Ethanol Free alternatives? 100LL/Avgas?

[rshearley]

There has been some discussion on our Tartan 27 group about switching to 100LL/Avgas, especially now with the proposal of an E-15 Mogas formulation.
I seem to remember that there used to be a formulation of Avgas without TEL.
Does anyone run 100LL or the TEL free equivalent and if so have you found any problems, IE plug fouling or cooler running temp. Did you switch plugs or change thermostats or is the temp reduction created by running higher octane insignificant? Does 100LL cause rough idling and would the carb. need re-jetting or adjusting?
I ran regular gas last season with MMO and ethanol treatment and the engine did run okay but I noticed at the end of the season that the rubber gasket on the sediment bowl had swollen to the point I could not re-use it. I drained the racor filter as well as replacing the element several times during the season and each time found both evidence of moisture as well as a fair amount of crud. I also have an in-line filter after the fuel pump and that seemed to have some kind of sludge build up in it... I also found evidence of build up in the sediment bowl during mid-season inspection. I really feel that using E-10 and especially higher blends in marine fuel is not appropriate...
Thanks for all the great insight!
Rich Shearley

[sailhog]

My understanding of 100LL is that the higher octane makes it late to spark. I'd guess that a lower octane, ethanol free gas would be better -- and less expensive. Our marina sells it for $3.80/gal. Av gas is probably a good bit more expensive.

[CalebD]

Ethanol

I came across this company Valvtect somewhere: http://www.valvtect.com/marineFuelGasoline.asp
After reading the text on this page I could not find anywhere that stated their gasoline was 'ethanol free' but rather 'specially formulated'. The picture of the gasoline showing phase separation sure looks like the gas I drained out of my tank a few weeks ago.
Does anyone know anything about this company's products? It sounds too good to be true (and probably is) but is supposedly available at a marina near me.
Sailhog,
Would you care to share which marina you use that sells ethanol free regular gas?

[sailhog]

Caleb,
It's Marina Village Marina in Freeport, Florida. The ethanol-free fuel sales are advertised here:

http://www.marinavillage.info/marinavillage/MarinaVillageYachtClub.aspx

It's my understanding that all U.S. marina fuel depots can sell ethanol-free gasoline.

[joe_db]

I filled my tank with avgas for the fall. It sits for the winter MUCH better than car gas. I got the impression it was a little harder to start in cold weather. Avgas has a lower vapor pressure than car gas, which could be the reason.

[domenic]

I don't know about other states, but here in Calif, airports can't sell to anyone who don't have an aircraft.

[ndutton]

There's a gas station in Pacific Beach (San Diego) on Ingraham Street that sells 100 octane racing gas - at like $8/gallon - or more. Don't know for certain but I don't believe it's blended.

http://www.crownpointautocenter.com/

[joe_db]

Our pump is self-service

I don't know about other states, but here in Calif, airports can't sell to anyone who don't have an aircraft.

[roadnsky]

There's a gas station in Pacific Beach (San Diego) on Ingraham Street that sells 100 octane racing gas - at like $8/gallon - or more.

Wow, that's my old stomping grounds! (Great years those )
We're lucky here, there are still a lot of stations not selling the E10 AND they advertise it on their price billboards.

[ndutton]

Jerry, does the addition of ethanol lower the boiling point of gasoline? Maybe that's why non-blended fuel is available in your area.

Couldn't resist

[roadnsky]

Nice! Good shot.
We'll know in another couple of months...

[sailhog]

Let's all boycott the Iowa sailing/cruising industry! No more sailing vacations in Iowa until they get rid of ethanol! I've had it with those pasty-face farmers!

[Mo]

Sailhog, If it was any good at all I'd be drinking it!!!

[Laker]

Speaking of boycotts , a state labor union here in peaceful Wisconsin called for a boycott of a chain of gas stations which happens to be one of the very few retail sources of ethanol free gas in this area. I have switched all of my fuel purchases to that retailer.

2 birds w/ 1 stone.

Now to pump out my Col. 34 fuel tank and re-fill with the good stuff ...

[sailhog]

This is a little off topic....

During some recent trouble-shooting with my engine, I tested my fuel pump to make sure it was running. Since I didn't have a GLASS jar on hand, I collected the fuel (an ethanol blend) in one of the on-board plastic cups. The pump worked, and the fuel set there for an hour or so. At the end of the day, I drained the fuel into my car's tank. After doing so, I noticed that something was wrong with the cup itself. The fuel had eaten up the plastic and turned the surface that it touched into this incredibly sticky film.... the car is still running, but....

Somebody needs to have a long talk with those knuckleheaded farmers....