Speaking of Gasoline

[TO THE GROUP]

There is an interesting thread going on in
rec.crafts.metalworking concerning the quality of gasoline
and how it pertains to small engines such as weedwackers etc.

I've quoted an interesting comment made by just one individual this
past hour for your information and comments as to how this might
effect other types of engines such as aircraft engines.

The subject line is OT Garden Equipment Manufactures Say
Don't Use gas Over 30 Days Old???

And here is one quoted comment........

> Dropped in to 2 repair shops this morning and asked them
> about gas problems.

> Both of them told me the same thing, refineries are removing
> some of the additives that makes gas last a reasonable time
> in storage. Customer complaints about poor starting etc.
> are driving them crazy.

> I still say we are paying more and getting sub standard gas
> from our refineries and the leaning out the fuel supply to
> these newer machines is shortening the life expectancy of
> all the gas driven equipment we are buying.

Anybody here starting to hear comments from their FBO
on old gasoline in airplanes.

[Michelle P]

They may be able to do this to Auto Gas but if they change the
formulation on AvGas they need to get it re-certified.
Michelle

TO THE GROUP wrote:

>There is an interesting thread going on in
>rec.crafts.metalworking concerning the quality of gasoline
>and how it pertains to small engines such as weedwackers etc.
>
>I've quoted an interesting comment made by just one individual this
>past hour for your information and comments as to how this might
>effect other types of engines such as aircraft engines.
>
>The subject line is OT Garden Equipment Manufactures Say
>Don't Use gas Over 30 Days Old???
>
>And here is one quoted comment........
>
>
>
>>Dropped in to 2 repair shops this morning and asked them
>>about gas problems.
>>
>>
>
>
>
>>Both of them told me the same thing, refineries are removing
>>some of the additives that makes gas last a reasonable time
>>in storage. Customer complaints about poor starting etc.
>>are driving them crazy.
>>
>>
>
>
>
>>I still say we are paying more and getting sub standard gas
>>from our refineries and the leaning out the fuel supply to
>>these newer machines is shortening the life expectancy of
>>all the gas driven equipment we are buying.
>>
>>
>
>Anybody here starting to hear comments from their FBO
>on old gasoline in airplanes.
>
>

--

Michelle P ATP-ASEL, CP-AMEL, and AMT-A&P

"Elisabeth" a Maule M-7-235B (no two are alike)

Volunteer Pilot, Angel Flight Mid-Atlantic

Volunteer Builder, Habitat for Humanity

[Dylan Smith]

In article >, TO THE GROUP wrote:
> Anybody here starting to hear comments from their FBO
> on old gasoline in airplanes.

It's nothing new - it's well known that mogas goes 'bad' after a
relatively short period of time (and it may be pretty random whether it
goes bad or not, depending on who it came from I suppose) and this has
happened for as long as I can remember.

Avgas on the other hand always keeps well.

--
Dylan Smith, Castletown, Isle of Man
Flying: http://www.dylansmith.net
Frontier Elite Universe: http://www.alioth.net
"Maintain thine airspeed, lest the ground come up and smite thee"

[Jay Honeck]

> It's nothing new - it's well known that mogas goes 'bad' after a
> relatively short period of time (and it may be pretty random whether it
> goes bad or not, depending on who it came from I suppose) and this has
> happened for as long as I can remember.

Ah, yet another reason to fly often!

;-)
--
Jay Honeck
Iowa City, IA
Pathfinder N56993
www.AlexisParkInn.com
"Your Aviation Destination"

[Bob Noel]

In article <uZvqc.22771$qA.2534609@attbi_s51>, "Jay Honeck"
> wrote:

> > It's nothing new - it's well known that mogas goes 'bad' after a
> > relatively short period of time (and it may be pretty random whether it
> > goes bad or not, depending on who it came from I suppose) and this has
> > happened for as long as I can remember.
>
> Ah, yet another reason to fly often!
>
> ;-)

Does anyone need another reason?

--
Bob Noel

[Jim Wilson]

TO THE GROUP wrote:

> There is an interesting thread going on in
> rec.crafts.metalworking concerning the quality of gasoline
> and how it pertains to small engines such as weedwackers etc.
>
> I've quoted an interesting comment made by just one individual this
> past hour for your information and comments as to how this might
> effect other types of engines such as aircraft engines.
>
> The subject line is OT Garden Equipment Manufactures Say
> Don't Use gas Over 30 Days Old???
>
> And here is one quoted comment........
>
> > Dropped in to 2 repair shops this morning and asked them
> > about gas problems.
>
> > Both of them told me the same thing, refineries are removing
> > some of the additives that makes gas last a reasonable time
> > in storage. Customer complaints about poor starting etc.
> > are driving them crazy.
>
> > I still say we are paying more and getting sub standard gas
> > from our refineries and the leaning out the fuel supply to
> > these newer machines is shortening the life expectancy of
> > all the gas driven equipment we are buying.
>
> Anybody here starting to hear comments from their FBO
> on old gasoline in airplanes.

30 days may be okay, but auto gas starts getting pretty gummy after 6
weeks or so. Always use a stabilizing product (such as STA-BIL) in
your gasoline (and carburetor) when you store your small engines for a
lengthy time.

On the other hand, aviation gasoline has different properties and stays
fine for extended periods of time. The biggest risk from storing av
gas for long periods is water and/or rust from tanks.

[MikeM]

> Anybody here starting to hear comments from their FBO
> on old gasoline in airplanes.

I have a boat and pickup which remain parked for up to 9mo a
year. I always keep them full of gas. NO problems due to
"stale" gas.

The reason that I dont have problems with my boat, truck and airplanes is
that they have large, sealed tanks. Gas goes stale when stored in small
(1-3gal) vented tanks. The volatile aromatic hydrocarbons evavorate, leaving
behind stuff that doesnt vaporize well. In large tanks, the ratio of
volume to surface area is larger, and if the tank is not vented, the
aromatics stay in the tank (vapor pressure reaches an equilibrium).
In a small vented tank, the aromatics just leak away, leaving behind
the "stale" stuff...

Stabil will keep the gallon or two in the mower/snowblower/generator from
going bad...

MikeM

[Newps]

"MikeM" > wrote in message
...
>
> The reason that I dont have problems with my boat, truck and airplanes is
> that they have large, sealed tanks.

Those are all vented, although depending on the year the newer cars vent
into that coffee can looking container under the hood. A small portable
tank is only vented when you open the vent to pour out the gas. Close that
vent and it is airtight.

[Judah]

Bob Noel > wrote in
:

> In article <uZvqc.22771$qA.2534609@attbi_s51>, "Jay Honeck"
> > wrote:
>
>> > It's nothing new - it's well known that mogas goes 'bad' after a
>> > relatively short period of time (and it may be pretty random whether
>> > it goes bad or not, depending on who it came from I suppose) and
>> > this has happened for as long as I can remember.
>>
>> Ah, yet another reason to fly often!
>>
>> ;-)
>
> Does anyone need another reason?
>

It's not a question of needs...

[mikem]

Newps wrote:

> Those are all vented, although depending on the year the newer cars vent
> into that coffee can looking container under the hood. A small portable
> tank is only vented when you open the vent to pour out the gas. Close that
> vent and it is airtight.

I was referring to the small tank on my lawnmower, which has a
vent in the gas cap. It will "go bad" in the 8 months that it
sits unused. If I drain it completly, or pour a few oz of
Stabil in it, then it will run ok the next spring...

MikeM

[mike regish]

I just fired up my Harley that's been sitting with the same gas in the tank
for over a year. Had to kick it, too since the battery was just about dead.
Can't go *to* bad, I guess.

mike regish

"Jay Honeck" > wrote in message
news:uZvqc.22771$qA.2534609@attbi_s51...

> > It's nothing new - it's well known that mogas goes 'bad' after a
> > relatively short period of time (and it may be pretty random whether it
> > goes bad or not, depending on who it came from I suppose) and this has
> > happened for as long as I can remember.
>
> Ah, yet another reason to fly often!
>
> ;-)
> --
> Jay Honeck
> Iowa City, IA
> Pathfinder N56993
> www.AlexisParkInn.com
> "Your Aviation Destination"
>
>

[Jay Honeck]

> I just fired up my Harley that's been sitting with the same gas in the
tank
> for over a year. Had to kick it, too since the battery was just about
dead.
> Can't go *to* bad, I guess.

Yeah, I had to jump-start my Goldwing (no kick-starter!), and it ran just
fine on that "old" gas.

Another topic for "Myth-busters" lost...
--
Jay Honeck
Iowa City, IA
Pathfinder N56993
www.AlexisParkInn.com
"Your Aviation Destination"