Bad fuel

[Guest alpipete]

A few years ago when i opened up the hanger that i kept my Bantam in i noticed that there was no fuel showing on the visual tube and discovered that the electric fuel pump had blown apart due to a crook batch of fuel. BP would not come to the party when i told them that the pump was in an aircraft.And about the same time my flying buddy had an engine out due to crook fuel.When we checked the filter found small hair like off a kiwi fruit that had clogged up the filter.

 

 

[facthunter]

Fibreglass tanks? Nev

 

 

[Oscar]

When the debate about Jabiru engine reliability was raging on here, pretty much anybody who suggested that 'improper' fuel for those engines should be looked at, was ridiculed by the self-professed experts.

 

Jabiru engines were originally designed ( and certificated under JAR22H) to run on 100LL. I think this thread has shown up, that using MOGAS in its variant forms is fraught with problems of supply, specification reliability, and age. Jabiru may have shot itself in the foot by allowing the use of Mogas at all - though it did the correct thing prima facie and reduced the compression ratio to allow the use of 95 RON Mogas.

 

Those with the knowledge of detonation, know that that condition is the likely primary cause of the Jabiru through-bolt failures ( though there is a design issue there as well, that is fairly sophisticated to explain, but without detonation would NOT have been an issue.) The early LSA55s with the 2200 engine running on 100LL never displayed the self-destructive characteristics of later variants.

 

The BP fuel contamination of Avgas hugely affected the GA fleet and cost millions of $$ to remediate. In some cases, entire fuel systems from (and including) the tanks onwards had to be replaced. GA operates under a far more stringent regime than Rec. Av.

 

Nev has raised a very, very cogent point. Of all the fuel specifications, 100LL and 95 RON ULP without ethanol, are the most stable and least aggressive of the fuels we can buy,

 

Australia has perhaps the worst reliability for 'delivered' fuel specification of practically any 'developed' nation. That is why both Japanese and European car (and motorcycle) engines for sale in Australia are de-rated by comparison to their home market specification. All we can say with certainty about our fuel quality, is that it is likely to be crap.

 

Jabs, and I suspect many other ultralights, utilise / utilised tanks ( if epoxy-resin glass), fuel pumps and fuel lines which are NOT suitable for use with any fuel containing ethanol or aromatics. Many metal tanks relied on 'sloshing' compounds for sealing that are attacked by aromatics and possibly ethanol. Of course, Jabiru's aren't the only aircraft to use epoxy tanks, simple Facit fuel pumps or fuel lines that are NOT rated for aromatics / ethanol.

 

But here's another interesting fact, for those who may feel relaxed that they have a Rotax. BOTH Jabirus and Rotax 912-series carburetored engines use the same Bing carby - and the carby-bowl floats don't tolerate ethanol or aromatics. I believe Rotax have fairly recently changed over to the 'grey' floats that do, I don't know whether Jabiru have also done so. Some BMW bikes that use the same carby ( the 64/94 series) have changed recently, and that avenue is the most likely source of (expensive!!) change-over parts.

 

For any IC-engined aircraft that relies on its engine for motivation, fuel delivery quality is a critical issue. The only aircraft that will reliability fly irrespective of the fuel available, is a glider... or electric-powered. I think diesel-powered IC engines may be more tolerant, but I don't know of any in the Recreational aircraft regime.

 

You wouldn't expect a prime athlete to necessarily be able to perform at her/his best after eating a load of cr@p food. Why, then, would you expect your aero-engine - that is a highly-stressed device on a power/weight basis - to perform to expectations if you throw it a load of cr@p fuel?

 

 

[turboplanner]

One more thing you should know. WE only have 3 weeks supply of fuel in reserve. As stated it's nearly all from Singapore. No need to invade, or fire a shot. A month's blockade and nothing moving here.. Clever Country??? Nev

That's AGES, Supermarkets have 3 days!

 

 

[onetrack]

Not to worry, it wouldn't be the first time I've had to shoot 'roos for meat!

 

The problem we have today, is a pack of greenies or PETA supporters would descend on me, and call me a murderer, while they foraged for green shoots to chew on!

 

 

[bexrbetter]

PETA supporters

I'm a member of People Eating Tasty Animals.

 

 

[Nobody]

The BP fuel contamination of Avgas hugely affected the GA fleet and cost millions of $$ to remediate. In some cases, entire fuel systems from (and including) the tanks onwards had to be replaced. GA operates under a far more stringent regime than Rec. Av.

Do you mean the Mobil contamination that occurred in 1999 or have there been 2 issues?

 

Avgas fuel contamination event 1999

 

 

[Oscar]

Damn, my memory is not what is used to be ( I think..) Yep that was the one. I suspect the Mobil fuel was delivered to many aircraft using BP carnets

 

 

[facthunter]

It was a Mobil refinery in Victoria and I think there was alkali in the fuel, used in the refining process but not removed in this instance. Some aircraft never flew again. Nev