AVGAS over by beginning 2025 EU parliament has banned it

[markkal]

It seems that Lycoming and Continental engines will run out of gas by early 2025, European Parliament has ruled.....Trouble ahead for GA and aircraft owners..

https://eur-lex.europa.eu/eli/reg/2022/586/oj

[kenparry]

The link seems to indicate that a whole list of additives will be banned - but unleaded AVGAS? I suspect not. These euro regs are mind-numbing to read, but I hope that's what is written

[STBYRUD]

That's technically true, as I understand this prohibits the import of TEL, so Avgas-UL would be unaffected by this.... Good if your engine can run on UL I suppose :}

[markkal]

The use of Lead Tetraethyl will be prohibited, the anti detonation additive used in AVGAS, We already have grade 100 unleaded fuel for auto vehicles posessing the same anti knock properties.
However benzene chemical additive appears to be unsuited for aircraft application, prone to vapor lock and high altitude volatility due to its fast evaporation rate.

Benzene is also known to damage old rubber lines and carburettor floaters.
It's valve seat lubrication properties are disputed, considering the fact that lead content on 100LL gas is 0,5 grams per liter (!!) it must be quite a miracoulus agent to be able in such small quantities to perform such a task.

GAMI industries in the US has been a pioneer in the search for an alternative, they started creating multi cylinder monitoring instruments, and came up with a scientific approach to correctly leaning aircraft engines, which made both Lycoming and Continental techniques, dating back to the 30's of last century not only incorrect but obslolete.
Hope that a suitable alternative will be found, as these old lycoming and continental dynosaurs nearly 100 years old in design are definitely reliable, though AVGAS is insanely expensive nowadys and parts and engine replacements or overhauls costs more than a similar space age technology mercedes or ferrari engines...

https://gami.com/gamijectors/leantest.php

https://gami.com/paulferraris_leanofpeaksaga.pdf

[markkal]

Annemasse, France Avgas 3,80 euros liter......(Courtesy L. Marti) June 2022. heading for trouble....
https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/610x629/avgas_e244daa8ef994e021ffef6287e969491e58bfa00.png

[fab777]

A number of engines (including my lycoming O235-L2A) cannot run on UL. So what will we do? Scrap them?

[markkal]

Have the same issue with lycoming AEIO580 no alternative so far to Avgas, in the US they are talking about GAMI Fuel, Europe ?, go figure..... worrying to say the least

[Big Pistons Forever]

A number of engines (including my lycoming O235-L2A) cannot run on UL. So what will we do? Scrap them?

Yes your engine can run on UL fuels, See Lycoming Service Instruction 1070AB

[KRviator]

Yes your engine can run on UL fuels, See Lycoming Service Instruction 1070ABI was about to post the same. The O-235-L series can indeed run on unleaded fuel - as can the vast majority of non-turbo'd engines.

Lycoming has a whole swag of unleaded-approved engines contained in their Service Instructions - click HERE (https://www.lycoming.com/sites/default/files/SI1070AB%20Specified%20Fuels.pdf) to see if a specific engine is listed.

[markkal]

High Big Piston and KRviator, I checked the Lycoming service instruction pamphlet as per link, unfortunately my engine AEIO 580 does not qualify to use UL unleaded fuel,
Me and my friends have this engine on aerobatic aircrafts and we are worried, GAMI fuel should be compatible, though I don't even know if it is still at development stage and it would be available only in the US, Let's se what happens. Thank you for your asistance

[Big Pistons Forever]

High Big Piston and KRviator, I checked the Lycoming service instruction pamphlet as per link, unfortunately my engine AEIO 580 does not qualify to use UL unleaded fuel,
Me and my friends have this engine on aerobatic aircrafts and we are worried, GAMI fuel should be compatible, though I don't even know if it is still at development stage and it would be available only in the US, Let's se what happens. Thank you for your asistance

Worse case is you will have to convert your AEIO 580 to a AEIO 540D which can run on 94 UL. I believe it can be done by replacing the connecting rods and pistons with 540 parts. You may even be able to get away with just replacing the pistons.

Not cheap, I know but better than grounding the airplane

[The Banjo]

A few years ago a chap at the BBMF suggested their biggest challenge in the future was sourcing suitable fuel the the Lancaster and Spits.
Seems like the time is nigh.

[Big Pistons Forever]

A few years ago a chap at the BBMF suggested their biggest challenge in the future was sourcing suitable fuel the the Lancaster and Spits.
Seems like the time is nigh.

Merlin 1 and 2 models ran on 87 octane with low compression pistons and developed 880 hp. so like GA engines there should be a route to modify the later Merlin variants to run on 94 UL. Again not cheap and there will be a performance penalty which will be partly mitigated by not having to carry a combat load, but definitely doable.

[tdracer]

I don't know if it's feasible for GA aircraft, but in the racing world there were additives that you could use that basically made unleaded fuel into leaded fuel (of a higher octane - which was the real intent - racing engines don't go long enough between rebuilds for any differences in the lubricity of the fuel to become significant).

[markkal]

Worse case is you will have to convert your AEIO 580 to a AEIO 540D which can run on 94 UL. I believe it can be done by replacing the connecting rods and pistons with 540 parts. You may even be able to get away with just replacing the pistons.

Not cheap, I know but better than grounding the airplane


Thanks Bigpistons for your suggestion, will keep in mind, Frankly am getting tired with all the mess with EASA in relation with GA, now this fuel issue..We'll see...