Mailing List flyrotary@lancaironline.net Message #5104
From: Tommy James <twjames@statesville.net>
Subject: RE: [FlyRotary] alcohol in mogas...test and avail
Date: Sun, 4 Jan 2004 20:50:32 -0500
To: Rotary motors in aircraft <flyrotary@lancaironline.net>
Marc and all, Happy New Year!

This idea of water, alcohol and mogas is really interesting to me right now!
This past week, I tried to get my plane moved from Pensacola to Statesville,
NC, and spent a few days fixing a fuel leak, exchanging fuel several times,
and flying the bird to make sure it, and I, were ready for the 500nm flight.
Here's the blow by blow:
1. In test flights the engine ran great with temps and pressures in the
green.  Occasionally there was a little vibration and/or burp, and with
power reduced for decent, a miss.  Once on the ground, the engine ran rough
once for a second or two, then smoothed out again.
2. Yesterday, I took off for the  trip home after a very damp, foggy two
days.  Climbing through 2500 feet, the engine coughed and quit, coughed and
quit, and then restarted with no other problem, but it seemed a little
rough.  The whole thing lasted, maybe two seconds which seemed like two
years. (Ed, I'm beginning to understand how you have felt.)
3. Safely returning to the airport, the engine ran rough for another two
seconds on the taxi in, and again before I shut it down.
4. In trying to figure this out, the first thought I had was contaminated
fuel, although pre-flight sump drains showed no visible water.
5. Marc's offering on water and alcohol seems very timely, even though it
may not be the cause of my problem.
6. My plan, so far, is to drain and refill the fuel tanks, then do a
thorough assessment of the computer set up.
7. I hope all you guys can help me figure out this problem.
Regards,
Tommy James<><


I found this interesting; I suppose too much alcohol might make the fuel
more susceptible to high altitude or vapor lock maladies.......so cool
that fuel.

Subject: Checking autogas for alcohol


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