The ethanol nightmare has arrived!

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?

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.


--
Jim Pennino

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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.



Bertie

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?

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.


--
Jim Pennino

Remove .spam.sux to reply.

wrote in :

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.


Bertie

Bertie the Bunyip wrote:
wrote in :

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.

What about the last twenty years worth of C-172's, C-182's and PA-28's?


--
Jim Pennino

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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

On Apr 9, 11:57*am, Bertie the Bunyip wrote:
wrote innews
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.

Bertie

So does this conversion have any limitations? Can you run E85? How
about E20?

Brian

Brian wrote in
:

On Apr 9, 11:57*am, Bertie the Bunyip wrote:
wrote
innews
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.

Bertie

So does this conversion have any limitations? Can you run E85? How
about E20?


If it'd start on carrot juice, I ran it.


Bertie

On Apr 9, 11:35*am, wrote:
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.

--
Jim Pennino

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Okay, that is true. However since the days of yore Indy 500 cars have
run on ethanol (or is it methanol!!). Their plumbing does not leak the
alcohol all over the engine all the time. Maybe it would if the race
wasn't over so quickly though ... hmmm.

I have a hard time believing there isn't a technical solution to this
leak problem.

It's a problem that could be fixed for new designs. Older planes are
screwed of course.

Having said all this I think the entire corn ethanol business is an
extraordinary boondoggle that's screwing the average American.

The Brazilian's do it with sugar cane / beet sugar. Now, I thought
they were more corrupt than us? Guess not.