Why was castor oil used in engines?

Why do rotary aircraft engines use castor oil?

In the early days of gasoline engines, early Lubricants were of high viscosity, very waxy and had very poor low temperature characteristics. Castor oil was discovered to be a good lubricant. It was first used in race car engines and then many aircraft engines; NOT just rotary engines. Rotary aircraft engines relied on oil to be splashed around the cranks chamber and removed via the exhausts. No sumps were acomodated in this design. Due to the torturous nature of the rotary engine's induction system, plus the need for the oil NOT to mix with the fuel, castor based oils were the only products used in this design type. (Rotary engines were unique to WW1 aircraft. These engines were mounted on a fixed crankshaft and had odd-number of cylinders mounted around the shaft. The propellor was bolted to the engine. When the cylinders fired, it rotated the engine & propellor around the crankshaft and spun the engine. Later, Radial engines were made that had the engine bolted to the airframe and the pistons spun the propellor---the common engine used from 1920's thru WW2.) The design of the Rotary Engine resulted in the castor oil being expelled in copious quantities through the valve system on top of the engine. The pilots would often ingest much of this, leading to a quick trip to the toilets upon landing as it caused indigestion. Since castor oil was needed for lubricating airplane engines, 100,000 acres of land in the southern United States had to be planted in castor beans. Castor Oil used by the radial engine was supplanted by Voltol, an oil derived from coal. The Germans tried to use Voltol since the Allies had am embargo to stop shipments of castor oil. Source: Article on The Rise and Fall of Castor Oilhttp://www.penriteoil.com/uk/techbulletins/V3_RiseandFallofCastor.pdf

Is castor oil fish oil?

Castor oil is extracted from castor seeds

What are the differences between castoreum and castor oil, and how do they compare in terms of their uses and benefits?

Castoreum is a substance derived from the castor sacs of beavers, used in perfumes and flavorings. Castor oil is a vegetable oil extracted from the seeds of the castor oil plant, used in various industries and for medicinal purposes. Castoreum is primarily used in the fragrance and food industries, while castor oil is used in cosmetics, pharmaceuticals, and manufacturing. Castoreum is known for its musky scent, while castor oil is valued for its moisturizing and anti-inflammatory properties.

Is mineral oil the same as Castor oil?

No! Mineral oil is damaging to the body and kills many insects and fish. Castor oil is a laxative when injected, and can help with various ailments when put into a castor oil pack. Most commonly, castor oil packs are used as treatment for cysts.

Is castor oil the same as corn oil?

No, castor oil and olive oil are very different. They are made from entirely different plants and used for different purposes.

Can castor oil be used to treatc congestion in babies?

No.

Can Castor oil be used to treat cancer?

problably not

What type of oil did the neuport World War 1 fighter airplne use?

Most Nieuport fighters had Le Rhone rotary engines. These, like most rotaries , used castor oil as an engine lubricant.

What oil can be used to help with constipation?

Castor oil is a common remedy for constipation.

Can castor oil be used for varicose and threid veins?

lalalaa

Can Castor oil be used as anal lubricant?

Yes it works very well as an anal lubricant, but DO NOT castor if you are pregnant.

Is castor oil is a good conductor of electricity?

No, castor oil is not a good conductor of electricity. It is actually an insulating oil that is commonly used in electrical transformers to provide insulation and cooling properties.