Thorp Air Command - T18.net

Is anyone burning auto fuel in their IO320B1A? I would like some input from some of you guys, is this feasible?

Any problems, etc.

Here at my home base, 100 LL is now $6.41 per gal.

Would appreciate some help.

Thanks,
Tom Carnett 393TC

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I have run mogas in my O-320-A2B. It burns great and the plugs don't accumulate lead. Here in CA, it is hard to find mogas that doesn't contain ethanol.
jk

I burn mogas also, o320-e2D, 87 octane, runs like a top, 3.60 a gallon. Use a little MMO in the gas, Plugs run clean. where are you located Tom? Hi Jack, how are you doing seen you last at last years Oceano airport Day. You guys try to make the KVIS event this year.......Dan

Hi guys, I have just started using auto fuel (2nd tank) but have been using Premium 93 octane with MMO added. Is regular unleaded just as good?

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Patrick
T-18 N8AL

Dan : I am in Independence Kansas hope to here from someone that burns auto
gas in an injected engine Thanks.

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In Florida, we have had problems with sand getting into the fuel supply from gas station sources. This grit will tear up your mixture plates in the fuel injection servo. These are not cheap! I know from personal observation (twice). As an aside, I just went through the pleasure of replacing the F.I. servo fuel pressure regulator in my Chevy truck. It failed due to exposure to ethanol. Use today's auto gas in your plane with great caution.

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Bob Highley
N711SH
SN 835
KLAL

Thank you for your input regarding auto gas in fuel injected engines. My
injection system has about 100 hours, yes it was very expensive. I am
thinking about using a mixture and mogas and 100ll. Do you have any
experience doing that?

Tom Carnett 393TC

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Tom, My 0320-e2d is carbed, I have no experiance with the injection systems but the carb I know like the back of my freckled hand. Bob knows the Injector and its components, so his input you can bank on. I havent had any troubles with particulates in the fuel here in Calif,but it could be of some concern in your neck of the woods you might check into it.......Dan

Interesting criticism of autogas.

I've (personally) had a problem with sand getting in the fuel supply of *avgas*. Specifically, at Cross City on the way to SNF. Of course, if the wind blows in FL while a fuel cap is off, there will be a problem with sand getting into the fuel supply.

What test determined that ethanol caused the failure of the regulator in your truck? At how many miles & at what age? Did Chevy replace it under warranty? (Federal law is pretty specific on what has to last & work properly for a pretty long time on road vehicles.)

Just another perspective....

Charlie
;-)

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Hi Tom,

Try the VAF forum; lots of discussion there. Those that don't, swear it will make your plane fall out of the sky. Those that do, know that it won't.

Is your engine old enough to be certified for 92 octane avgas? If so, premium E-free mogas will almost certainly work fine. E-free mogas works fine, though you'll probably need to run premium. The big deal is ethanol vs the diaphragm in your engine driven fuel pump. If you want to cure that, search the VAF forum for posts from 'frankh'. He's been running E-10 on an injected engine for years, by eliminating the engine driven pump & running 2 Facet 10psi pumps in series, with redundant pump set for the other tank.

Link to a sample thread:

http://www.vansairforce.com/community/s ... nol&page=2

Charlie
Thorp driver 'til the tornado ate it.


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Not sure if it holds true around the country but I have been told you can buy alcohol free gas at boat marinas. I'm a fan of using autofuel but haven't used in on my IO320-B1A due to the higher compression. Be sure to test for alcohol as it changes the reid vapor pressure of the fuel as well as has compatibility issues with some materials.

Here is how the EAA says to test http://www.eaa.org/autofuel/faqs/alcohol_testing.asp.
Peterson says this about alcohol in fuel http://www.autofuelstc.com/autofuelstc/pa/Ethanol.html
and how to test for it http://autofuelstc.com/autofuelstc/pa/ethanoltest.html

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Pat
N89SB
T-18W

I tried regular in a 160 hp (higher compression) O-320 & it seemed to run a bit hotter (reasonable; the fuel burns quicker). Premium E-free mogas works fine. See my previous post for info on IO-360s.

You can get an auto fuel stc (E-free) for the low compression engines, so even the FAA thinks that is ok.

Charlie

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This is a morbid point, but the forum member Patrick owner of N8AL who is on this thread as on his 2nd tank of gas went down yesterday. 2 souls were aboard, both dead.

No reports yet as to the reason but the airplane appears to have made a forced landing and later hit a house.

Reports were that the wreckage smelled of spilled fuel indicating that the airplane had plenty of fuel.

Be careful with that autogas folks! No two T-18s are the same, what "works" for one may not for another.

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Lee Walton
Houston, TX
N51863,N118LW
KEFD

FWIW - I ran 886Y (formerly mid life mistress - now an unfaithfull floozy)on 91 octane for 3 of her fours years - O-360 - the new and far prettier mistress is an o-320 with high comp pistons - most of the seasoned powers that be within my local circle of influence assure me that my B1A will run on 85 octane no booze. My issue is storage and delivery - 100LL is QC'd to a higher standard and the local tanks are sumped and checked daily for contaminants - when the local gas station attendant checks or dips the tanks, or Joe's weird cousin Mergatroid the tanker driver fills the tanks at the local gas station, sand, chicken poo, a dropped weiner and a stray sock may have fallen in the filler hole.

As I age gracefully and willfully, I am leaning more to the side of knowing clean gas is entering my engines naughty bits and pulling my gleefully to the next exotic destination.

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Fraser MacPhee
N926WM
Serial #279-1
Angel Fire, NM (KAXX)

AutoFuel........WHY DO WE USE IT IN AIRCRAFT???