Marathon Oil Co. is marketing a 90 octane unleaded non-ethanol gasoline as a recreational fuel for boats. We believe this fuel to be perfectly suited for use with 87 octane auto fuel STCs. In some locations it is one octane point higher, 91 octane. 91 octane is suitable for use with all auto fuel STCs. […]
Alcohol in fuels
The EAA recently published an article in its online “Light Plane World” reviewing the various aspects of operating small aircraft engines when ethanol might be present in Mogas. Building on past work by your bloggers and others, the article does a good job of providing ample warning of the various problems that can occur when […]
SC airport reports continued supply of Mogas
Thanks to Cal Hoffman of the Barnwell Regional Airport (BNL) in Barnwell, S.C., for informing us that the airport has a supply of 93 octane (AKI), ethanol-free, lead-free Mogas on the field. He does not expect any disruptions to the supply in the near future, and suggests that the strong demand for ethanol-free fuel from […]
EPA working with ethanol lobby to force E15 fuels
Your bloggers just came across this letter (download here) from the EPA dated Nov. 30, written to the heads of the ethanol lobby (Gen. Wesley Clark and Jeff Broin of Growth Energy), essentially promising to force E15 on us all next year despite widespread opposition. Car companies and hundreds of other companies and organizations affected […]
Support for ethanol in fuels eroding
Two recent articles in the New York Times chronicle eroding public support for ethanol production mandates and its use in vehicle fuels: “A Growing Disaster”, by Russell Harding, 11/28/2009 “US Unlikely to use the Ethanol Congress Ordered”, Matthew Wald, 11/26/2009 The GAfuels Blog is written by three private pilots concerned about the future availability of […]
Mogas – going, going, gone in the Pacific Northwest
Another nail has been driven into the coffin of ethanol free fuel in the Pacific Northwest. Practically all of the gasoline in western Washington and western Oregon comes from four major refineries on the Puget sound north of Seattle. Since Oregon is already a mandatory E10 state due to a state law, we have been […]
Continental sends mixed messages on unleaded fuels
Teledyne Continental Motors has done a number of tests with unleaded gasoline that is supposed to be made to the ASTM spec for 94 UL avgas. There have been several PR releases about these tests, including a report at EAA.org Apparently the tests are a complete success and Continental is ready to certify all of […]
Ethanol & Aircraft – a perspective from 1935
The pros and cons of using ethanol blends in light aircraft may seem like a new issue, but this article that appeared in the June 1935 issue of “Popular Aviation” expresses many of the same concerns shared by your bloggers. While we are not categorically in opposition to ethanol’s use as an aviation fuel, its […]
End of 100LL predicted
Predictions of the phasing out of 100LL “during the Teens” has been described in this article from David Travers Adolphus of the Hemmings Motor News (scroll down to bottom). The article suggests that the likely replacement will be 94UL, quoting sources at the EPA. The GAfuels Blog is written by three private pilots concerned about […]