|
-
POSTING RULES

-
Donate yearly (please).
-
Advertise in here!
-
Today's Posts
|
Insert Pics
|

04-19-2011, 06:31 PM
|
|
|
|
Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: Bartow, Florida
Posts: 204
|
|
Fuel question
I know this is in the wrong section, but it does involve fuel. I don't know about the rest of the country, but here in Florida the price of Avgas is over $5.00 a gallon.  I have found a auto repair shop that sell non-ethanol gas for boaters. This guy gaurentees that there is NO alcahol in his gas.
Now for the questions.
1. How do I test for ethanol, he says it's clean, but I don't really want to trust my life on his word. Is there a kit available?
2. Would it be alright to mix with avgas. This engine has run on mogas before, but the plugs always fouled on the way out to the runway, so I went back to avgas. (I have since learned to lean)
The engine is a O-320 B2B 160hp
All help will be appreciated 
__________________
Taz
Mike Bauer
Technical Counselor
EAA 229 President
RV-3 flying
RV-4 building
|

04-19-2011, 06:41 PM
|
 |
|
|
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: Southern Michigan
Posts: 1,966
|
|
You can buy a little ethanol tester from AS&S: http://www.aircraftspruce.com/catalo...oholTester.php
I run a little ethanol laced auto fuel premium in my O-235 mixed with avgas with great results. Ethanol free fuel is no where to be found around here at any gas stations and mogas is scarce at the airports.
__________________
David C.
Howell, MI
RV-10: #41686 Under Construction
RV-9A: #90949 Under Construction
RV-10: #40637 Completed/Sold 2016
Cozy MKIV:#656 Completed/Sold 2007
"Donor Exempt" but donated through Dec. 2020
|

04-20-2011, 05:08 AM
|
 |
|
|
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: Louisville, Ga
Posts: 7,840
|
|
It's easy, Mike..
Quote:
Originally Posted by rvaitor87
1. How do I test for ethanol, he says it's clean, but I don't really want to trust my life on his word. Is there a kit available?
2. Would it be alright to mix with avgas. This engine has run on mogas before, but the plugs always fouled on the way out to the runway, so I went back to avgas. (I have since learned to lean)
The engine is a O-320 B2B 160hp
All help will be appreciated 
|
..because alcohol is very attracted to water.
I use a paint mixing tube with ten lines, equally spaced...1/2" markings work. Fill to the first line with water, then add gas 'til the tenth (top) line. shake it up and the water will "suck" the alcohol out of the gas and if it's 10% alcohol, the water line will now come up to near the second line.
You can use any clear container that lets you see the original water level get bigger IF there's alcohol present.
FWIW, a friend of mine rides a crotch rocket and has made a 55 gallon drum to extricate any alcohol. He puts in 5 gallons of water and adds 45 gallons of gas. By the time he gets home and it sloshed for a few miles, the alcohol has been pulled down by the water. He has a spigot at the bottom that drains the water/alcohol mix until he sees/smells gas.
Best,
__________________
Pierre Smith
RV-10, 510 TT
RV6A (Sojourner) 180 HP, Catto 3 Bl (502Hrs), gone...and already missed
Air Tractor AT 502B PT 6-15 Sold
Air Tractor 402 PT-6-20 Sold
EAA Flight Advisor/CFI/Tech Counselor
Louisville, Ga
It's never skill or craftsmanship that completes airplanes, it's the will to do so,
Patrick Kenny, EAA 275132
Dues gladly paid!
|

04-20-2011, 05:15 AM
|
|
|
|
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: Belgium
Posts: 645
|
|
Please do not use a "scary face" to easily.......
Quote:
Originally Posted by rvaitor87
I don't know about the rest of the country, but here in Florida the price of Avgas is over $5.00 a gallon. 
|
You lucky........
At our flying club the Avgas is now ? 2,45/ltr ==> $ 13,35/GAL !!!!!!
Some places the prices are as high as ? 2,80/ltr ==> $ 15,26/GAL !!!!!!
That's a reason for a  !!
I am investigating where I can buy Ethanol free Mogas at the moment (wich will still be $ 8,50 to $ 10,00/GAL though)
Regards, Tonny.
__________________
"Pilottonny"
Tonny Tromp
Lanaken, Belgium (EU)
RV9A, Registration: PH-VAN
ECI-Titan IOX-320 with dual EI, turning a Whirlwind 200RV CS prop.
Sold
|

04-20-2011, 06:29 AM
|
 |
|
|
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: Arlington, WA
Posts: 799
|
|
Go to pure-gas.com for a list of gas stations that have been tested to carry non-alcohol gas. If you find a new station (and test it!), then you can add that station to the data base.
To test for alcohol, I fill up a couple of five gallon jugs and bring them back to the airport. At the airport, I'll use my clear fuel tester. Put about an inch of water in the tester and use a sharpie to mark the water level. Then fill the tester up with your "non-alcohol" fuel. Shake it a little and then let it sit. Come back after an hour and check the water level. If the water level hasn't changed, you're in luck!  If the water level has gone UP, then you have alcohol in your fuel and you might as well pour it into your car.
I use premium auto gas in my plane. I also update the Pure-Gas website periodically.
__________________
_______________________________
Scott "Grumpy" Stewart
RV-7 N957RV (First Flight on Dec 18, 2009 )
RV-14 N144P (Empennage complete, wings almost complete, fuselage almost complete)
#866 on the Van's RV-7 hobbs
#6563 on Van's generic hobbs
Arlington, WA
|

04-20-2011, 06:33 AM
|
 |
|
|
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: Arlington, WA
Posts: 799
|
|
Wrong way to get alcohol out of fuel!
Quote:
Originally Posted by pierre smith
FWIW, a friend of mine rides a crotch rocket and has made a 55 gallon drum to extricate any alcohol. He puts in 5 gallons of water and adds 45 gallons of gas. By the time he gets home and it sloshed for a few miles, the alcohol has been pulled down by the water. He has a spigot at the bottom that drains the water/alcohol mix until he sees/smells gas.
|
Don't do this for your airplane!
The alcohol provides part of the octane for the gas. When your friend drags the alcohol out of the gas using this method, he is lowering the octane of the gas by several points! That Premium gas just dropped down to less-than-regular gas.
__________________
_______________________________
Scott "Grumpy" Stewart
RV-7 N957RV (First Flight on Dec 18, 2009 )
RV-14 N144P (Empennage complete, wings almost complete, fuselage almost complete)
#866 on the Van's RV-7 hobbs
#6563 on Van's generic hobbs
Arlington, WA
|

04-20-2011, 09:27 PM
|
 |
|
|
Join Date: May 2008
Location: Brisbane Qld. Aust.
Posts: 2,271
|
|
I am glad you posted this Mr Hawk
I was just reading Pierre's story and thinking to myself that is all well and good but the grade of fuel that is left behind will be sub-par. That is the very reason they use the ethanol in the first place, apart from greenie givernment subsidised stealling food crops from the poor campaigns
You guys need to get onto the FAA and whoever else over there to get the GAMI G100UL fuel approved. It is about the only good news in years for aviation and its going nowhere fast.  
|

04-20-2011, 10:27 PM
|
|
|
|
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: Sacramento, CA
Posts: 3,351
|
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by RV10inOz
I am glad you posted this Mr Hawk
I was just reading Pierre's story and thinking to myself that is all well and good but the grade of fuel that is left behind will be sub-par. That is the very reason they use the ethanol in the first place, apart from greenie givernment subsidised stealling food crops from the poor campaigns
You guys need to get onto the FAA and whoever else over there to get the GAMI G100UL fuel approved. It is about the only good news in years for aviation and its going nowhere fast.  
|
Another reason would be that you are pooring 10% of that saving into drain, so not much saving by buying auto gas when you consider the added transportation to the airport, hassle and danger of adding gas from a container and all.
It really sucks that AVGas has gone up so much. I put over 300 hours in my new RV and now try to limit my flying as much as I can when I see the cost of fuel 
__________________
Mehrdad
N825SM RV7A - IO360M1B - SOLD
N825MS RV14A - IO390 - Flying
Dues paid
|

04-22-2011, 02:43 AM
|
 |
|
|
Join Date: May 2008
Location: Brisbane Qld. Aust.
Posts: 2,271
|
|
Quote:
|
I put over 300 hours in my new RV and now try to limit my flying as much as I can when I see the cost of fuel
|
Not sure that is really a wise idea. Flying less is bad on a number of fronts, engine corrossion will cost you way more long term, being less current (unless you fly for a living) will possibly increase your chances of an incident that may cost you. Your fixed costs will remain and make your desire to sell it easier.
Things you can do, find the best suitable fuel sources (not always the cheapest at the pump), if you smoke...give up and put the money into Avgas, a few less beers, take your wife / girlfriend to somewhere for a picnic lunch instead of dinner out somewhere. Take lunch from home to work instead of buying lunch. Steal back the kids pocket money
All the above will plug the fuel cost increases and then some. Even if only half of them apply to you. Less flying NO WAY!
If your engine is injected get the injectors tuned and learn how to run LOP, this will save you heaps in fuel and maintenance.
DB 
|
| Thread Tools |
Search this Thread |
|
|
|
| Display Modes |
Linear Mode
|
Posting Rules
|
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts
HTML code is Off
|
|
|
All times are GMT -6. The time now is 07:01 AM.
|