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ethanol in motor gas

in 912 / 914 Technical Questions 9 years ago
If your in an area where you can only get 93 octane motor gas that contains up to 10 percent enthanol can it be used in a Rotax 912 ul Engine?

  • Re: ethanol in motor gas

    by » 9 years ago

    Hi Jim,

    The ethanol in the Rotax 912 is okay. Just make sure it is okay with your fuel tanks. The auto fuel with ethanol for many of us is the only fuel we can get and many have been using it for 15+ years. Ethanol fuel is better than 100LL any day.

    Roger Lee
    LSRM-A & Rotax Instructor & Rotax IRC
    Tucson, AZ Ryan Airfield (KRYN)
    520-349-7056 Cell

      
    Report

  • Re: ethanol in motor gas

    by » 9 years ago

    Hi Roger,
    will the ethanol/gas mixture still be better than AVGAS with 25% ethanol?
      
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  • Re: ethanol in motor gas

    by » 9 years ago

    Hi Marco,

    Wow, 25% ethanol is quite a bit. I personally have not run an engine at this level, but have heard of many from the Latin American countries without any issues. Do you live in Central or South America? I really don't like 100LL so if your fuel tanks are good with it and you have the proper fuel hoses then it should be okay. I had heard third hand that a service center pulled a couple engines apart that had 1400 hrs. on them with 23% and there weren't any issues.
    Don't you have anyone around where you live that is using this already?

    I will have to admit I'm a little out of my league here with super high ethanol fuels.


    Maybe Rob or one of the other guys here has some real time facts for us.

    Roger Lee
    LSRM-A & Rotax Instructor & Rotax IRC
    Tucson, AZ Ryan Airfield (KRYN)
    520-349-7056 Cell

      
    Report

  • Re: ethanol in motor gas

    by » 9 years ago

    Hi Roger,
    I live in Brazil and no automotive fuel is available with less ethanol, the best there is has 95 octanes with 25% ethanol, some persons here say that it is better than leaded AVGAS for use with ROTAX, others say that AVGAS is safer due to possible contamination or adulteration by tha gas stations. Another option would be to mix 50/50 the automotive and the AVGAS, reducing to 12.5% the mixture, would that do any good for the engine? I also saw some article here atributing degradation of rubber parts in the carb and fuel pump to the use of ethanol. My engine is a 15 year old 912UL with less than 200 hours, that is fitted on a LAMBADA motorglider, and was submited to a 600 hour overhaul in a service center. After that it worked about 5 hours on AVGAS, so it still should be clean inside without significant carbon deposits.

    Thank you,
    Marco
      
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  • Re: ethanol in motor gas

    by » 9 years ago

    Hi Marco,


    I take it this engine up til now has used 100LL?

    You're in a tough spot for a decision.
    Many here in the US use auto fuel with up to 10% ethanol. I know there are Rotax owners down your way that just use auto fuel with high ethanol. Blending (100ll + auto fuel) would work well too and would cut down on both lead and ethanol. When using 100LL I would personally recommend a lead scavenger like Decalin. It helps keep the lead build up from the engine. You only use 1/2 oz. per 10 gals. (15ml per 40 liters) Having an older engine may lend itself to the ethanol degrading the "O" rings sooner, but I couldn't give you any definite facts on that. Replacement of the carb "O" rings is fairly cheap and easy and you should get a few years of service. Only an inspection during an annual would be more factual. Avgas is supposed to be better controlled for contamination, but with a huge number of owners worldwide using auto fuel I don't think it's a big problem, but it has happened. I have been using auto fuel in my Rotax engines from the beginning without any issues. I do have to use 100LL when I travel and always use Decalin as many others do.


    Unless someone has better info on the use of 25% ethanol maybe in this case 100LL would be a better choice?


    Rob, Conrad or Mark any thoughts or anyone else with experience with high ethanol fuel?

    Roger Lee
    LSRM-A & Rotax Instructor & Rotax IRC
    Tucson, AZ Ryan Airfield (KRYN)
    520-349-7056 Cell

      
    Report
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