Thorp Air Command - T18.net

Because it is almost 100% cheaper and less troublesome then highly leaded avgas. The name "low lead" 100 is a misnomer.

Unless the engine manufacturers have changed the lube system, aircraft engines valves were designed to run on leaded gas so you need to add a lead supplement or 100LL to autogas.

Is there anything in the FAA-approved STC that specifies an additive be
used with mogas?

Charlie

*** admin posted for Charlie England ***

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Forum Administrator

Bill,
1. It's $2.00 a gallon cheaper that 100LL at my aerodrome.
2. My engine was designed for 80/87, an O-290
3. 100LL tends to foul the lower plugs if I don't lean aggressively.
4. For all of the, as Fraser puts it, booze free mogas I have used there has been no indication of any problems. Disclaimer, I fly in a milder, cool climate most of the time, the Pacific NW. I have blast tubes on the fuel components under the cowl and a gravity feed fuel system which reduces the vapor lock issues. Just my $0.02.

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Bruce Finney
N18JF T-18C #262
Yelm, WA USA

When is the 92 UL fuel going th be available? That sounds like a good alternative to auto fuel. My dad experienced vapor lock on auto fuel last summer on takeoff in the wichawk biplane, O-470 with fuel pump and pressure carb. I almost had a forced landing in my C-140 last winter. After I landed I drained the auto fuel, and fueled with 100ll and has been fine since. It even started using less oil. I run 100LL with TCP in my T-18. Just think the T-18 still uses half the gas of a a C-182. We have a private grass runway and buy our own fuel in bulk. Price to weeks ago was $4.75.

Looks like there is a wide discrepancy in fuel prices. Check this out: http://www.airnav.com/fuel/greatdeals/pocket?type=1

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Bob Highley
N711SH
SN 835
KLAL

Last week at KSEE at the Air BP pump (self serve it was $6.00). How's that for a price spread !

RB

I was talking to a guy at work today about expenditures, flying, etc ... He was complaining about the $1000 brake job he just had done on his wife's SUV. I told him it was high time he buy a set of tools.

For what it's worth autogas in the air makes me nervous, as do auto engines. With that in mind I'm locked into the price of avgas. The next time my car needs a brake job, wife's car needs body work, a/c goes out, house repairs etc ... I fix it myself. As I'm cursing in the heat under a jacked car with my hands caked in grease/brake dust/ and or whatever the project happens to be, I tell myself, "with the money you saved from not having someone else do this you can fill up the airplane with liquid gold avgas!"

Around here Avgas is 5.50, Autogas is 3.50. For an hour of punching holes in the sky (much more that I normally do) that's a $20 spread. I'll keep fixing my own broken stuff, refuse to take up golf and eat roman noodles to keep from sweating the price of gas. There are enough variables in the air, I don't want to add that one too.

This is not a cheap hobby but I know boat owners, golfers and car enthusiasts that envy us for the bang for the buck we get out of our airplanes.

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Lee Walton
Houston, TX
N51863,N118LW
KEFD

I hear ya Lee. I pay zero for hangar rent and the last fix on the Volvo (me) saved us about $500.00 vs going to the dealer. Fill it up with 100LL !

RB

Most cars I have owned were 10+ years old because I thought the depreciation was just unacceptable. At least (until maybe recently) my airplane appreciated in value. Most of my cars have been just transportation while my plane is my passion.

I also am a member of the club that prefers doing it myself rather than hiring it out. Not my style to let ignorance stop me from figuring out how to do something. It saves money and comes with the pride of accomplishment.

My dad used to say - 'People have money for what's important to them.' I'll burn about 50 gallons this weekend and same again next weekend to visit family. I bought a T-18 because they cover a lot of ground quickly and economically. I would burn about the same amount of fuel driving and it would take me 32 hours of tedious driving instead of 12 hours of fun.

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Pat
N89SB
T-18W

Here's a post from some race guys:
http://www.circletrack.com/enginetech/c ... index.html

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Rich Woodcock
N114RW - T18CW

As a reminder, there's an 'M' ahead of the rest of the word in the
subject of the article. Makes a significant difference in what we are
discussing.

;-)

Charlie

*** admin posted for Charlie England ***

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Forum Administrator