated enough to smoke. I wonder if corvus oil is heated in the exhaust?

Does anyone have any studies on this? That is facts, not just opinions?
It seems strange that the EPA goes after exhaust from even lawnmowers, and gas fumes when you pump at the service station, but not this as far as I know.

Is there any other substance used as smoke oil besides corvus? And is there some no harmful substitue that could be used?
What so skywriter planes use?

I am sure someone will say that smoke oil has been used for years in airshows, therefore must be safe. I doubt it. For years, for decades, tobacco smoking went on, even indoors and in cars and around kids, but we now know how harmful it was and is.
I could watch an airshow act without the smoke just as well.

[FlyingRon]

It's the benzopyrenes (and all the related chemicals) that when heated for the HCAs that become problematic especially for the cook or as in asia the patron who is eating while things are being cooked at the table.

Petroleum products have these in abundance as well. The bigger difference is while you might be inclined to stay close to that sizzling wok of whatever in preparation or anticipation of eating, most people won't tolerate hanging out in visible smoke.

Cars and just leakage from car related activities (servicing, fueling) dump tons of this stuff into the environment more so than airshows ever will.

As for alternatives, there all as bad. The common thing other than the Texaco brand Corvus oil is to use light hydraulic oil which you can get at Walmart in 5 gallon buckets (especially in tractor country). The composition is pretty much the same.

Don't get me started on the tobacco stuff, much of that policy is not based on science but the pariah effect. The issue with second hand smoke is those who are exposed to it are usually in way close proximity for extended periods (living in the same house with a smoker). I'll not digress further in this forum on this subject.

[Bill Greenwood]

Ron, I don't know if hydraulic oil is worse to breathe the fumes than Corvus or engine oil, but it sure smells worse. One of my planes has hydraulic oil powered gear and a small leak stinks for a long time. The engine oil leaks don.t smell great but not as bad.
I don't know what you mean about smoking dangers "not based on science". Certainly the dangers of smoking, first or second hand are well proven and have been for years, Even tobacco cos don't argue about it anymore.
Lung cancer is not a myth or opinion , its a fact.
Sometimes airshow oil smoke seems to disapate int the air, but sometime if the wind is wrong it blows right on the crowd. I"ve seen planes take off with their smoke on and really soak folks and planes nearby. Saw one, probably a CJ or similar do that departing rnwy 9, blew right on the controllers, marshallers and other planes waiting to take off.

[FlyingRon]

I'm not saying say the smoking dangers are not based on science, I said the legislation that has been instigated isn't based on the actual science of the data

However, the issue is that the stuff you can see in the airshow smoke is also being dumped into the air by the normal operation of cars, aircraft, whatever.

[farmerdoc]

These are natural biodegradable oils that have found many uses in substitution for petroleum.

[CShark]

Here's the MSDS for the AeroShell smoke oil:
http://www.epc.shell.com/Docs/GSAP_msds_00019493.PDF

Keep in mind that smoke oil is not being burned, it's being vaporized. If it was burned, the smoke would be black. The high parrafin content causes the very visible white vaporization.