0-360 and Mogas

[pierre smith]

Mornin' everybody,
Man-oh-man, we're finally there!! Waiting on the inspector for our long-awaited sign-off.....WHEW, what a trip it has been (1 year and 9 months for our RV6A.)
How many of you guys/gals have run mogas in O-360s? Ours is a stock O-360 with a fresh self-done overhaul with yellow tagged everything. Any problems, comments,
Thanks, Pierre Smith

[RV7ator]

Pierre,

I use 91 octane, alcohol-free mogas in a 360 with 8.5:1 compression. This is common in spam cans that have the Peterson STC for mogas. 7:1 compression engines (like my 150 horse 320 in a 172) can use 87 octane, exemplified by all the aircraft with EAA STC's. You don't need an STC for an experimental; it's only that there's a world of mogas use in certificated aircraft having the same engine.

I suggest you go to both web sites and read up on the subject. Common practice is to break in a new engine on 100LL, then transition to mogas.

Best wishes for your new bird, and a squawk-free first flight.

John Siebold

[dav1111]

I used auto gas for over 1000 hours in my C-182 with no problems.

[tacchi88]

We operate 4 different ACs with mogas, a C182, a T craft, homebuilt with Rotax (4 cycle) and Lycoming. In all case, mogas improved, fuel consumption, oil consumption increased plug life, and generally improved performance.
In the case of the C182, it's oil guzzling O470 Conti's consumption dropped to 12/13 gph on fuel and, oil dropped 1 qt/hr, and performnace is closest to factory specs. The engine has 1300 hrs. Plug life had increased, and the JPI anylizer is stable with mogas, while eratic with AV gas, in addition to using more fuel for cooling, odd when considering that the higher octane should burn cooler.
Lead does not lubricate as is a popular myth in aviation, in fact it does damage to any engine. Before unleaded gas, the auto industry average engine lige was less than 50K miles, as opposed to double with unleaded. With modern FADECs, 200,000 in autos is becoming more and more common.
In the case of the Rotax, AV gas makes the little engine unruly and runs inconstantly. Rotax recommends replacing oil freqhently if using AV gas. Spark plugs load easily as well and consumption rises.
Crop dusters and banner towers have been using it for years. One banner tower on our fiels dreads towing banners from a busy airport due to "wandering" eyes. On less populated fields, they use mogas. Reasons, better fuel economy, better plug life. and performance.
The T Craft was OH ed nearly 25 years ago, and running mogas from the first day after OH. Oil consumption for the little Conti is very low, plug life (and just signed off it's annual) look as if they were fairly new.
FWIW