Mailing List flyrotary@lancaironline.net Message #50872
From: Al Gietzen <ALVentures@cox.net>
Subject: RE: [FlyRotary] Re: Fuel Pressure sensor warning
Date: Mon, 12 Apr 2010 10:27:40 -0800
To: 'Rotary motors in aircraft' <flyrotary@lancaironline.net>

 

It could be that in Al’s state, he can get Mogas without ethanol.  Tracy, however, in Florida, can only get it without ethanol if he buys it from specific places.  Distributers that sell it, or boat docks that sell it.  It is not available from a regular gas station in Florida as far as I know. 

Bill B

 

For at least the last couple of years the auto fuel I’ve been getting at the pumps (Chevron) has 5-7% ethanol.  I hear that some other brands of fuel (Mobil and ARCO) have more.

 

Given Tracy’s and my experience with the earlier VDO senders suggests they have since changed something.  I’ll check mine occasionally, but I’m not too concerned about fire since the sender is located near the bottom of the firewall away from the exhaust side of the engine, so a few drops of fuel with lots of air blasting through from the rad exit is not going to make a flammable mixture.

Al

 


From: Rotary motors in aircraft [mailto:flyrotary@lancaironline.net] On Behalf Of Mark Steitle
Sent:
Monday, April 12, 2010 12:38 PM
To: Rotary motors in aircraft
Subject: [FlyRotary] Re: Fuel Pressure sensor warning

Well then, either you're very lucky, or VDO changed materials for their sensors. 

 

Mark

On Mon, Apr 12, 2010 at 9:52 AM, Al Gietzen <ALVentures@cox.net> wrote:

 

Could the difference be that Tracy runs mo-gas which most likely contains ethanol? 

 Mark S.

 

I have run mogas more than 95% of the total hours.

 

Al

On Mon, Apr 12, 2010 at 12:05 AM, Al Gietzen <ALVentures@cox.net> wrote:

SO,  I can no longer recommend using the VDO pressure sensors for use on fuel systems.  Either an isolator must be used or a sensor rated for fuel exposure be installed.  I've been using one on my -4 for >7 years with no problems.   About 3 years ago VDO started putting a sticker in the pressure sensor package saying not to use them on fuel pressure applications.   I suspect they changed something in the manufacturing process. 

 

I’ve had my VDO pressure sensor in service on the fuel system since first engine run in Jan, 2004.  Still doing fine.  Must be they changed something after that.

 

Al G

 

 

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