From: "Perry Mick" <pjmick@mail.viclink.com>
To: "Rotary motors in aircraft" <flyrotary@lancaironline.net>
Subject: Re: [FlyRotary] Re: Mogas issues
Date: Tue, 11 May 2004 07:47:27 -0800
Message-Id: <20040511153434.M61089@mail.viclink.com>
In-Reply-To: <list-3226682@logan.com>
References: <list-3226682@logan.com>
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On Tue, 11 May 2004 11:23:06 -0400, echristley wrote
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: Tracy Crook <lors01@msn.com>
> Date: Tuesday, May 11, 2004 1:33 am
> Subject: [FlyRotary] Re: Mogas issues
> 
> > 
> > > Mogas stinks - literally.   You'll have an
> > airplane and a hanger that
> > > smells like a jet ski .   It makes passengers sick
> > real fast.  You will get
> > > tired of the transporting hassles too.   I've
> > never seen any data on
> > > storage stability, but I know the makers never
> > plan on it being around much
> > > longer that a few days.   
> > 
> > Oh Good grief, would anyone take this kind of
> stuff seriously?
> > 
> > Tracy (ran Sun100 race on 3 week old 87 octane Mogas)
> 
> Yes, at least until they knew better or they I knew
> someone with actual experience who could tell them
> different.  Better to look like a ignoramus asking
> ridiculous questions, than have a stinking airplane
> with an engine that won't run.  I posted the issues
> here, 'cause I thought there might be at least one
> or two who've flown with mogas a few times 8*)
> 
> I keep hearing nebulous concerns about mixing mogas
> with composite tanks like the Delta has (alcohol
> will attack the epoxy, etc), but it doesn't seem
> like anyone has any solid data.  Just innuendo. 
> That is why I was talking with an epoxy expert.  I
> appreciate Perry's data point and 5yrs of
> experience.  Perry, what epoxy did you use for the
> tanks, and do you take any special precautions when
> fueling up?
> 
> The other two 'issues' were out of the blue.  The
> Cherokee I trained in used mogas.  I never noted
> excessive smell, and my flight instructor said it
> kept his plugs clean.  The issue with stale gas has
> some credence due to my observation of some
> ultralighter who religiously dump 30day old
> two-stroke mixes.  What I didn't get was how 100LL
> smelled any better or stored any longer.  Both
> issues appear to be red herrings.
> 
I was very careful when I built my tanks, to liberally coat the inside with 
epoxy and used more than one coat, sanding in between of course. I used 
SafetyPoxy, which is still available as EZ Poxy. 

No special precautions on fueling. It is controversial, but I use plastic 
cans to fuel a plastic airplane. While the fuel is flowing I keep the can 
nozzle in contact with the side of the tank opening, which is metal but not 
grounded. My experience on those dry winter days, is that you build up a 
static charge on yourself while walking around, but you don't actually 
discharge and generate sparks, until you touch something metal, like a 
doorknob or a metal airplane. I think the possibility of generating a spark 
is much greater with a metal airplane than with a plastic one. Ed has 
experienced that.

I live in an area that has 10% ethanol in the fuel during the winter, it was 
a concern for me at first because of all the propaganda out there. I asked 
Gary Hunter about it, he said it was proven to be no problem with that low 
concentration.

I live in a moderate climate and the plane is hangared and I fly often, so 
water in the fuel tanks has never been an issue either.

So, I have no issues with mogas. I have a great issue with 100LL. I can't 
burn the stuff, it will always foul my spark plugs after a couple hours. 
Shorts them out I think, mainly the leadings.

Where is 82UL?  I want every airport to have 82UL!!!

Perry