Re: [AMC-list] BBD Carb Issues

[Joe Fulton <piper_pa20@xxxxxxxxxxx>]

Actually Matt I usually agree with your more scientific approach to problems and complaints but I own a light airplane and the FAA has not yet permitted an STC for supplementing fuel containing alcohol with avgas in low horsepower aircraft engines.  Owners of older low compression engines have an STC (supplemental type certificate) available to them to substitute mogas (Shell, Chevron etc. car gas) instead of "low - lead" avgas because the avgas causes lead fouling of plugs, valves in these old engines. That mogas must be alcohol free though and is increasingly harder to get anywhere in the USA.

The FAA will not grant an STC based on testing alcohol laden fuel because the alcohol can hold water and set up corrosion "cells" (i.e. foster electrolytic action) between dissimilar metals in the fuel system.  Examples are the brass float and needle in an aluminum carburetor.  These engines were designed in the 30s and 40s and derivatives of many of these designs are produced even today.  Some things are slow to change in the aviation world because the FAA maintenance standards allow the technology to last almost forever.  Cars, especially older cars have similar mechanical designs, and you will note the cars must be specially designed to be FLEX fuel vehicles when the use the 85% alcohol blends.  So alchohol at least at some level, CAN cause problems. 

Joe Fulton
Salinas, CA 

--- On Sat, 11/14/09, Matt Haas <mhaas@xxxxxxx> wrote:

> From: Matt Haas <mhaas@xxxxxxx>
> Subject: Re: [AMC-list] BBD Carb Issues
> To: "AMC, Rambler, Nash, Jeep and family" <amc-list@xxxxxxxxxxxx>
> Date: Saturday, November 14, 2009, 8:56 AM
> How is decades of crap in the gas
> tank the fault of the fuel? We've had 10% ethanol in the gas
> in Ohio for over 30 years. There was a lot of panic when it
> first came out but it didn't prove to be a problem at all.
> The only time you will have problems with it is with natural
> rubber parts in the fuel system. AMC wasn't even around when
> those parts were being made so it should be a non-issue.
> 
> Matt
> 
> On 11/13/2009 10:47 AM, Jim Blair spouted this sage
> advice:
> > Fuel has been progressively getting worse as more
> states are putting alcohol in (and increasing the quantity.
> They are allowing up to 20% here for "winter" fuel) That is
> stirring up the crud in the tank and pushing it forward. The
> only real defense is additives that counteract the alcohol
> damage (just think what it's doing to your poor car's
> liver.... uh carb!) AND a super quality filter before the
> fuel pump. 
> > Jim Blair, Lynnwood, WA '87 Comanche, '83 Jeep J10,
> '84 Jeep J10
> > From: tom jennings <tomj@xxxxxxx>
> > To: "AMC, Rambler, Nash, Jeep and family" <amc-list@xxxxxxxxxxxx>
> > Subject: Re: [AMC-list] BBD Carb Issues
> > Message-ID:
> >     <c81e13650911122104s2b774952rd93a8c9ac8c2370e@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
> > Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1"
> >  I'm skeptical about problems with the gasoline
> itself, in any car that's run
> > regularly enough to go through a tank every month or
> so. There's zillions of
> > cars on the road without fuel problems.
> >  My guess is that is crap in the tank. There's no
> reason to believe that you
> > can ignore a gas tank for 20, 30, 40 years and not
> expect problems. Water,
> > rust, leaves, bugs, crud, ... soaking in a nasty
> strong solvent (gasoline)
> > and run through a hot carburetor for 20+ years, yeah
> there's gonna be crap
> > in there.
> > 
> >     
>         
>           
>  
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> 
> -- mhaas@xxxxxxx
> Cincinnati, OH
> http://www.mattsoldcars.com
> 1967 Rambler American wagon
> 1968 Rambler American sedan
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