On 9 Aug 2006 08:13:11 -0700, "Jay Honeck" wrote:

The adding of ethanol to gasoline has made the auto-gas STC unusable
for many aircraft owners, nationwide. So far, we're okay (in Iowa,
which is pretty funny) and are able to purchase untainted mogas -- but
the long-range situation seems untenable. We, as a nation, are
inexorably being forced toward the addition of alcohol into ALL
gasoline, so it seems...

On the Cherokee 235 user's group, there is a guy who's been
successfully using ethanol-gas in his aircraft. It's ruined his

Then he's most likely doing it illegally as he's not using a know auto
gas which means no STC.

fiberglass tip tanks, but he apparently expected this to happen.
Otherwise, the engine is running fine, or so he reports. (Personally,
I think he's crazy, ruining tip tanks that run close to $4K *apiece*,
but that's just me...)

Crazy is not quite the word I'd use.

It's not just those fiberglass tips, seals and O-rings that are
attacked by ethanol. He's looking for far more problems than tip
tanks. BTW he might want to consider where the disolved resin and
some fiberglass went. I wonder what his fuel filter and gascolator
look like inside.


His experience has led to a more interesting (to me) discussion about
the possibility of REMOVING ethanol from gasoline. Several ideas have
been postulated (evaporation; heating; adding water), but none of them
sound particularly safe or easy.

Or smart.

Alcohol, in addition to burning cleaner is also an octane booster.
That means even if you sucessfully remove it, you are left with a
lower octane gas and no STC which probably means no insurance.


Any chemists out there? Anyone know a way to remove the ethanol from
mogas, so that we may safely use it in our aircraft?

And what do you do to raise the octane back up?

Yes there is a relatively easy way to remove alcohol from gas that
just takes a bit of filtering after the process. Remember Alcohol is
hydroscopic.

But I repeat, it's no longer car gas so no STC which probably means no
insurance and how much lower octane can the specific engine handle.

Have a problem and the FAA, Insurance company, and lawyers will not be
on your side.

Roger Halstead (K8RI & ARRL life member)
(N833R, S# CD-2 Worlds oldest Debonair)
www.rogerhalstead.com
Roger Halstead (K8RI & ARRL life member)
(N833R, S# CD-2 Worlds oldest Debonair)
www.rogerhalstead.com