Northern tool sells a small 12v transfer pump with all the hoses and a gas station style filler nozzle for $100.00. It says diesel only but they have to say that.
Wait, what melted a piston?I started out hauling fuel around until certified 91 UL melted a piston. It's just not worth the risk to the engine or the plane in case of a fire.
Wait, what melted a piston?
I've kept it on the down low hoping Rotax would come through with the warranty but that's not looking too promising.
It was a warm day, EFIS data says the engine was within it's operating parameters - Phillips 66 was nice enough to pull a fuel sample and confirm I had good fuel.
New engine - 4 hour conversation with head of Quality Control for AvGas from Phillips... Bottom line - it just not worth the risk for me.
You guys do what feels right for you.
Since 91UL is actually the preferred fuel (as recommended by Rotax), I have a feeling there is more to this story that just hasn't been discovered yet.....
Let?s see, at 36 gallons a week for 100LL @$4.05/gallon, that?s $145 a week. The same amount in 91UL @$2.80/gallon is $100.80. So, assuming 46 weeks a year, that?s roughly $2,000 a year. Plus, I have to deal with leaded fuel, a dirtier engine, more frequent oil changes and so on... it?s a lot more than a few cents.
I'm tired of hauling 5 gallon cans of gas. My airport car is a 2001 Chrysler van has a 20 gallon gas tank and internal pump that can put out 5 GPM. Is it a pipe dream to try to tap into it?
It says diesel only but they have to say that.
The reason some transfer pumps say "diesel only" is that many of them are lubricated by the "oil" in diesel. Gasoline lacks this lubricating quality causing the pump to fail prematurely.
Since 91UL is actually the preferred fuel (as recommended by Rotax), I have a feeling there is more to this story that just hasn't been discovered yet.....
Wonder why it was only one piston as there usually is damage to the others also but to a lesser degree as the hottest cylinder would have the most damage.
I use the 5 gallon plastic containers and I agree with the gripes about hoisting 30 lbs of fuel up to pour it in. The new self venting nozzles are horrible with the pitiful trickle they provide. Many thanks to the Vans AF member who posted the vent and nozzle kit that converts the cans to the old style of pouring from a vented container.
The difference between AvGas and MoGas is about $0.50 / gallon here is CA. Takes a lot of fifty cents to cover a twenty thousand dollar engine. Just sayin.
If the engine is rated for the fuel, where is the loss of twenty thousand dollars?? You’re not making any sense. Just sayin’.
I’m in Wackifornia. Current price 100LL is $4.05/gallon and 91AKI is $2.89 at the local Quick Stop. Maybe everyone else is rich, but saving a more a couple AMU’s a year in fuel costs and having a cleaner engine that will go longer between oil changes makes a lot sense to me.
Ron, I'm right next door in the Burg. To keep in the spirit of this thread - it's your choice to run AutoFuel. You decide if all the extra handling, formula changes and lack of quality control is worth the risk to your plane, the planes around you and possibly your life.
I have twenty thou$and reasons why I won't. No mater the rating, I've got a box of parts that says it won't hold up.
I thought you were going with the UL?
I use a Mr Funnel to filter my auto fuel when I'm transferring to a Flo-Fast container then use a Flo-Fast pump to pump (http://www.flofast.com/pumpstore.html) it into my -12. I don't care for the extra transfer that takes but does have the advantage of filtering all fuel that goes into the plane. Using the pump easily transfers the fuel into the plane.
I use a Mr Funnel to filter my auto fuel when I'm transferring to a Flo-Fast container then use a Flo-Fast pump to pump (http://www.flofast.com/pumpstore.html) it into my -12. I don't care for the extra transfer that takes but does have the advantage of filtering all fuel that goes into the plane. Using the pump easily transfers the fuel into the plane.
MoGas is filtered to 30 microns at the pump provided the distributor maintains their filters. AvGas is filtered at 10 microns - always. Your filter is good for 127 microns per the manufacture.
According to my filter label, it?s 50 microns, so I have no idea where you got your information. And the average paper element oil filter is 50-100 microns. Additionally, no paper element maintains the same filtration sizing, they only have an initial and not to exceed size. The actual ASTM allows ?not to exceed? of 75 microns. But I thought your issue was with octane?
What?s your point?
The thread is about refueling the RV-12 and how folks have approached that. Mine is to use to use a Flo-Fast pump rather than try to deal with hoisting a 5 gallon can. It works well. Part of what I do is transfer, at ground level, from the cans I get the gas into a Flo-Fast container using a funnel. What I chose was a Mr Funnel that provides an additional filter that also helps eliminate moisture that might be in the fuel. I'm not trying to argue the quality of the filter.MoGas is filtered to 30 microns at the pump provided the distributor maintains their filters. AvGas is filtered at 10 microns - always. Your filter is good for 127 microns per the manufacture.