AVGAS over by beginning 2025 EU parliament has banned it
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AVGAS over by beginning 2025 EU parliament has banned it
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
https://eur-lex.europa.eu/eli/reg/2022/586/oj
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
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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
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
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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
Lycoming has a whole swag of unleaded-approved engines contained in their Service Instructions - click HERE to see if a specific engine is listed.
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AEIO 580 UL unleaded fuel incompatibility
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
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
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
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
Not cheap, I know but better than grounding the airplane
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.
Seems like the time is nigh.
Last edited by The Banjo; 11th Jun 2022 at 11:03.
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.
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).
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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
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...
