Ethanol just plain sucks... - Page 3

KFC911 · 03-20-2011, 04:22 PM

Fantastic Tim, thank you very much!!!

URY914 · URY914's Garage

Tim,

I have an airport very close to me that sells 100LL. So to sound like I've done this before and know what I'm doing, do I call this "avgas" or "100LL" or just "fuel"?

Tim Hancock · 03-20-2011, 06:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by URY914

Tim,

I have an airport very close to me that sells 100LL. So to sound like I've done this before and know what I'm doing, do I call this "avgas" or "100LL" or just "fuel"?

100LL will work just fine.... "Fuel" is not so good as they also likely sell jet "fuel" (which is similar to diesel fuel). Not too many years ago, some airports still stocked 80 octane gasoline also, but I have not seen it for a few years now.... every airport that sells AV"gas" will have 100LL.

cashflyer · 03-21-2011, 05:40 AM

Don't call it "one hundred ell ell".
Call it "hundred low lead".
Or, if you're in the south, walk in and say, "Ah need me sum hunnert low led".

URY914 · URY914's Garage

I'm on it.

KFC911 · 03-21-2011, 06:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cashflyer

Don't call it "one hundred ell ell".
Call it "hundred low lead".
Or, if you're in the south, walk in and say, "Ah need me sum hunnert low led".

Thank you both for the lingo too!

I would've probably knocked on the door and asked for Dave ('cause I know he's got the good stuff).

"Dave's not here...

"

KNS · 03-21-2011, 10:05 AM

"Hundred Low Lead" and they'll think you're a pilot or that you've bought it before.

LakeCleElum · 03-21-2011, 12:07 PM

Instead of filling cans, can you just pull your 911 up to the pump at the airport? Understand the low lead and high octane, just to confirm, no ethanol, right?

KNS · 12:23 PM

Legally, no, you can't pull up to the pump (and they can't dispense it that way). If someone asks what it is for (doubtful) just tell them it's for your boat, lots of people buy it for their boat. No ethanol and it also has fuel stabilzer already in it unlike our crap pump gas.

Porsche-O-Phile · Porsche-O-Phile's Garage

It's also not taxed the same way as automobile fuel which is one reason the line guys will balk at letting you fill up (although they did used to throw some in my motorcycle on occasion when nobody was around... It's good to have no catylitic converters...)

100LL solves a lot of problems for now, but the EPA is on a mission to get that banned too. There's a big uproar in the GA industry right now regarding the planned phase-out of 100LL and its implications for light aircraft since there is no viable alternative. If this directive is implemented, it will literally end all light aircraft operation in the USA. Literally.

KFC911 · 03-21-2011, 01:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KNS

Legally, no, you can't pull up to the pump (and they can't dispense it that way). If someone asks what it is for (doubtful) just tell them it's for your boat, lots of people buy it for their boat. No ethanol and it also has fuel stabilzer already in it unlike our crap pump gas.

I was going initially with a single 5 gal can for my small motors and check out the access. Even if I can easily get my trailered boat in & out, is that just a no-no or would it be OK to ask 'em when I'm there. Boat holds 24 gal. is why I ask. Thanks!

Tim Hancock · 03-21-2011, 03:24 PM

I have no idea on the legality of pumping it into your boat, but it is illegal to burn it in your car on public highways (I assume because of the lead in it and because it pays no highway tax). Most small airports around me probably would not give a **** what "I" pump it into at the credit card self serve pumps. I know plenty of folks who have filled jerry cans including myself to take home to fill their airplanes or ultralights. I know of no reason someone could prevent you from buying it in the five gallon cans so long as they cannot later prove you ran it in your car on a public highway. The lead would not be good on newer cars with cats and oxygen sensors, but is perfectly fine in any other gasoline engines AFAIK.

I have started airplanes that have sat over a year without any issue. The stuff is very stable. Other than it's stable storage nature, there is no advantage to burning it from a performance standpoint unless one is running a high compression and tweaked race motor that requires the higher octane to prevent detonation.

KFC911 · 03-21-2011, 05:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tim Hancock

...The stuff is very stable.

That's a big plus to me...

gecc · gecc's Garage

I bought 100LL yesterday for $4.95gal... cheep!!!

Dantilla · 03-22-2011, 06:47 AM

Several times I have pulled up to the self-serve pump at the local airport and filled the 911 with 100LL. Nobody has ever squawked.

wdfifteen · wdfifteen's Garage

Look into Stabil.
http://www.goldeagle.com/brands/stabil/default.aspx
I use it in all my small engines and motorcycle now. I used to start about a month before the end of the season so the fuel systems would be sure to be full of it when the snow started to fly, but now I use it all summer.

KFC911 · 03-24-2011, 04:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wdfifteen

Look into Stabil.....

I've been using Stabil in the boat for years (but only at the end of the season). I'm not sure if it has any impact on the ethanol aspect however. For me, 100LL seems to be the optimal solution...well, not optimal

, I'd prefer non-ethanol 93 octane.

Porsche-O-Phile · Porsche-O-Phile's Garage

Stabil doesn't get rid of the ethanol. It just helps to prevent varnishing of the gasoline.

You need to find an E0 source, run race gas ($$$) or avgas ($) or distill the crap that comes out of the pump by letting the ethanol and water precipitate out at the bottom and draining off. I actually have a similar apparatus partially built that I intend to use to get as much of the ethanol out of my fuel as possible but it's probably a bit dangerous and to add insult to injury it effectively means I'll pay 15-20% more for gas since I'll end up tossing the ethanol/water away (I'm trying to come up with another use...)

There's a fair body of information on the web about how to do this if you look. Just don't go blowing your house up! Its pretty simple really - just a tank with petcock drain at the bottom, introduce pump gas, circulate water through it and let the ethanol absorb it. After letting it sit for a few days drain the milky white mess out the bottom leaving pure (or purer, anyway) gasoline. YMMV and like I said my setup isn't complete yet but this is what I intend to do for all the engines/fuel lines not designed for the new junk that comes out of the gas pumps.

JeremyD · JeremyD's Garage

The marine stabil works - just make sure it's the marine formula. I use it in the car too - although I prefer E0 when ever possible

wdfifteen · wdfifteen's Garage

Quote:

Originally Posted by KC911

I've been using Stabil in the boat for years (but only at the end of the season). I'm not sure if it has any impact on the ethanol aspect however.

They have a formula that prevents phase separation - one of the biggest problems with ethanol mixtures. As far as I know it doesn't protect old rubber parts from being degraded by ethanol though.