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Old April 9th 08, 10:59 PM posted to rec.aviation.piloting
Bertie the Bunyip[_24_]
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Default The ethanol nightmare has arrived!

wrote in :

Bertie the Bunyip wrote:
wrote in news:kogvc5-ruf.ln1
@mail.specsol.com:

Bertie the Bunyip wrote:
wrote in
news
Mxsmanic wrote:
M writes:

Remember, ethanol is not mixed into the fuel until the local
distribution terminal, because it can't be transported in
pipelines.

Just out of curiosity, why can't it be transported in

pipelines?

The same reason it can't be used in existing airplanes; pieces

of
the plumbing start leaking.



It can be used in existing airplanes. All you need to do is

replace
fittings. I've done it. My old Luscombe ran on Ethanol laden

mogas.

Then it isn't the existing plumbing, is it?


Nope, but it cost about 8 bucks to convert the airplane.

Depending on what the existing plumbing is made of, you may have to
replace all, some, or none of gaskets, fittings, lines, tanks, and
the carburetor, i.e. everything the fuel touches.



Yep, did that. All that was really required was the flexible line

from
the firewall to the carb and to ensure the float was a metal one. For
the flexible line we just got a length of automotive line and put
aircraft fittings on the end of it. The system is pretty simple and
fairly devoid of stuff that could be affected.


If the entire GA fleet were built like Luscombes we'd be home free.


If the enbtire GA fleet was built like luscombes, they'd still be flying
70 years after they were built.

What about the last twenty years worth of C-172's, C-182's and PA-

28's?


Plumbing problems are really very small in the greater scheme of
things. If all that was available was straight ethanol or methanol,
plumbing would become available.


Bertie


Bertie