Ethanol and Aviation fuel
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 21,173
Likes: 12,742
From: South Carolina
Jet fuel is similar to Kerosene, but not exactly, it is closer to Diesel Fuel.
Cruiser
Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 116
Likes: 1
From: Bowling Green, Kentucky
You will also pay around $6.00 for AV gas.
While you may get a few MPG with non-ethanol gasoline, ethanol gas has been around quite a while, and only older vehicles may have problems with it.
While you may get a few MPG with non-ethanol gasoline, ethanol gas has been around quite a while, and only older vehicles may have problems with it.
Road Warrior
Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 1,337
Likes: 4
From: Sunny South Florida
Funny how anyone can see the good or bad in a change in technology.
@BeerSkunk, I'm with you, I get 45+ on good ol' no ethanol blended fuel but when I fill up at a standard station with any of their blended crap it drops to 35-37.
The fact that ethanol attracts water is NOT a good thing on a recreational vehicle. If your bike sits for more than a day that water has time to work on your tank liner or congeal in your fuel system. Sure its not much but do you want any? If you are one of those norther bikers that can only ride for 6 months of the year, do you want that water in your tank all winter? Will you drain it?
Luckily we have friends in Florida government that are trying to remove the ethanol in our fuels. Until the time that I want to covert to full E85 or higher alcohol fuel I prefer to leave the alcohol to be between ride stops and out of my tank.
AV gas is fine if you tune your bike to it. Timing and fuel mix changes can be made to run AV gas perform just like your pump gas, however you will pay a premium. I would just prefer real nonblended gas.
@BeerSkunk, I'm with you, I get 45+ on good ol' no ethanol blended fuel but when I fill up at a standard station with any of their blended crap it drops to 35-37.
The fact that ethanol attracts water is NOT a good thing on a recreational vehicle. If your bike sits for more than a day that water has time to work on your tank liner or congeal in your fuel system. Sure its not much but do you want any? If you are one of those norther bikers that can only ride for 6 months of the year, do you want that water in your tank all winter? Will you drain it?
Luckily we have friends in Florida government that are trying to remove the ethanol in our fuels. Until the time that I want to covert to full E85 or higher alcohol fuel I prefer to leave the alcohol to be between ride stops and out of my tank.
AV gas is fine if you tune your bike to it. Timing and fuel mix changes can be made to run AV gas perform just like your pump gas, however you will pay a premium. I would just prefer real nonblended gas.
Intermediate
Joined: Nov 2012
Posts: 26
Likes: 0
From: northern Ontario
I'm not sure which avgas you are using.
There were two general kinds available at most ariports. The most common was 80/87 octane which is getting very difficult to find. (The two octane numbers for avgas are given, one for sea level and one for high altitude flying.)
This gas is discontinued just about everywhere in Canada because of the very high lead content.
The other avgas still available at most airports is 100/130 octane low lead. It's actually a very high lead content and a target for removal by the environmental groups. The lead content is so high in avgas that after 500 hours of flying time I'll remove the spark plugs and use a pick to get the lead crud out of the spark plugs. The nice thing about avgas is the quality control with regards to octane ratings. There are no engine cleaning additives in avgas. The additives in auto gas tends to disolve the seals and gaskets on the fuel systems of older engines. In my humble opinion avgas with it's high lead content and lack of cleaning additives make it a poor choice for newer engines. (Especially if your exhaust has a catalytic converter which I've been told will choke on the high lead content.)
There were two general kinds available at most ariports. The most common was 80/87 octane which is getting very difficult to find. (The two octane numbers for avgas are given, one for sea level and one for high altitude flying.)
This gas is discontinued just about everywhere in Canada because of the very high lead content.
The other avgas still available at most airports is 100/130 octane low lead. It's actually a very high lead content and a target for removal by the environmental groups. The lead content is so high in avgas that after 500 hours of flying time I'll remove the spark plugs and use a pick to get the lead crud out of the spark plugs. The nice thing about avgas is the quality control with regards to octane ratings. There are no engine cleaning additives in avgas. The additives in auto gas tends to disolve the seals and gaskets on the fuel systems of older engines. In my humble opinion avgas with it's high lead content and lack of cleaning additives make it a poor choice for newer engines. (Especially if your exhaust has a catalytic converter which I've been told will choke on the high lead content.)
Tourer
Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 390
Likes: 1
From: Dark Side of the Moon
Ethanol is not as bad as people make it out to be at the current E-10 mixture. It increases octane (straight ethanol is about 99 octane in the States), and has a cooler charge because of its vapor pressure when compared to gasoline. It also enhances deposit cleaning in port injected engines.
Also, the absorption of water is beneficial because it allows the engine to burn up the water instead of letting it collect in the tank. The problem arises when ethanol blended gas is allowed to sit for long periods of time (6+ months). The ethanol becomes saturated and then phase separates from the gasoline. That is what most people are up in flames about, when in reality it will only occur if you let your bike sit for long periods of time (or slightly shorter periods near water, i.e. boats).
So in reality, using ethanol gas really isn't anything to worry about unless you own a vehicle that was made prior to the early 90's. I've never understood why people make such a fuss about it.
Note: Also, if you ever do decide to use AVGas in your vehicle, be very careful as to what you get. A lot of AVGas is leaded, which will cause havoc in an engine not designed for it (anything post the mid-70's).
Also, the absorption of water is beneficial because it allows the engine to burn up the water instead of letting it collect in the tank. The problem arises when ethanol blended gas is allowed to sit for long periods of time (6+ months). The ethanol becomes saturated and then phase separates from the gasoline. That is what most people are up in flames about, when in reality it will only occur if you let your bike sit for long periods of time (or slightly shorter periods near water, i.e. boats).
So in reality, using ethanol gas really isn't anything to worry about unless you own a vehicle that was made prior to the early 90's. I've never understood why people make such a fuss about it.
Note: Also, if you ever do decide to use AVGas in your vehicle, be very careful as to what you get. A lot of AVGas is leaded, which will cause havoc in an engine not designed for it (anything post the mid-70's).
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 21,173
Likes: 12,742
From: South Carolina
Actually, the low number is the octane rating of the fuel at lean mixture, the higher number is the rich mixture rating, which was for supercharged engines at takeoff power setting.
Road Captain
Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 561
Likes: 0
From: Windsor Ont. Can.
Av gas burns hotter and dryer as well, unless you NEED it dont use it. It will wreak havoc with your valves. Jetting will need to be different as well. Lots of experience with and it can be a problem. Teflon
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Aug 2012
Posts: 3,217
Likes: 90
From: Detroit
Leaded gas (av gas) not only screws up cat converters, but it's only a matter of time before it screws up your oxygen sensors.
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Road Warrior
Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 1,337
Likes: 4
From: Sunny South Florida
