Fuel for 80HP 912

[Avidfox]

I purchased this plane last fall. The previous owner rus the engine with 1 part 100LL and 3 parts 87-OCt. I live in a Village (Yakutat, AK) that only has 87OCT. Does anyone out there run a combination and or any other type of additive?
Thanks,
Dave

[Slyfox]

use the 87 oct should be fine. even put in the alki fuel if the tanks can take it. I use 91 in my 100. when I had the 80 I used the 87. I use the alki fuel in my 100 because it's 60cents less doesn't run any different.

[SkySteve]

I can only get 87 in non-ethanol, so that is what I use. Seems to work fine as I have done it for several years. My airport is as 4,500' MSL.

[cap01]

Dave , I only use the alc free gas in my 912ul . interested in why the prev owner used a mix . I've never heard of any advantage to using the avgas , especially since you pay a penalty for using 100ll in times between oil changes and spark plugs .
suppose you don't have too many gas stations up there so maybe you can't get alc free gas .

[Av8r3400]

The only reason I would think is to add some stability to the fuel. Auto gas is junk. It's not stable for more than a couple weeks. Avgas is stable for years.

I run non-contaminated 92 octane gas in my plane because I know how fast the octane levels deplete with time. I was told that vented fuel will loose several points of octane over just a week or two.

[Danzer1]

Could be stability or his 87 octane was really crap and he was experiencing knock or trying to avoid knock. The 80hp 912 requires 87 octane (90 RON) min, all the other 912's and 914 require 91 min (95 RON).

I do agree octane can reduce when exposed to the atmosphere, but have not heard anyone report several point in a short period of time. Most I have heard of is a point or 2 over more than 3 months. Your mileage may vary (literally) :D.

Greg

[Av8r3400]

Keep in mind because of our glorious federal governmental regulations, auto fuel blends vary greatly not only from state to state, but even between communities.

[WWhunter]

I am not 100% sure on this but does 87 unleaded in Alaska have ethanol? I seem to have read somewhere that most gas in Alaska is non-ethanol, could one of you Alaska guys comment?
Even if your gas does have ethanol it should be fine since Rotax say up to a certain percentage is acceptible. Especially for the 80 hp.

A little of topic but one of the reasons I am wanting the 'Zipper' kit is so I can go back to burning 87 octane fuel. Living in Mn does have the advantage that most premium fuel is non-ethanol but I want to be able to fly out of state and finding premium without ethanol can be problematic. My engine (original 80HP) has the high compression piston made by Extra-Performance and currently needs premium. While I keep a large stock on hand at my farm it is harder to get when I fly a long distance from home.

[Slyfox]

The only reason I would think is to add some stability to the fuel. Auto gas is junk. It's not stable for more than a couple weeks. Avgas is stable for years.

I run non-contaminated 92 octane gas in my plane because I know how fast the octane levels deplete with time. I was told that vented fuel will loose several points of octane over just a week or two.

sounds like a good excuse to fly. sorry dear I have to go fly, my fuel might go bad if I don't burn it up :D

[SkySteve]

Slyfox, you are a sly fox!:cool:

[Paul Z]

sounds like a good excuse to fly. sorry dear I have to go fly, my fuel might go bad if I don't burn it up :D

Sly, thanks for the help in making excuses to go fly. I don't think my wife will know that 100LL is stable compared to 87 octane, she knows gas goes bad. I will not use the 10% ethanol crap, it stripped some fiver glass or mold release out of my mains, and I damned near had a disaster in my plane, my throttles were stuck wide open with the gunk build up inside the carbs. I wouldn't recommend to anyone to use ethanol laced fuel.

[Slyfox]

thanks Paul, I will try and give more when I can. as far as the alki fuel. maybe your tanks weren't washed out right. when I got my fuel tanks it was suggested that auto fuel be used to clean them out. I used auto fuel with alki on mine and yes it stripped a bunch of junk off the tank. I kept cleaning until there was no more, than I left some in the tank to make sure it could handle it. than I drained installed on the aircraft and walla. I haven't ever had any trouble using alki fuel. I use to make a check when refueling to see if the resins inside the tank were soft by rubbing my fingers inside the tanks, nope felt real nice. I don't do it any more.

I'm sure you are too nervous to try again and I don't blame you. this is my story and so far things are working out. The big thing no matter what we do we need to have a nice warm and fuzzy or we shouldn't do it. after all if something happens we can't just pull over and take care of it.

[Av8r3400]

Wasn't it MEK or lacquer thinner that was supposed to be the magic tank cleaner?

[mr bill]

I believe it is a 50-50 mix of acetone and gasoline

[Paul Z]

I believe it is a 50-50 mix of acetone and gasoline

That is what I used to clean my tanks up.

[Paul Z]

thanks Paul, I will try and give more when I can. as far as the alki fuel. maybe your tanks weren't washed out right. when I got my fuel tanks it was suggested that auto fuel be used to clean them out. I used auto fuel with alki on mine and yes it stripped a bunch of junk off the tank. I kept cleaning until there was no more, than I left some in the tank to make sure it could handle it. than I drained installed on the aircraft and walla. I haven't ever had any trouble using alki fuel. I use to make a check when refueling to see if the resins inside the tank were soft by rubbing my fingers inside the tanks, nope felt real nice. I don't do it any more.

I'm sure you are too nervous to try again and I don't blame you. this is my story and so far things are working out. The big thing no matter what we do we need to have a nice warm and fuzzy or we shouldn't do it. after all if something happens we can't just pull over and take care of it.

That was my first dead stick landing in my Kitfox, I landed just a little fast.

[MotReklaw]

That is what I used to clean my tanks up.

Same here.....

[Avidfox]

Thanks for the info. I will talk to our Local distributor and see what he says about our fuel. Thanks for the posts. I just got my floats in today. So many projects so little time. Off to pull my boat engine. The Halibut are calling!
Safe Flying!
Dave
Yakutat