Jabiru, Schempp-Hirth rescind E10 approval
Quote:
Originally Posted by
nomocom
link to a source document? I'd like to take a look at it.
Jabiru reacted to actual experiences of leaking composite fuel tanks in the US. See this report:
http://www.generalaviationnews.com/2...-its-aircraft/
Spell checkers are also part of this blogging system but are apparently not used in this thread.
Schempp-Hirth (my error, not the much smaller glider-maker Stemme) approves E5 in Solo self-start engine, but not E10:
http://www.schempp-hirth.com/index.p...&L=1&tx_ttnews[tt_news]=229&tx_ttnews[backPid]=171&cHash=40780b5aee
One major EASA (European FAA) study two years ago warning against the presence of ethanol in aviation fuels, indicated that half of the fuel burned in piston-engine aircraft in Germany (#1 country for GA in Europe) was ethanol-free autogas. I suspect another 25% is 94UL, this latter volume increasing with 100LL decreasing.
These warnings are primarily an issue in the US, as ethanol-free is generally available at airports in Europe and gas stations in most countries other than in the US, where Congress has forced mandates on us leaving us no choice in many instances.
This is not the America I once knew. The EAA remains generally silent on ethanol, and autogas, despite its having achieved the first autogas STC 30 years ago. This is also not the EAA I once knew.
Facts are stubborn things - don't use ethanol
Washing ethanol from E10 - More reasons why this is a dumb, dangerous idea:
1. You will never get 100% of the ethanol out of the blend by 'washing' it with even more water. It does not take much of the stuff to attack materials in an engine and once this starts there is no stopping it, even if you switch back to E0. Remember too that gasoline (and 100LL) absorbs a certain amount of water, so why add add it to fuel?
2. In many instances, ethanol is being added to BOB, Blendstock for Oxygenate Blending, a sub-octane fuel that is not a legal, 'finished' fuel. Oil companies pump this junk through pipelines, knowing that the addition of ethanol bumps the AKI rating up to the required level at the pump. Take the ethanol out of the blend and you just reduced your octane rating, increasing the likelihood of detonation. Most autogas STCs and the very popular Rotax 912 series require 91+ AKI. Premium E10, once 'washed', will be 89 or less AKI. If the source of your blend is dishonest (some retailers are), and have punched the fuel beyond E10, you'll have even lower octane once the ethanol is removed.
3. What do you do with the highly-corrosive concoction that come from washing? Ethanol + water is nasty stuff, you can not simply dump this in the sewer.
4. The mandates that have adulterated our nation's gasoline supply with ethanol are designed to have E85 in all our pumps, not E10, not E15. What do you do when your blend is 85% ethanol? Good luck washing all that out. You're then throwing away 85% of the gallon you bought? Doesn't make much sense to me.
Politics -it is a sad day in America when voters just bend over and take poor legislation, such as the EISA 2007 law that has given us ethanol and a nanny-state law telling us what light bulbs we choose to use.
I for one believe in the right, and obligation of every American to change poor legislation, which ought to include repeal of EISA 2007's RFS ethanol mandates. A group of concerned EAA members - sadly with little support from headquarters - has worked hard, in their spare time, on their own nickel, to educate pilots and airports on the many advantages of autogas as a lead-free aviation fuel. We have done the same with environmental groups such as the FOE and the CEH, who - unlike the aviation alphabets who we pay to represent us - now understand that autogas represents the only real lead-free alternative to 100LL and that ethanol policies in the US need to be changed to protect this fuel.
Washing ethanol out of gasoline may be fine for a lawnmower or weed-whacker, but responsible pilots should refrain from using it. Put your effort instead in educating your state legislature, your EAA leadership, your Congressmen on the pros of autogas and the cons of ethanol. Join with other who prefer ethanol-free fuel, find a supplier and bring it to your area. Many airports are doing this, some shipping it over 400 miles if necessary.
Experiment with airframes and engines, but unless you are a chemist, Todd Petersen or Cesar Gonzalez, don't mess with fuels.
We do not have the luxury as pilots to ignore politics - most would simply prefer to take away our rights to fly, look at DHS for plenty of examples. The solution to problems with all politicians may be found in your mirror.