Ethanol fuel and deteriorating composite fuel tanks

If you have a composite fuel tank and the fuel available in your area
has ethanol in it then you should google something like the
following...

ethanol fiberglass fuel tanks

There you will find out that the ethanol content appears to be a
significant player in relatively rapid deterioration of the resin and
therefore early failure of the fuel tank

Looks like the boaters have been seriously affected by the E10
situation and if your motorized sailplane also has a composite tank it
may be at risk of early failure.

AVGAS probably doesn't have Ethanol added so if you have a composite
fuel tank, it may be very wise to only use AVGAS even if autogas w/ 2
cycle mix is allowed.

On Nov 17, 5:48*pm, Mark wrote:
If you have a composite fuel tank and the fuel available in your area
has ethanol in it then you should google something like the
following...

ethanol fiberglass fuel tanks


We stopped runing mogas in our STC'ed pawnees when CA Dumped MTBE and
went to 10% ethanol a few years back, Concern was more on the other
elements of the fuel system, I think the early Pawnee fuselage tank is
polyester.

aerodyne

On Nov 17, 9:36*pm, wrote:
On Nov 17, 5:48*pm, Mark wrote:

If you have a composite fuel tank and the fuel available in your area
has ethanol in it then you should google something like the
following...

ethanol fiberglass fuel tanks

We stopped runing mogas in our STC'ed pawnees when CA Dumped MTBE and
went to 10% ethanol a few years back, *Concern was more on the other
elements of the fuel system, I think the early Pawnee fuselage tank is
polyester.

aerodyne

I think you want to be concerned with Polyester resin based tanks.

Not a drop of mogas is ever going in my ASH-26E, for possible tank
problems with Ethanol and other reasons including engine cooling.

Darryl

On Nov 17, 9:42*pm, Darryl Ramm wrote:
On Nov 17, 9:36*pm, wrote:

On Nov 17, 5:48*pm, Mark wrote:

If you have a composite fuel tank and the fuel available in your area
has ethanol in it then you should google something like the
following...

ethanol fiberglass fuel tanks

We stopped runing mogas in our STC'ed pawnees when CA Dumped MTBE and
went to 10% ethanol a few years back, *Concern was more on the other
elements of the fuel system, I think the early Pawnee fuselage tank is
polyester.

aerodyne

I think you want to be concerned with Polyester resin based tanks.

Not a drop of mogas is ever going in my ASH-26E, for possible tank
problems with Ethanol and other reasons including engine cooling.

Darryl

Polyester resin based composites have been used for underground mogas
storage tanks (gas stations) for decades. Polyester and vinylester
are very chemical resistant.

aerodyne

On Nov 18, 7:23*am, wrote:
On Nov 17, 9:42*pm, Darryl Ramm wrote:



On Nov 17, 9:36*pm, wrote:

On Nov 17, 5:48*pm, Mark wrote:

If you have a composite fuel tank and the fuel available in your area
has ethanol in it then you should google something like the
following...

ethanol fiberglass fuel tanks

We stopped runing mogas in our STC'ed pawnees when CA Dumped MTBE and
went to 10% ethanol a few years back, *Concern was more on the other
elements of the fuel system, I think the early Pawnee fuselage tank is
polyester.

aerodyne

I think you want to be concerned with Polyester resin based tanks.

Not a drop of mogas is ever going in my ASH-26E, for possible tank
problems with Ethanol and other reasons including engine cooling.

Darryl

Polyester resin based composites have been used for underground mogas
storage tanks (gas stations) for decades. *Polyester and vinylester
are very chemical resistant.

aerodyne

Polyester based fiberglass tanks are exactly amongst those causing
concern with alcohol based fuels. You run it in your motorglider, I
won't in mine.

http://lmgtfy.com/?q=alcohol+fibergl...tank+polyester

Darryl

aren't most of last decade birds built with epoxy resin?

On Nov 18, 10:10*am, Mark Jardini wrote:
aren't most of last decade birds built with epoxy resin?

Yes, but what the glider is made of does not dictate what the fuel
tanks is made of. And a fuel tank might well have a special fuel-proof
lining even if the tank is made of other resin. Check with the
manufacturer, and check if they believe the aircraft should use
alcohol blend fuels. And many motorgliders also have aux fuel stored
in the wings - in flexible bags not hard tanks.

Darryl

On 11/18/2010 7:29 AM, Darryl Ramm wrote:
On Nov 18, 7:23 am, wrote:


Polyester resin based composites have been used for underground mogas
storage tanks (gas stations) for decades. Polyester and vinylester
are very chemical resistant.

aerodyne

Polyester based fiberglass tanks are exactly amongst those causing
concern with alcohol based fuels. You run it in your motorglider, I
won't in mine.

http://lmgtfy.com/?q=alcohol+fibergl...tank+polyester

Darryl


How about epoxy resin? I think that's what is used in my ASH 26 E fuel
tank. Not that I have any intention using something other than 100LL.

--
Eric Greenwell - Washington State, USA (change ".netto" to ".us" to email me)
- "Transponders in Sailplanes - Feb/2010" also ADS-B, PCAS, Flarm http://tinyurl.com/yb3xywl
- "A Guide to Self-launching Sailplane Operation Mar/2004" Much of what you need to know tinyurl.com/yfs7tnz

On Nov 18, 11:36*am, Eric Greenwell wrote:
On 11/18/2010 7:29 AM, Darryl Ramm wrote:





On Nov 18, 7:23 am, wrote:

Polyester resin based composites have been used for underground mogas
storage tanks (gas stations) for decades. *Polyester and vinylester
are very chemical resistant.

aerodyne

Polyester based fiberglass tanks are exactly amongst those causing
concern with alcohol based fuels. You run it in your motorglider, I
won't in mine.

http://lmgtfy.com/?q=alcohol+fibergl...tank+polyester

Darryl

How about epoxy resin? I think that's what is used in my ASH 26 E fuel
tank. Not that I have any intention using something other than 100LL.

--
Eric Greenwell - Washington State, USA (change ".netto" to ".us" to email me)
- "Transponders in Sailplanes - Feb/2010" also ADS-B, PCAS, Flarmhttp://tinyurl.com/yb3xywl
- "A Guide to Self-launching Sailplane Operation Mar/2004" Much of what you need to know tinyurl.com/yfs7tnz- Hide quoted text -

- Show quoted text -

Epoxy has a good resistance to alcohol but I agree on the choice of
100LL for other good reasons.

You spend enough to buy a house on your motorglider and are trying to
save a few bucks on fuel?