Diana
Final Approach
Is auto fuel really hard on airplane engines that are approved for auto fuel? If so, why?
Diana said:Is auto fuel really hard on airplane engines that are approved for auto fuel? If so, why?
NC19143 said:(all about auto fuel)
NC19143 said:...because for every 10% alcohol, you loose 20% horse power.
NC19143 said:Auto fuel was at one time cheaper than 100LL, not so any more, so it really is not worth the troubles it can cause.
Well, yeah, but not technically the same issue. Got a load of #2 diesel from the local station when the temps were in the 50s F. That night it plummeted to -20 F and stayed there for a week. The fuel gelled in the truck and took me a couple of days to get it running again. :cheerio:Eamon said:Has you car/tractor ever stalled from a bad fuel delivery?
gibbons said:I have never spoken with a mechanic who believes running mogas is a good idea.
Chip
Thanks Eamon. We probably need to test what we put in our tank at home. They told us it didn't have any alcohol in it, but we should test it to make sure.Eamon said:With you having auto fuel on the farm, it is a no brainer. Just make sure the auto gas has no alcohol in it.
Eamon said:Auto fuel wont last as long as 100LL sitting idle. 1 year max.
Well that is also not the samr issue.gkainz said:Well, yeah, but not technically the same issue. Got a load of #2 diesel from the local station when the temps were in the 50s F. That night it plummeted to -20 F and stayed there for a week. The fuel gelled in the truck and took me a couple of days to get it running again. :cheerio:
gkainz said:It gave me some (small) comfort to know that I wasn't the only one who got caught by surprise. The station is a major truck stop and they normally sell #1 or condition their #2 fuel when the temps are predicted to go low. This cold snap caught everyone off guard and there were trucks parked all over the freeways and highways changing fuel filters and trying to ungell the tanks.
Sorry for the thread hijack - diesel vs unleaded isn't even a close comparison...just got carried away here today.
Mark S said:A friend of mine is past TBO on his 182 with no problems. He does say that every 4th tank or so he fills with AvGas to get some lead in the system, but I really don't know if that is necessary.
Mark
lancefisher said:OTOH I keep an above ground 200 gallon tank at my house for the boat which gets filled about twice per summer plus it sits all winter and I haven't had any trouble with the gas going bad in there. There is a filter between the tank and the hose on the dock, but I don't know if that helps any.
NC19143 said:Some auto fuels contain Alcohol, the law does not require the fuel dealers to label the pump if the mixture is less than 10%, so If you use auto, also use a alcohol detector kit.
Diana said:Thanks Tom. Wonder where I can get an alcohol detector kit?
Ken, I'm not sure what that means.Ken Ibold said:Diana,
Also consider that the STC that allows the Citabria to use mogas is a paper-only STC. That should tell you something, given how conservative the FAA generally is.
Hmmm, that almost sounds too easy. I bet I could buy a kit for $125 that would do the same thing.gibbons said:I would think you could take a glass beaker with the fuel in it and add some water. If the water is absorbed then the fuel has alcohol in it. Yes?
Chip
Steve said:EAA article on subject: http://www.eaa.org/education/fuel/autogas_vs_avgas.pdf
Steve said:You can get an alcohol test kit from Petersen Aviation for $17
http://www.webworksltd.com/autofuelstc/pa/PriceEuropeAustSA.html
A volatility tester might be a good idea, too, to keep the naysayers at bay.
Bill Jennings said:I've always wondered if it has anything to do with a relatively tight storage container, in other words, I'm wondering about oxidation of the fuel. Fuel stored in a tight container with no air turnover seems to keep much longer than fuel exposed to air, such as in a carb float bowl.
gibbons said:I would think you could take a glass beaker with the fuel in it and add some water. If the water is absorbed then the fuel has alcohol in it. Yes?
Chip
NC19143 said:Ask your self this,, What would happen in this test IF the alcohol was already saturated with water, and you added more?
The answer is, you would get back all the water you added.
This would be the worse case you could have, and never know it until the engine would not make power.