Hi Steve,
I can assure you that the LAA are not living in the past on this subject.
When 5% Ethanol was introduced into Mogas the UK CAA effectively banned its
use. The LAA worked hard to get this reversed and eventually the CAA agree
d
that the LAA could determine which aircraft and/or engine types could use
Mogas with 5% Ethanol. Although the Rotax is cleared for fuel with some
Ethanol the aircraft fuel system may not be. Most of the problems we have
experienced have been related to fuel tanks and fuel pipes and poor
operating practices, such as leaving stale fuel in the system. The
introduction of 10% Ethanol will require a re-think. In the meantime, avoi
d
using it as long as there are good alternatives such as UL91 or premium
grade Mogas without Ethanol.
A question for you before you finish your aircraft- what specification fuel
lines have you installed? Are they Ethanol proof? The stuff Europa
originally supplied is resistant but not proof because we did not have
Ethanol in fuel when it was originally specified.
Regards
Brian Davies
From: owner-europa-list-server@matronics.com
<owner-europa-list-server@matronics.com> On Behalf Of Steve Ivell
Sent: 18 March 2021 22:49
Subject: Re: Europa-List: Ethanol in fuel. What about Brazil?
Hi Jonathan
The Rotax engine is fine with ethanol, as you mention in Brazil. The engine
is designed for mogas and really doesn't like Avgas.
My feeling is that the LAA are living in the past and if it's not Avgas it'
s
no good!! Well it's time to smell the coffee and get used to the here and
now. 10% ethanol is coming and I'll be using it.
It might mean changing the rubber more often but that's still much more
affordable than having to use Avgas.
Obviously just my humble opinion.
Cheers
Steve
GSTES
XS Trigear 912s..... nearly finished!!
_____
From: owner-europa-list-server@matronics.com
<mailto:owner-europa-list-server@matronics.com>
<owner-europa-list-server@matronics.com
<mailto:owner-europa-list-server@matronics.com> > on behalf of
JonathanMilbank <jdmilbank@yahoo.co.uk <mailto:jdmilbank@yahoo.co.uk> >
Sent: Thursday, 18 March 2021, 21:35
Subject: Europa-List: Ethanol in fuel. What about Brazil?
<mailto:jdmilbank@yahoo.co.uk> >
We in the UK are faced with the prospect of ethanol content in fuel being
raised in September from 5% to 10%. About 10 or so years ago (or was it
longer?) this whole subject got debated to death, with the LAA Light
Aircraft Association taking the position that we should always check each
fuel batch for ethanol before pouring it into our fuel tanks. The test usin
g
a glass test tube with about 1" of water in the bottom, noting its level,
then adding about 4 X as much fuel before shaking well and allowing to
settle to see if the water level had apparently risen, was not particularly
accurate and I never saw the water level rise.
The LAA's understandable position then was "If you find evidence of ethanol
in fuel, then don't use it!" This position is very unlikely to change, whic
h
will mean that Rotax engines should either use avgas or UL91. For those of
us living in god-forsaken northern latitudes, neither of these fuels are
available and it would be economically prohibitive to either import them to
our remote airfields or to fly to the nearest large airport to refuel, whil
e
simultaneously incurring landing fees and handling charges of =C2=A3200!
Obviously (at least to me) Europas should cope with 10% ethanol in fuel,
because I believe that at least one, maybe more Europas in Brazil were usin
g
fuel with ethanol having well in ecxess of 20%. Seemingly our "plastic" fue
l
tanks, automotive fuel lines and carburettors are unfased by ethanol.
Please correct me if I'm wrong about Brazil and let me know whether ethanol
is to blame for any fuel tank failures in Europas. Thank you.
Read this topic online here:
http://forums.matronics.com/viewtopic.php?p=501000#501000
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