Ethanol Requirement

[Don Eide]

Here in Minnesota our auto fuel has ethanol in it year round. In the winter months they also put some other stuff in our fuel, not sure what it is, but I think its to help the fuel burn when it's cold out. (not sure on that), anyway we call it "Winter Blend Fuel" and it was what I was using on a warm spring day when my engine quite. However, during there testing, EAA did not have any problem with it,

Airports that carry auto fuel have "Straight Gas", but I haven't been to any airports in the past year or so that care auto fuel. The guys I know that burn auto fuel carry there own.

I bought gas this week, and 100LL was $2.49 at my local airport (self serve). Auto fuel at the gas station was $1.79 (regular car gas with ethanol).

[Ron Babos]

Nathan: In Ontario it has been put in the gas for the winter months, so far. I'm sure soon it will be in all the time. You can still find the odd station that sells the regular gas but it's getting more difficult all the time. The average prices are around 3.25-3.50 at the moment for 1 imperial gallon. We use the metric system here , so it's sold by the liter. That works out to 3.785 liters per us gallon. Our gallon is 4.54 liter per gallon. Last summer it went to $4.00 plus for a while. The last time I bought 100ll it was 1.10 per liter. Gotta get a cheaper hobbie??? Ron

[sedanpilot]

There is another potential problem with ethanol in airplane gas, some of the rubber in the seals aren't compatable. When they introduced it into cars, they had problems until the fleet rolled over. That doesn't happen fast in airplanes. An additonal problem that I believe EAA found when they did the testing for the original Mogass STC's was that, especially in high wing airplanes, the vapor pressure was higher, causing vapor lock at high angle of attack. (think go around at the end of a flight) The Mogass STC on our Sedan also warns in strong words not to use use ethanol blended gass. (mogas also made the plastic in our sight gages go milky white, can't see a thing)

[Ron Babos]

I will try just about any-thing to keep the fuel cost down, but Ethanol is just a waiste of effort when it comes to an aircraft. Too much conversion needed in the components, right down to the fuel tanks. High vapour pressure, water separation , carb rejetting, hoses , O rings, carb float needles . Just not worth it, in my opinion. Ron