Hi Brian
The Rotax engine isn't the problem..... it's the engine ancillaries. So....
providing we use ethanol proof rubber components there shouldn't be too ma
ny problems. And I have.
The LAA saying we mustn't use fuel with any ethanol in it is unfair as the
petrol stations don't even know if there is ethanol in their own fuel, and
the engine doesn't really care.....it still works fine.
UL91 isn't readily available locally to me so why should I have to waste ti
me and fuel flying to an airfield that has UK??
I'll be using mogas and taking appropriate precautions.
Kind Regards
Steve Ivell
________________________________
From: owner-europa-list-server@matronics.com <owner-europa-list-server@matr
onics.com> on behalf of Brian Davies <brian.davies44@gmail.com>
Sent: Friday, March 19, 2021 9:33:35 AM
Subject: RE: Europa-List: Ethanol in fuel. What about Brazil?
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 agre
ed that the LAA could determine which aircraft and/or engine types could us
e 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 operati
ng practices, such as leaving stale fuel in the system. The introduction o
f 10% Ethanol will require a re-think. In the meantime, avoid using it as
long as there are good alternatives such as UL91 or premium grade Mogas wit
hout Ethanol.
A question for you before you finish your aircraft- what specification fuel
lines have you installed? Are they Ethanol proof? The stuff Europa origi
nally supplied is resistant but not proof because we did not have Ethanol i
n fuel when it was originally specified.
Regards
Brian Davies
From: owner-europa-list-server@matronics.com <owner-europa-list-server@matr
onics.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 aff
ordable 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-serve
r@matronics.com> <owner-europa-list-server@matronics.com<mailto:owner-europ
a-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 r
aised in September from 5% to 10%. About 10 or so years ago (or was it long
er?) this whole subject got debated to death, with the LAA Light Aircraft A
ssociation taking the position that we should always check each fuel batch
for ethanol before pouring it into our fuel tanks. The test using a glass t
est tube with about 1" of water in the bottom, noting its level, then addin
g 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, whi
ch 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 t
o our remote airfields or to fly to the nearest large airport to refuel, wh
ile simultaneously incurring landing fees and handling charges of =C2=A3200
!
Obviously (at least to me) Europas should cope with 10% ethanol in fuel, be
cause I believe that at least one, maybe more Europas in Brazil were using
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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