Is Aviation Fuel OK to use?


I've found 100 Octane fuel available up at the local airport, and it's much less than the race fuel you can purchase at the track.

But, I was told that it is 'slightly' leaded...

Is there really such a thing? I've got to use 100 Octane un-leaded and I don't know if this stuff is OK to use.

Can anybody tell me?

Thanks,

Jason

 

Leaded fuel is fine so long as you have no cats.

 

Jason,

Aren't you running a 951 with a test pipe?

If the fuel is 100LL (low lead for aviation) it has more lead than the most leaded automotive fuel ever had. Your car was not built to run on leaded fuel, and it will leave deposits if you use too much. That being said Tetraethyllead is a great octane booster.

I did a research project for my masters on alternative aviation fuels as the ones we are using today are still rather toxic/nasty...

 

I'm pretty sure the vapor pressure on 100LL avgas is not correct for auto use

 

LL Avgas is widely used in race cars. BUT, Low Lead in terms of aviation fuel is very high lead for cars. Fine if your car normally uses one of the leaded race fuels, but this will kill O2 sensors and cats very quickly. So if you really need unleaded, don't go near this stuff.

 

I used to run 100LL (low lead) in my plane, which was designed to run on 80 octane. I'd get the occasional lead fouled plug. As said above, "low lead" still has alot of lead!

 

JJ:
SundayDriver is right. This fuel WILL NOT work in your car.

The lead content is very high, the flame travel rate (I think that is the term) is wrong for auto engines, and the additives are different.

I tried this fuel several years ago, at a race where we couldn't get race fuel.
This was with an RSR. Tried several different mixes: straight, mixed with leaded premium, mixed with unleaded premium, etc, etc.
The engine just felt flat, the cylinder head temp was about 20-40 degrees higher, it kept lead-fouling plugs. There were several other cars that were forced to try it, but nobody could make their cars run right.

I wouldn't waste my time with it.

 

The distillation rate of the fuel is designed and optimized for an engine operating at a constant RPM. It is not designed for wide RPM ranges or fast RPM changes and you'll notice a slower throttle response.

 

Aviation motor = constant speed, low RPM motorthat will run at a variety of atmospheric pressures (most of which are NEVER possible in a car, unless you're running Pike's Peak).

Ignoring the 'lead' issue, the gas is all wrong for cars. Talk to the knowledgable fuel engineers and they'll tell you to steer clear.

I ran it 15-20 years ago, when I thought I was 'smart'. I'm a lot dumber now.

 

Go to www.howstuffworks.com and do a search on 100LL - read what (from memory) I believe is a white paper by 76/Unocal...100LL is a VERY low grade fuel for automobiles, it uses cheap and readily available additives to boost octane levels...not advised for racecars, street cars, etc.

While you're there, read up on how octane levels are rated with explanations of RON/MON and how it's certified, etc.

Also, as others have stated, the "LL" (low lead) for Aviation fuel is considerably higher than the highest level of lead in leaded fuels for highway use.

 

FYI: http://www.idavette.net/hib/fuel/page2.htm

 

Thank-you Professor.