Future of GA piston fuel?

Peter Dohm wrote:

If you had to do a bit of crystal ball gazing, what do you think the
engines
of the GA fleet will be drinking in 10-15 years time?

The same avgas as today, just much more expensive?

Jet-A in diesel engines?

Something else?


When the alternative fuel discussion, and the automotive fuel STC, first
gained popularity; I read that 100LL AvGas was about 96 octane without the
lead.

That would suggest an obvoius solution of 96 octane for most of the fleet,
and blend-at-the-pump (or from the truck) for those that actually make use
of the higher octane fuel. OTOH, that makes too much sense...

From what I understand, the TEL is just far too toxic to deal with when it
isn't dilluted by a lot of (also toxic) gasoline. It's challenging enough at
the oil company production tank farm level, I don't see how it would work at
the pump dispensing (or even regional terminal) level.

NASCAR is finally going lead free in the very near future, I expect piston
aircraft will as well. Even absent a government regulation banning lead fuel
in aircraft, the simple economics of the situation will make it more and more
untenable.

Diesel engines running with Jet A for high and low power applications and
piston engines burning lead free avgas (UL__ or whatever they want to call it)
for low applications will be the future.

"Owen" wrote in message ...
Peter Dohm wrote:

If you had to do a bit of crystal ball gazing, what do you think the
engines
of the GA fleet will be drinking in 10-15 years time?

The same avgas as today, just much more expensive?

Jet-A in diesel engines?

Something else?


When the alternative fuel discussion, and the automotive fuel STC, first
gained popularity; I read that 100LL AvGas was about 96 octane without
the
lead.

That would suggest an obvoius solution of 96 octane for most of the
fleet,
and blend-at-the-pump (or from the truck) for those that actually make
use
of the higher octane fuel. OTOH, that makes too much sense...

From what I understand, the TEL is just far too toxic to deal with when it
isn't dilluted by a lot of (also toxic) gasoline. It's challenging enough
at
the oil company production tank farm level, I don't see how it would work
at
the pump dispensing (or even regional terminal) level.

Do you have a cite for the toxicity (sp?)... I know that there are tens of
thousands of people who dealt with 100 to 140 octane highly leaded gasolines
over the years and I don't see many old guys at the airport growing extra
ears or with problems that is/are/was/were seemingly caused by leaded fuel..


NASCAR is finally going lead free in the very near future, I expect
piston
aircraft will as well. Even absent a government regulation banning lead
fuel
in aircraft, the simple economics of the situation will make it more and
more
untenable.

I agree. Leaded fuel will eventually become so pricy that everyone who can
will move to unleaded fuel, and that'll drive a downward spiral forcing
100LL out of the market. I feel sorry for the folks flying aircraft with
highly stressed engines which really need the extra octane, 'cause they are
gonna be left out in the cold.

On Feb 15, 11:35 pm, "xerj" wrote:
If you had to do a bit of crystal ball gazing, what do you think the engines
of the GA fleet will be drinking in 10-15 years time?

The same avgas as today, just much more expensive?


Jet-A in diesel engines?

This is the one that I am betting on...