110 Octane av-gas

I was speaking to a guy who has a small plane and the topic of fuels came up.

He said that his plane runs on low-octane gas, but 110 octane is easily available at the local air port.

But he warned that it is leaded fuel, so he thought that might clog something up in my motor. Personally I wouldn't be too concerned about that (should I be?) but it sounds like this might be a very convenient source of high-octane gas.

Since I am rebuilding my motor right now, having easy access to high octane gas might affect a few of my rebuilding decisions... compression and timing.

Is anyone here familiar with av gas? I'm hoping someone can tell me what I should find out about this fuel to determine if it is worth pursuing . . . ? ?
 

Crab

thanks darin...noswad!
Location
Seattle
I was speaking to a guy who has a small plane and the topic of fuels came up.

He said that his plane runs on low-octane gas, but 110 octane is easily available at the local air port.

But he warned that it is leaded fuel, so he thought that might clog something up in my motor. Personally I wouldn't be too concerned about that (should I be?) but it sounds like this might be a very convenient source of high-octane gas.

Since I am rebuilding my motor right now, having easy access to high octane gas might affect a few of my rebuilding decisions... compression and timing.

Is anyone here familiar with av gas? I'm hoping someone can tell me what I should find out about this fuel to determine if it is worth pursuing . . . ? ?
I believe 110LL is usually mixed at 20% to get good results if you need it.
 

DAG

Yes, my balls tickled from that landing
Location
Charlotte, NC
110LL AV gas is not the same as 110 octane fuel.

i ran 110LL last season for awile and it just was not worth it for me.
 
The GroupK article seems to indicate that it would be pointless to run more aggressive compression / timing with avgas (or adding octane booster) because these fuels yield less power.

http://groupk.com/tec-gas96.htm

With the number of people I see on these PWC boards making compression and timing mods, I find it hard to believe they are all running race fuel. AND the folks that are simply running octane-boosted pump gas have wasted their time on compression/timing changes?

I hope I have misread the article. Can someone set me straight here.
 
avgas is different from a combustion standpoint.slower reving motor,high altitude,cooler air and low compression.
does not work like 100 race gas.
does help a little if mixed with premium preferably at 20 to 40%.
what does a gallon go for now?
 
In my area avgas costs the same as pump gas, $6 per gallon.

(Yeah its a ridiculous price for gas up here in Canada. Gotta love socialism. Be careful of who you guys elect in November.)
 
I believe 110LL is usually mixed at 20% to get good results if you need it.

110LL AV gas is not the same as 110 octane fuel.

i ran 110LL last season for awile and it just was not worth it for me.

He said that his plane runs on low-octane gas, but 110 octane is easily available at the local air port.

Just to go ahead and clarify avgas is 100 octane low lead fuel(100LL) not 110 octane fuel. I'm sure you already figured that out by some of the replies, but I figured I would clear it up anyways.
 

OCD Solutions

Original, Clean and Dependable Solutions
Location
Rentz, GA
I originally started using it because it is a good way to bump octane rating, it acts as a fuel stabilizer, it keeps the engine clean, and most importantly, i could get a couple barrels a year for free. Our local bulk plant had a contract with remote airstrips to rotate fresh fuel into stockpiles, we would help dispose of "outdated" fuel.

I have heard that the octane rating is derived differently and actually only on par with regular fuel. I've been running it mixed 50:50 with reg 87 octane now in all my higher compression 2-stroke engines for over 6 yrs now with no problems whatsoever.

It is also worth mentioning that 100LL is considered a "Marine Pollutant" and is clearly labelled as such on all my drums. Just some food for thought for all us eco-friendly 2 strokers. ;) Why give the environmentalists another reason to hate?
 
In light of Group K's article that says that avgas and octane-boosted gas produces less power, would it make sense to only use it on an engine that really, really needs it.

I didn't explain that very well...

In other words...

According to Group K, a stock motor running avgas/octane-boosted gas will produce less power than the same stock motor running premium pump gas. So therefore, if you are going to do any mods that require better gas (compression, timing) you might as well make the mods very significant because you are starting less-than-stock power the moment you gas up.


If that didn't make sense, just ignore it.... :)
 

crammit442

makin' legs
Location
here
FWIW, a motor with compression/timing to need high octane fuel will run better on AVgas than it will with lower comp/timing and pump gas. AVgas will never let the motor make the power it could on a good race fuel. In the old days(and still today) people assumed the only consideration for a race fuel is octane number. With some of the cheaper off brand race fuels that may be the case, but these days, good race fuel is actually a performance enhancing part of a complete motor package. Getting exactly the right fuel can add substantial power to a package.
 

Don 79 TA

Still Fat....
i have always ran race gas in my setup.
Sunnoco 112 Blue at first, then Sunnoco 110 Purple
i just do it instead of taking the risk of damage to the motor with my weight and riding style.

i have not had any problems, and since moving to Yuma, i was getting Purple for 5.75/gal
that is AWESOME, This is like race gas heaven here, although as of last week it went to 6.75/gal

I ran 100 octane sunnoco gas in my limited 701, then also used blue av gas 100ll
didn't seem to have an issue

I have heard from different chemical engineers about the cons to using av gas at low altitude. I have heard people have had problems, and yet there are people without problems

the reason i also like race gas is for the lead, yeah i know it's really bad, but i am a believer in that old theory that it helps lubricate too (and i know it was lubricating the exhaust valves in the older type of motors)
hasn't hurt me running other than the cost, but once you are in that high power range, why take a chance
 

95FX1

brrrrraaaaaappppppp
There is a gas station near me that just started to carry 110 leaded at the pump....
so can that gas help my ski have better performance?

Its not AVgas...as the TUNER cars all hopped up in my area use that gas only.....so its race gas....correct?

mixed like 1 gallon of it to 4 gallon of 93???
 
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GIL

Power In The Hands Of Few
Location
Cullman AL
I have a buddy that is a race car/street car tuner that likes av gas for consistency more than anything-he :):):):)'s car everyday for a living and 'claims' 100LL stays real consistant.
 
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