----- Original Message -----
Sent: Wednesday, June 07, 2006 8:33
PM
Subject: [FlyRotary] Re: Water in
Gasoline
Ed,
I read the article but it didn't give me much
pause.
They start with the fact that gasoline with water
is a problem to engines because they stop when they try to burn water. Okay,
so far, so good. Then they point out that MBTE oxygenated gas doesn't absorb
very much water. In case of water contamination, see problem one.
Ethanol and water absorb 3.8 teaspoons per gallon
without a problem. So they point out that ethanol-oxygenated gasoline is
actually more tolerant of water and, therefore, less likely to cause problems
for minor contamination.
The glitch comes if one has more water than that.
Then phase separation occurs and the excess water starts to absorb ethanol out
of the gasoline. Then four-stroke motors have problem number one
(i.e. not running).
But for two-stroke engines, the water-ethanol mix
can displace the gas-oil mixture THAT LUBES THE ENGINE. That's why they remark
that the effects on two-strokes can be bad--inadequate lube.
My take is:
a) this effect is only present for gasoline
that's so contaminated that the ethanol can't absorb all the
water,
b) the difference between four-strokes and
two-strokes is that four-strokes quit running whereas two-strokes quit
running and can seize, and
c) if you left your OEM apex seal lube in place
instead of going to just oil-fuel mix in your gas tank, you still might be
okay. More reason to install Richard Sohn's little lube pump
reservoir and just replace those goofy oil injection nylon lines with
stainless ones.
In note b above, if both four-strokes and
two-strokes both quit in the case of gross water contamination, it probably
feels the same to you experienced glider pilots. But if you have really
displaced all your lube through water contamination, then two-strokers get to
rebuild the engine too. That's bad but not unexpected when one runs out of
lube, no matter how it's delivered to the engine.
Barry Gardner
Wheaton, IL
----- Original Message -----
Sent: Wednesday, June 07, 2006 7:37
PM
Subject: [FlyRotary] Water in
Gasoline
I ran across this interesting article on the effects
of water in gasoline and in combination with alcohol could have on
engines. Possibly indicates that MoGas with Alcohol might be a
potentially very bad combination for 2 stroke engines in particular.
But, read for yourself if interested.
Ed
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