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  #1   IP: 24.91.90.40
Old 03-15-2011, 06:36 PM
rshearley rshearley is offline
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Ethanol Free alternatives? 100LL/Avgas?

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

Last edited by rshearley; 03-15-2011 at 07:06 PM.
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Old 03-15-2011, 06:54 PM
sailhog sailhog is offline
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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.
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Old 03-15-2011, 07:54 PM
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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?
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Old 03-15-2011, 08:07 PM
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Caleb,
It's Marina Village Marina in Freeport, Florida. The ethanol-free fuel sales are advertised here:

http://www.marinavillage.info/marina...YachtClub.aspx

It's my understanding that all U.S. marina fuel depots can sell ethanol-free gasoline.
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Old 03-23-2011, 11:43 AM
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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.
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Old 03-23-2011, 03:46 PM
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I don't know about other states, but here in Calif, airports can't sell to anyone who don't have an aircraft.
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Old 03-23-2011, 04:27 PM
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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/
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Old 03-23-2011, 05:45 PM
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Our pump is self-service

Quote:
Originally Posted by domenic View Post
I don't know about other states, but here in Calif, airports can't sell to anyone who don't have an aircraft.
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Old 03-23-2011, 10:21 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by ndutton View Post
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.
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Old 03-23-2011, 10:26 PM
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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
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Old 03-23-2011, 10:32 PM
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Nice! Good shot.
We'll know in another couple of months...
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Old 03-23-2011, 10:41 PM
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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!
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Old 03-23-2011, 11:45 PM
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Talking

Sailhog, If it was any good at all I'd be drinking it!!!
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Old 03-24-2011, 06:24 AM
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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 ...
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Old 03-24-2011, 10:28 AM
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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....
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Old 03-24-2011, 11:05 AM
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Pure gas does that too!

Use something like a soft drink bottle. That kind of plastic holds gas OK.
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Old 06-13-2021, 04:50 PM
PWAusCal29 PWAusCal29 is offline
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Another alternative fuel option

I discovered many years ago the you could buy racing gas at some motorcycle and hot rod shops.
This is pure leaded gasoline 120 octane! Bring your own gas can.
Being an inland lake sailor, we use very little fuel, usually only for getting in and out of the marina. So that helps offset the $12/gal cost.
Benefits: no messing with stabilizer, no potential separation in the tank, nearly unlimited shelf life.
Those plus I bet my 1969 A4 was designed with leaded fuel in mind.

Sorry I did not see this topic a long time ago.

HTH
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Old 06-13-2021, 05:03 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by PWAusCal29 View Post
I discovered many years ago the you could buy racing gas at some motorcycle and hot rod shops.
This is pure leaded gasoline 120 octane! Bring your own gas can.
Being an inland lake sailor, we use very little fuel, usually only for getting in and out of the marina. So that helps offset the $12/gal cost.
Benefits: no messing with stabilizer, no potential separation in the tank, nearly unlimited shelf life.
Those plus I bet my 1969 A4 was designed with leaded fuel in mind.

Sorry I did not see this topic a long time ago.

HTH
Yeah, we got away from it until the Commies took over here in Canada....now everything is laced with ethanol. For a while we had high test non ethanol. The whole thing is a boondoggle....should be put to rest. They will wait for the economy to crash before real change back to common sense. Frigging disgrace what politicians can do...you guys had Trump, we have a drama teacher part time snow boarder as PM, a no body journalist who had to get her parent to buy her a house in her riding ..she's our Deputy PM....and they try to keep me caged...I digress.
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Old 06-14-2021, 09:10 AM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by PWAusCal29 View Post
I discovered many years ago the you could buy racing gas at some motorcycle and hot rod shops.
This is pure leaded gasoline 120 octane! Bring your own gas can.
Being an inland lake sailor, we use very little fuel, usually only for getting in and out of the marina. So that helps offset the $12/gal cost.
Benefits: no messing with stabilizer, no potential separation in the tank, nearly unlimited shelf life.
Those plus I bet my 1969 A4 was designed with leaded fuel in mind.

Sorry I did not see this topic a long time ago.

HTH

And to think I was getting annoyed paying $5 at the airport!
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Old 06-14-2021, 07:30 PM
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Planning to pump the ethanol out of my steel tank, remove it, replace with a smaller poly and use leaded only on my 70 A4.
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Old 06-15-2021, 12:49 PM
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I just did that for my boat. While I'll never have to worry about rust again and can now see the tank level by just looking, you will pick up a hint of gasoline smell if the boat has been bundled up for a day or more.

The less expensive poly tanks that are pseudo-transparent have some permissibility that can give you a bit of 'aroma'. They make tanks with barrier that eliminated the smell, but they are 2x-3x more expensive. However, the dimensions of the more expensive tanks didn't fit as well in our boat... plus, you can't see the fuel level.

Not a big deal, but it was unnerving the first time I opened the cabin after an absence with the new tank and smelled a bit of gas. Fuel was shut off, nothing in the bilge, but a bit of smell nevertheless.
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Last edited by ronstory; 06-15-2021 at 02:12 PM. Reason: grammar
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Old 06-15-2021, 01:49 PM
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Ron,
I've never had trouble with my 50 y/o steel tank but I measured it and it's 25 gallons and we are lake sailors so don't need but about 5 gallons a year. That coupled with the rust and gunk possibility I thought it would be best to pull it out and replace it with a poly 10 gallon or so.
Then it would be fresh and I would only use leaded fuel. Plus, as you said, I could see the level easily without pushing a stick through the top and seeing where it's at.
I do appreciate the heads up on the smell. Not an issue but as you said, good to know up front.
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Old 06-15-2021, 02:14 PM
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Yes, my tank never failed either, but at 47 years old... it was, IMO, time.

EDIT: ... as for the aroma... at least it's not diesel. lol
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Old 06-15-2021, 04:41 PM
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