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Ethanol Testing Kits

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Alan Carter

Joined: 02 Jul 2012
Posts: 378
Location: Kent, England.

Posted: Fri Dec 14, 2012 7:53 am Post subject: Ethanol Testing Kits

Hi All.

Has anyone use an Ethanol testing kit, some are just a tube with water added to it, and others have a blue die added as well,

Do they work, as i plan to get one, has anybody tested Super Plus for ethanol.

I ask because a friend said he,s finding ethanol in fuel from the local garages. 



Regards

Alan

bill mcclellan

Joined: 28 Jan 2010
Posts: 43

Posted: Fri Dec 14, 2012 8:32 am Post subject: Ethanol Testing Kits

Alan,

There isn't much need to buy an expensive ethanol testing method.  Just put a little water in a clear container (with a top) up to a line on the container.  Add the fuel you want to check for ethanol and shake.  The alcohol will dissolve into the water and will be shown by an increase in water above the previous water line.   You can even determine the amount (percentage) of alcohol in the fuel with a ratio calculation knowing how much fuel you added and how much the volume of water was increased.

Bill

--

stranfaer(at)btinternet.c
Guest

Posted: Fri Dec 14, 2012 10:22 am Post subject: Ethanol Testing Kits

Take a look at this to see Bills method as a video!

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RbDAw4a6Ck0

 

we used to pour gallons by the thousand over the side in my formative years working offshore, or was it methanol? 

rgds

David The other one



 

Sent to you from David Joyce

www.eastmidsspas.com



      

  From: William McClellan <wilwood(at)earthlink.net>

 To: europa-list(at)matronics.com 

 Sent: Friday, 14 December 2012, 16:32

 Subject: Re: Ethanol Testing Kits

  

 

--> Europa-List message posted by: William McClellan <wilwood(at)earthlink.net (wilwood(at)earthlink.net)>



Alan,

There isn't much need to buy an expensive ethanol testing method.  Just put a little water in a clear container (with a top) up to a line on the container.  Add the fuel you want to check for ethanol  and shake.  The alcohol will dissolve into the water and will be shown by an increase in water above the previous water line.   You can even determine the amount (percentage) of alcohol in the fuel with a ratio calculation knowing how much fuel you added and how much the volume of water was increased.

Bill

--

Alan Carter

Joined: 02 Jul 2012
Posts: 378
Location: Kent, England.

Posted: Fri Dec 14, 2012 10:36 am Post subject: Re: Ethanol Testing Kits

Hi Bill.

I will do just that, let you know if i find any.

But as anybody else found ethanol.

Any Comments on Super Plus, Approved by Rotax but not by thr CAA or LAA

Basically i know nothing about vapour locks., but the fuel is used in car engines and that can be from Sea level to say 1200 Ft, and at altitudes of say 2000ft i would not think the  pressure would have any effect,

As far as i know its the fuel turning into vapour in the fuel line above the engine due to the surrounding hot air, In the Winter the temperatures are say +5 to -5 at these levels , so the chance of this occurring would be small. This is just my thoughts there may not be correct. 

Does anybody have some comments on this.



Alan 

,

Alan Carter

Joined: 02 Jul 2012
Posts: 378
Location: Kent, England.

Posted: Fri Dec 14, 2012 11:04 am Post subject: Re: Ethanol Testing Kits

David.

Watch the video ,the last comment say it all.

The gas station have no idea what's in there tanks, I went to a garage today and asked for information on the fuel in the tanks, they had no idea of what i was talking about,

I am going to do the test each time in future, I have the 5 minutes and as i said another pilot was finding ethanol in his fuel.



Alan

Roland

Joined: 30 Nov 2009
Posts: 334
Location: EDLE

Posted: Fri Dec 14, 2012 11:46 am Post subject: Re: Ethanol Testing Kits

Alan,



in Germany we have the fuel standardized as follows: the premium has a maximum of 5 percent Ethanol, the premium E10 -you'll guess it- 10 percent. 



They've tested it several times and found out, that you can rely on that. I expected it to be the same in the UK.



The 98 octane fuel has also a maximum of 5 percent ethanol. 



I refuel at a well frequented Shell fuel station on my way home (I transport my Europa in a trailer) with premium 95 octane. No problems so far.



Roland

XS Trigear 914

Alan Carter

Joined: 02 Jul 2012
Posts: 378
Location: Kent, England.

Posted: Fri Dec 14, 2012 12:36 pm Post subject: Re: Ethanol Testing Kits

Hi Roland.

Sorry but in the UK it could be 10% orange juice , that's why i am going to test my fuel.

Ethanol is not good , Why don,t you use the 5% ethanol fuel, may be a bit more money but still cheaper than Avgas.

I too have a little trailer i tow with my tools and fuel in.



Sorry Roland , i see you transport you Europa by trailer, i use small trialer for fuel, maybe the 98 will be better , do you have any problem in cold starting



Alan

Roland

Joined: 30 Nov 2009
Posts: 334
Location: EDLE

Posted: Fri Dec 14, 2012 12:54 pm Post subject: Re: Ethanol Testing Kits

Hi Alan,



the 95 octane premium (not the so called "E 10") has a maximum of 5 percent Ethanol in Germany. I would even use the 98 octane although it's more expensive when I could expect any (measurable) advantages over the 95 octane fuel (the same applies for the AVGAS). 



In any case unleaded is the preferable fuel for the Rotax (even the E 10 can be used - disregarding the other not suitable components).



And I have no problems with cold starts (tried down to -8Â°C without preheating).



Roland

XS Trigear 914

Alan Carter

Joined: 02 Jul 2012
Posts: 378
Location: Kent, England.

Posted: Fri Dec 14, 2012 1:24 pm Post subject: Re: Ethanol Testing Kits

Hi Roland.

i am having a lot of kick back on starting, due you have a new engine later than 2000 , the later engines have 6 pins on the ignition system and incorporate dual soft starts modules and the timing below 800 rpms is 3% after TDC as opposed to the older engines of 4% Before TDC.



Alan

Roland

Joined: 30 Nov 2009
Posts: 334
Location: EDLE

Posted: Fri Dec 14, 2012 1:46 pm Post subject: Re: Ethanol Testing Kits

Alan,



I have an older engine from before 2000 (the second used one due to an overboost).



Neither I had any cold starting problems with the previous engine (the -8Â°C start I was referring to was with that engine) nor with the new engine around 0 Â°C.



Both engines from before 2000 and always with premium 95 octane.



Good luck in troubleshooting.



Roland

XS Trigear 914

goff

Joined: 18 Jan 2007
Posts: 71

Posted: Sat Dec 15, 2012 8:35 am Post subject: Re: Ethanol Testing Kits

Hello all,



1. Regular unleaded UK Mogas blended to EN228 is approved for only the 912, not the 912S or the 914. Also this fuel is likely to be diluted with ethanol, which the CAA forbids.

 

2. Super unleaded Mogas is approved for the 912S, but only if blended to EN228. But all UK super unleaded Mogas is blended to BS7800, and this is not approved by the CAA or LAA.



So we can't use any Mogas in the UK. (We could of course but it would invalidate our insurance in the event of a related problem).

 

3. 100LL Avgas is approved for the 912S, but we need to limit this to avoid lead build up.



4. UL91 Avgas is approved for the 912S and is the ideal fuel.



Sources: 



Rotax Bulletin dated 31/8/2011



LAA Aviation April 2012 - Safety Spot.



Goff

G-CHOX

brian.davies(at)clara.co.
Guest

Posted: Sat Dec 15, 2012 12:32 pm Post subject: Ethanol Testing Kits

Regular Mogas in the UK is RON95 which is approved for 912S and 914.  It is

listed as "Super" in the Rotax table.  UK Super is the equivalent of "Super

Plus" in the Rotax table but is RON97, blended to BS7800, as you say. 



Wouldn't it be simpler if we all used the same fuel specs!



Regards



Brian Davies



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