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Ex Bonanza Bucko

Well Known Member
We can't get the recommended ethanol free auto gas here in the Socialist and Green/Red Republic of Goofafornia. So I'm looking for ways to manage our gas in a Rotax engine in an RV12.

Do you have any knowledge or input about using Fuel Stabilizer like we use in stored outboard motor fuel?

EBB
 
Ex Bonanza Bucko said:
We can't get the recommended ethanol free auto gas here in the Socialist and Green/Red Republic of Goofafornia. So I'm looking for ways to manage our gas in a Rotax engine in an RV12.

Do you have any knowledge or input about using Fuel Stabilizer like we use in stored outboard motor fuel?

EBB
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There is no need to resort to fuel stabilizer unless your RV-12 sits for extended periods of time without flying. The stabilizers are for fuel storage stretched out for months, not days or a couple of weeks. Keep the tank full between flights so condensation won't be an issue.

I wouldn't be surprised if the use of stabilizer voids the Rotax warranty. They have blessed the use of E10 in the 912.
 
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Fuel stabilizer

Sam Buchanan said:
There is no need to resort to fuel stabilizer unless your RV-12 sits for extended periods of time without flying. The stabilizers are for fuel storage stretched out for months, not days or a couple of weeks. Keep the tank full between flights so condensation won't be an issue.

I wouldn't be surprised if the use of stabilizer voids the Rotax warranty. They have blessed the use of E10 in the 912.
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Sam:
Thanks. I use the stabilizer a lot down in Mexico where the combination of heat and gas sitting for a while can cause problems. I'm concerned about the comments on this forum and other places about ethanol car gas sitting for more than 30 days in the RV12 tank; it's been said that storage for that short time could be a problem and especially so when there is moisture in the air which combines with the ethanol and which then turns into gunk at the bottom of the tank. So 30 days seems to be a problem to some. I don't intend to not fly for 30 days but it does sometimes happen.

So I think there is good reason to find out, if anyone knows, whether or not stabilizer would void a Rotax warranty or do other harm to the engine.

Thanks,
EBB
 
I, and others, have used Stabil in our CT's for years WHEN the plane will be sitting for awhile. For me, that means a month or more. In reality, a month with fresh fuel probably won't hurt a thing but neither will putting in some stabil. Fortunately, in my part of Oregon ethanol free 92/92 is still available so that part is not of concern to me. Probably over cautious but I don't ever want the kinds of problems I have had with some of my low use gas engines.

Also, if you are not buying from a high volume station, you don't know how old the fuel is when you buy it. Since you are using 10% you probably buy from a station with high volume. Since I use ethanol free, I probably buy from a low volume, compared to auto gas stations, dealer.

I have not heard this will affect the warranty but that no longer concerns me since the plane is 6 years old.
 
Regarding high volume stations, someone once told me never to buy fuel soon after the station's tanks had been serviced, as the high pressure, high volume pumping stirs up all the junk in the bottom of the tank.

I have considered going ethanol free, but, as someone mentioned, that tank is probably not going to be high volume - especially the 92 octane premium.

So, I've been buying my gas at the Costco on the way to the airport. One day, while waiting in the line, the driver of a big tandem fuel truck was stowing his hoses and finishing up his delivery. I thought about the servicing issue, and struck up a conversation. I asked him how much fuel he had just delivered. He said 11,000 gallons. I was impressed.

Then I pulled up to the island and filled my gas cans. The attendant ambled by, and I struck up another conversation. "I'll bet that load will last you for a while!" I said. "Not really," he said. "How long will that load last you", I asked. "Would you believe that truck delivers here three times every day?" he answered.

Now, I was REALLY impressed. 33,000 gallons per day. Guess that's a "High Volume Station".

Bob Bogash
N737G
 
Also keep in mind that the fuel only goes bad where the fuel meets the air. If you keep your tanks full, they won't go bad quickly at all. Here in BC where people park motorcycles for 4-6 months of the year, leaving them with the tank full over winter will protect them for that long.
 
on the bottom of the storage tank is a ''standpipe'' maybe 6'' high. the theory is that water settles on the bottom of the tank so when you pump fuel you are getting fuel with no water. now if you pump right after a transport is delivered and all the fuel has been stirred from 7000 gallons swirling in......you get the water.
3 loads a day and i would bet there is no water.
in 20 yrs at a job we only found water in our storage tank one time. when you see an attendant smearing goop on the end of the stick they use to measure fuel quanity he is getting ready to check the tank for water.
bob noffs
 
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