X-Virus-Scanned: clean according to Sophos on Logan.com Return-Path: Received: from irongate.mail.utexas.edu ([128.83.32.55] verified) by logan.com (CommuniGate Pro SMTP 5.1c.2) with ESMTP id 1330433 for flyrotary@lancaironline.net; Mon, 31 Jul 2006 13:57:03 -0400 Received-SPF: none receiver=logan.com; client-ip=128.83.32.55; envelope-from=mark.steitle@austin.utexas.edu DomainKey-Signature: s=main; d=austin.utexas.edu; c=nofws; q=dns; b=zGgnGTeKywsOvVpeJXw/u9a+ZVr0/cdZPl7P3k4zzNutoCBL1+qmbpiyButDYXsynMOAp+5cejrEiHBXu6wQZNjgE6oCLr5KxlcC4MHNKIr6SNeB1bbxFbc9N4rqjoILTx7XEOiOd8gnuzLnDk4kDnkEVC7W1oEU19BiXSqxjKA=; Received: from exb02.austin.utexas.edu (HELO MAIL01.austin.utexas.edu) ([129.116.87.143]) by irongate.mail.utexas.edu with ESMTP; 31 Jul 2006 12:56:16 -0500 x-mimeole: Produced By Microsoft Exchange V6.5 Content-class: urn:content-classes:message MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: multipart/alternative; boundary="----_=_NextPart_001_01C6B4CA.9ED83E97" Subject: RE: [FlyRotary] Re: Auto Fuel - composite tanks Date: Mon, 31 Jul 2006 12:56:16 -0500 Message-ID: <87DBA06C9A5CB84B80439BA09D86E69E053A6D00@MAIL01.austin.utexas.edu> In-Reply-To: X-MS-Has-Attach: X-MS-TNEF-Correlator: Thread-Topic: [FlyRotary] Re: Auto Fuel - composite tanks Thread-Index: Aca0yFAPME8doxbiT/2bkNJG5287yAAAZp5A From: "Mark R Steitle" To: "Rotary motors in aircraft" This is a multi-part message in MIME format. ------_=_NextPart_001_01C6B4CA.9ED83E97 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1" Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable Al, I sure hope this stuff works because this is what I used to seal the = fuel tanks on my Lancair. Jeffco 9700 is what Lancair specifies, and = supplies in their kits. I've had mogas in my right wing for about 8 = months now with no sign of leakage. It would be extremely difficult (if = not impossible) to coat the fuel tank after the wings are closed. =20 =20 Mark S. =20 =20 ________________________________ From: Rotary motors in aircraft [mailto:flyrotary@lancaironline.net] On = Behalf Of Steve Brooks Sent: Monday, July 31, 2006 12:39 PM To: Rotary motors in aircraft Subject: [FlyRotary] Re: Auto Fuel - composite tanks =20 Al, When I built my cozy, the EZ-poxy was also recommended for the strakes. = Since I used MGS to build the entire plane, I really didn't want to use = the EZ-poxy to build the strakes. For one, it would have different = curing tendencies, and secondly the specifications of the MGS indicated = that strength wise it was a much better epoxy. =20 After some research, which also included using products already tested = by others before me, I elected to coat my fuel tanks with a product made = by Jeffco. Specially, Jeffco SPF9700-FCR. I built the strakes using = MGS, and then coated the interior with the Jeffco epoxy. =20 Here is a link for their product. = http://128.121.50.220:8090/Jeffco/Systems/mp_entries/sp9700-FCR/viewCusto= mers_html?key=3Dsp9700-FCR =20 I'm not sure how difficult it would be to coat the tanks with it now, = but it is impervious to most fuels, and their various additives. I've = had fuel in my tanks for almost 3 years now. Various different gas = stations, and no problems at all with the tanks. =20 I don't know how hard it would be to coat your tanks now, but it most = likely would solve your problem. You just paint the stuff on after = mixing it up. It's pretty thick, and tends to stick pretty well to = vertical surfaces. As I recall, I gave mine 2 or 3 coatings. I had = zero leaks when I pressure tested the tanks. =20 Steve Brooks Cozy MKIV N75CZ Turbo Rotary =20 =20 =20 =20 -----Original Message----- [Steve Brooks]=20 =20 From: Rotary motors in aircraft [mailto:flyrotary@lancaironline.net]On = Behalf Of Al Gietzen Sent: Monday, July 31, 2006 1:15 PM To: Rotary motors in aircraft Subject: [FlyRotary] Auto Fuel - composite tanks Not sure where to go with this because there are only a few here with = epoxy fuel tanks, and on the Velocity list very few interested in the = use of mogas. I'm suspecting fuel compatibility isses. =20 I first put fuel in the tanks nearly 2 years ago and used Chevron = regular. Everything was fine. When I moved the plane to the airport 3 = months ago (tanks empty) I filled with Exxon-Mobile. Four troubling = things have come up in the past few weeks.=20 =20 1. I have Vance Atkinson site gauge that has a white plastic back plate = for easier reading of the fuel level. The small hole through the backing = has been swelling shut so the sight gauge no longer works. I contacted = Vance who said that there are hundreds of these gauges in EZs using = mogas without problems, but he has had 3 incidents like mine in the last = three months.=20 2. A couple of weeks ago there was suddenly a pinhole leak in one of = the gear well enclosures. These enclosures are part of the fuel tank = wall, and are parts that come with the Velocity kit. These are also = made and coated with EZ-poxy.=20 3. Looking in through the filler cap I see reddish-purple splotches and = streaks on those gear leg enclosures. Poking and scratching with some = safety wire on a stick does not indicate any softness of the surface.=20 4. Yesterday, under the leading edges of one of the strakes, I noted an = area with some slight surface irregularity. Pushing on it suggests some = sponginess. This is =BD" foam core material, and indicates the = possibility of a pinhole leak in the inner skin, and fuel softening the = PVC foam. PVC foam is supposed to be unaffected by fuel.=20 =20 My tanks (strakes) were made and coated with EZ-poxy back in 1998. At = the time I polled EZ flyers about there experience, and talked to reps = of various epoxy manufacturers about auto fuel compatibility. All the = evidence said go with the EZ-poxy. =20 Any others with composite tanks having any trouble? Anybody using = Exxon-mobile fuel? Know of any new additives that are an issue? =20 I'm thinking I should drain this fuel ASAP, but then what? Other = brand? That expensive Avgas? Regardless I may be faced with cutting = open a strake at some point, but right now we are trying to get first = flight done this coming weekend. =20 =20 ------_=_NextPart_001_01C6B4CA.9ED83E97 Content-Type: text/html; charset="iso-8859-1" Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable

Al,

I sure hope this stuff works = because this is what I used to seal the fuel tanks on my Lancair.=A0 Jeffco 9700 is = what Lancair specifies, and supplies in their kits.=A0 I’ve had mogas = in my right wing for about 8 months now with no sign of leakage.=A0 It would = be extremely difficult (if not impossible) to coat the fuel tank after the wings are = closed.=A0

 

Mark S.=A0 =

 

From: = Rotary motors in aircraft [mailto:flyrotary@lancaironline.net] On Behalf Of Steve Brooks
Sent: Monday, July 31, = 2006 12:39 PM
To: Rotary motors in = aircraft
Subject: [FlyRotary] Re: = Auto Fuel - composite tanks

 

Al,

When I built my cozy, the EZ-poxy = was also recommended for the strakes.  Since I used MGS to build the entire = plane, I really didn't want to use the EZ-poxy to build the strakes.  For = one, it would have different curing tendencies, and secondly the specifications = of the MGS indicated that strength wise it was a much better = epoxy.

 

After some research, which also = included using products already tested by others before me, I elected to coat my = fuel tanks with a product made by Jeffco.  Specially, Jeffco = SPF9700-FCR.  I built the strakes using MGS, and then coated the interior with the = Jeffco epoxy.

 

 

I'm not sure how difficult it would = be to coat the tanks with it now, but it is impervious to most fuels, and = their various additives.  I've had fuel in my tanks for almost 3 years now.  Various different gas stations, and no problems at all with = the tanks.

 

I don't know how hard it would be = to coat your tanks now, but it most likely would solve your problem.  You = just paint the stuff on after mixing it up.  It's pretty thick, and = tends to stick pretty well to vertical surfaces.  As I recall, I gave mine 2 = or 3 coatings.  I had zero leaks when I pressure tested the = tanks.

 

Steve = Brooks

Cozy MKIV = N75CZ

Turbo = Rotary

 

 

 

 

-----Original Message-----
[Steve = Brooks] 

 
From: Rotary motors in = aircraft [mailto:flyrotary@lancaironline.net]On Behalf Of Al Gietzen
Sent: Monday, July 31, = 2006 1:15 PM
To: Rotary motors in = aircraft
Subject: [FlyRotary] Auto = Fuel - composite tanks

Not sure where to go with this because there are = only a few here with epoxy fuel tanks, and on the Velocity list very few = interested in the use of mogas.  I’m suspecting fuel compatibility = isses.

 

I first put fuel in the tanks nearly 2 years ago = and used Chevron regular. Everything was fine.  When I moved the plane to = the airport 3 months ago (tanks empty) I filled with Exxon-Mobile.  = Four troubling things have come up in the past few weeks. =

 

  1. I have Vance = Atkinson site gauge that has a white plastic back plate for easier reading of the = fuel level. The small hole through the backing has been swelling shut so = the sight gauge no longer works. I contacted Vance who said that there = are hundreds of these gauges in EZs using mogas without problems, but = he has had 3 incidents like mine in the last three months. =
  2. A couple of weeks = ago there was suddenly a pinhole leak in one of the gear well = enclosures.  These enclosures are part of the fuel tank wall, and are parts that = come with the Velocity kit.  These are also made and coated with = EZ-poxy.
  3. Looking in through = the filler cap I see reddish-purple splotches and streaks on those gear leg enclosures.  Poking and scratching with some safety wire on a = stick does not indicate any softness of the surface. =
  4. Yesterday, under the = leading edges of one of the strakes, I noted an area with some slight = surface irregularity.  Pushing on it suggests some sponginess.  = This is =BD” foam core material, and indicates the possibility of a = pinhole leak in the inner skin, and fuel softening the PVC foam.  PVC = foam is supposed to be unaffected by fuel.

 

My tanks (strakes) were made and coated with = EZ-poxy back in 1998.  At the time I polled EZ flyers about there experience, = and talked to reps of various epoxy manufacturers about auto fuel = compatibility.  All the evidence said go with the EZ-poxy.

 

Any others with composite tanks having any trouble?  Anybody using Exxon-mobile fuel?  Know of any new additives = that are an issue?

 

I’m thinking I should drain this fuel ASAP, = but then what?  Other brand?  That expensive Avgas?  Regardless I = may be faced with cutting open a strake at some point, but right now we are = trying to get first flight done this coming weekend.

 

 

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