Ethanol: It will get you coming and going

Ben Visser | Visser's Voice | February 6, 2012

Recently, reader Frank Klein asked if he should be concerned about filling up containers of auto gas for his plane if the previous customer pumped 10% ethanol fuel from a pump island that uses a common dispensing hose for several grades of auto gas.

When I do some rough calculations, I figure that the amount of fuel contained in the hose and meter would give you close to a gallon of fuel, so if you are using a five-gallon container, you would have close to 20% ethanol-containing fuel.

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Correction: Exxon Mobil to remain 100LL manufacturer

Ben Sclair | Blogs, Visser's Voice | December 20, 2011

In a blog posted on Monday, December 19, fuels expert Ben Visser incorrectly stated that Exxon Mobil had stopped manufacturing 100LL for the general aviation marketplace. In fact, Exxon Mobil continues to manufacture 100LL for distribution under brand names other than its own. Exxon Mobil will cease selling 100LL under Avitat-branded FBOs. Says Ben Visser, “Sorry if I misled anyone.”

Oil giant pulls out of 100LL business

Ben Visser | Visser's Voice | December 19, 2011

UPDATE: Calls from AOPA and EAA Tuesday morning inform us Ben’s column is incorrect. Exxon-Mobil will continue the manufacture of unbranded 100LL fuel. Exxon-Mobil will discontinue branded fuel sales under the Exxon Avitat flag. We are awaiting confirmation from Exxon’s public relations people.

I recently read that Exxon-Mobil stopped manufacturing and selling 100LL. (I tried to contact them but did not receive a confirmation by press time.) What does this mean for you and your plane?

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What part of ‘no’ don’t they understand?

Ben Visser | Visser's Voice | November 20, 2011

One of the joys of being retired is that I get to read more of the newspaper each evening. Now the front page has all of the big stories that are of worldwide importance, like the Kim Kardashian marriage that lasted only 72 days. But if you read the inside pages, you can find some very interesting information. On page 5 of our local daily paper here in the agriculture heartland was an article that caught my eye. The headline read: “Study: E15 damages boat engines.”

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Why lead reduces knock

Ben Visser | Visser's Voice | October 24, 2011

In the Sept. 23, issue of General Aviation News, there was a letter to the editor from Jack Thompson, who wrote: “Re: Visser’s Voice: Knock free, Aug 26 issue: It is a sad commentary given that the IC engine is such an integral part of aviation that the user community is so ignorant of its operation and engineering issues. What percentage of the users understand the impact of fuel detonation resistance and the if-then relationships of fuel suitability for a given service?”

The actual truth is that no one really completely understands the interaction, especially how lead additives work in a fuel to reduce knock.

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Winterizing your plane

Ben Visser | Visser's Voice | September 25, 2011

A couple of days ago when I went out for my morning walk I noticed something had changed. Instead of warm and sunny, there was a chill in the air. I then realized that fall is approaching and I needed a jacket.

The same kind of thing happens to many pilots each year. They are enjoying the nice flying weather when all of a sudden, winter is upon them, so they put their plane away and figure they will just change the oil in the spring before they do any more flying. There is a big problem with this plan.

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Knock free

Ben Visser | Visser's Voice | August 29, 2011

In one of my recent columns I stated that if an engine runs knock free on an 87 octane fuel, using a higher octane fuel will not benefit you in any way. I received several inquiries about whether this was for automobiles or airplanes. Basically it applies to both.

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Flawed logic

Ben Visser | Visser's Voice | July 6, 2011

Ben Visser is an aviation fuels and lubricants expert who spent 33 years with Shell Oil.

I recently received a question from reader Bill Blank asking whether there was more BTUs in higher octane fuels and if there was any reason to use a higher octane fuel if a vehicle ran knock free on a lower octane fuel. The simple answer is no.

I have received this question many times and the concept of more is always better is very ingrained in our minds. Continue Reading »

Good science

Ben Visser | Visser's Voice | June 8, 2011

Ben Visser is an aviation fuels and lubricants expert who spent 33 years with Shell Oil.

In one of my past columns, I criticized the ethanol industry and others for using “bad science” to promote their products. I received several emails from readers who felt that I was off base because, they said, the Wright brothers were just bicycle mechanics — not scientists — who discovered controlled flight. Let me share with you a little history about Orville and Wilbur. The Wright brothers were two of the top aeronautical scientists of their day who just happened to run a bicycle shop to pay for their research. Continue Reading »

How long can fuel be safely stored?

Ben Visser | Visser's Voice | May 15, 2011

Ben Visser is an aviation fuels and lubricants expert who spent 33 years with Shell Oil. He has been a private pilot since 1985.

Reader Jerry Johnson recently wrote in with a question about fuel storage: “Rotax indicates that octane ratings degrade rapidly and significantly with storage. If so, wouldn’t storage for a matter of weeks render the fuel dangerous to use in aircraft?”

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