Backcountry Pilot

[Vick offline]

Split from "Mogas Locations"....-Z
----------------------------------

Not sure about ethanol. We run Rotaxs so it doesn't really matter.

Joey, Straight from the Rotax website...

"Fuel with more than 5% ethanol must not be used. Checking the fuel for alcohol content is the only sure way to ensure that your fuel is suitable for your ROTAX engine." They follow that line with a table listing 9 ways in which ethanol is detrimental to your Rotax.

Full doc here, see page 8...

http://www.rotax-aircraft-engines.com/p ... d03830.pdf

[emflys offline]

Vick - this was updated, and they are now approved for "up to 10% ethanol"

[emflys offline]

Sorry, meant to post this
http://www.rotax-aircraft-engines.com/pdf/dokus/d04432.pdf

[AvidFlyer offline]

Not that anyone else here runs a 582 but it was updated as well

http://www.rotax-aircraft-engines.com/p ... d04362.pdf

[180Marty offline]

[AvidFlyer offline]

I run a blend of Avgas and Mogas..I just ordered some Decalin from Spruce. Looks like it's not been officially approved but I know a lot of people are using it with no issues. I ran straight Avgas for about 20 hours till I pulled my plugs the first time. It sucks when you have to pick between lead damage or alcohol damage.

[onceAndFutr_alaskaflyer offline]

I run a blend of Avgas and Mogas..I just ordered some Decalin from Spruce. Looks like it's not been officially approved but I know a lot of people are using it with no issues. I ran straight Avgas for about 20 hours till I pulled my plugs the first time. It sucks when you have to pick between lead damage or alcohol damage.

Why Decalin? What is the advantage over TCP which is approved?

[180Marty offline]

It sucks when you have to pick between lead damage or alcohol damage.

I'm curious----what did the ethanol damage? Or are you talking about methanol?

[Vick offline]

Vick - this was updated, and they are now approved for "up to 10% ethanol"

My bad, that's what I get for not ensuring currency of references. I saw something from Rotax recently in the EAA magazine though that also said they did not recommend ethanol for their engines, of course I don't remember the issue now. I'll see if I can find it again...

[AvidFlyer offline]

It sucks when you have to pick between lead damage or alcohol damage.

I'm curious----what did the ethanol damage? Or are you talking about methanol?

I have fiberglass fuel tanks that Ethanol will eat up if I left it in there long enough. The two stroke doesn't like 100LL either..the lead fouls the plugs and collects on the crank bearings. All the experimental guys are running decalin.

[courierguy offline]

I run a blend of Avgas and Mogas..I just ordered some Decalin from Spruce. Looks like it's not been officially approved but I know a lot of people are using it with no issues. I ran straight Avgas for about 20 hours till I pulled my plugs the first time. It sucks when you have to pick between lead damage or alcohol damage.

Why Decalin? What is the advantage over TCP which is approved?

The Decalin is less expensive, no paperwork expense!

After talking with Emflys while at JC, I am now starting to use SOME ethanol blended mo gas while on XC's, like the 4 gallons I got at the Picabo gas station on the way home, and another 4 gallons in Afton yesterday on a breakfast run. I havn't fallen out of the sky yet.

But, today I just filled my 300 gallon bulk tank..... and that for sure was straight mo gas, if nothing else for the greater energy content. I'll keep using that at home as long as I can still get it.

[180Marty offline]

Steve, on Supercub.org was having boat trouble. Most thought it was ethanol even though he didn't think it was in the fuel he was using. A boat guy from WI said this stuff solved all ethanol related problems.

[Vick offline]

Marty, this is classic...are you suggesting we pour this stuff in our planes?!? to cure the ills of a fuel that I don't want to pay for and can't legally use to begin with? Hell, I guess if I'm going to illegally use ethanol I might as well pour some of this stuff in as well.

[Jaerl offline]

Why can't we just have our old gas back?

[180Marty offline]

Marty, this is classic...are you suggesting we pour this stuff in our planes?!?

Vick, You need to reread my post. I said a boat guy from WI. Here is his post.

Minaki
Supercub.org Supporter IV
Supercub.org Supporter IV


Joined: 22 Apr 2003
Posts: 27
Location: Minocqua, WI

PostPosted: Wed Jun 30, 2010 7:25 am Post subject: Reply with quote
Cafi is on the right track here. As a boat dealer we have seen lots of problems caused by ethanol in the gas. Google "ethanol in boat gas and read all about it. The fix is to use a product called Star tron in the fuel. It has eleminated all of our ethanol related problems. This product or one like it should be used in any small engine that sits around most of the time. Try adding some to the gas and running it for a while. If that does not fix it you will have to have the carb rebuilt again.

Jim

I did suggest on Supercub that somebody was secretly adding this stuff to all my fuel since I haven't had any problems in all my years of ethanol use. Just thought I'd pass this along since AvidFlyer said this

I just ordered some Decalin from Spruce. Looks like it's not been officially approved but I know a lot of people are using it with no issues.

[wyomingiswindy offline]

Hey, you Alaskan dudes, anyone know of a high octane mogas anywhere? I've been mostly around Anchorage. Everything is ethanol free cuz they is smart up here, but I can't find any on airport. And in the stations it appears 90 oct is as high as is offered. My Rotax says it needs 91 oct. I blended a little with 100LL, but have just been burning 100LL for the last 25 hrs or so.
Thanks in advance as they say.

Greg

[Vick offline]

Vick, You need to reread my post.

No, I read your post and it seemed like a pretty clear suggestion that Star Tron might help preempt any ethanol-related issues. This is amusing on two points. One is that from the start you have maintained that ethanol has no downside and two because the concoction you posted as a fix for issues that don't exist looks about as legit as any of the dozens of snake-oil fuel additives available at Napa.

Decalin is marketed to the experimental audience, from Spruce's ad:

Decalin Chemicals manufactures products for the experimental aircraft aviation community. Decalin Fuel RunUp Additive in a 16 ounce bottle, treats up to 320 gallons of fuel. Decalin is not approved for use in the engines of certified aircraft.

I searched Spruce to no avail, they don't carry Star Tron, imagine my surprise.

[180Marty offline]

Just found this on a boat forum for you fiberglass tank/Rotax guys.

Phattmatt,

I have done it [i.e., applied some type of sealer to resist the effects of ethanol blended gasoline] to my fiberglass fuel tank that was deteriorating. I used KBS sealer last winter and used it all season with the E10 ethanol gas we have in Maryland. I just drained the remaining gas for the winter and the sealer seams to be holding up fine. I don't know if it will hold up long term but I am betting it will.
My tank was not leaking when I did the sealer but I wouldn't think that will matter. Do your best to get it as clean as possible inside. The kit comes with a cleaning solvent. I used a piece of chain to scuff the inside and loosen any debris.
Good luck,

Fritz

http://www.kbs-coatings.com/Tank-Sealers_c_7-1-0.html

[Jaerl offline]

I think there is a little difference between you boat engine sucking a gob of sealer or fiberglass and you plane doing it.

[RDUStinson offline]

We're trying to get ethanol free mogas on the field here in NC now that you can no longer buy it from the local stations. We found a distributor that will sell us legitimate 87 octane ethanol free fuel (100gallons minimum), but they tell us that we MUST pay for and take (separately) the 10% volume of ethanol that would be blended into it if sold "normally".

Of course this is completely infuriating, and we have no idea what to do with the crap. If the guvmint hadn't poisoned it, we'd drink it all in the hopes of somehow understanding the twisted logic behind all this.

I guess we'll just have a big-ass ethanol-fueled bonfire...