AVGAS and Rotax

[DougKspokane]

On my way home today (I was driving, darn it), I passed a little airstrip off I-90 out near the Montana/Idaho border, and I got thinking:
-- What happens when your flying cross-country and need fuel?
-- How easy is it to buy from those little independent fields?
-- Is AVGAS ok to use in a Rotax 447 or similar engine?
-- Does it shorten the life or cause overheating?

I *KNOW* that my little wife is NOT about to follow me around and have a couple of Jerry Cans of Unleaded in her trunk! :P So - when I get to that point - I think that I had better have a plan.

Thoughts?

Doug Kaer

[GyroRon]

Won't hurt it at all to run a little Av gas in the Rotax from time to time. It wouldn't be good to use Av gas only - instead of car gas - because the lead in the av gas will dirty up the pistons and rings. but if your out flying Cross country and need gas, filling up with av gas won't hurt the engine - it may hurt your wallet as Av gas is typically over 3$ a gallon.

it isn't hard to buy gas from the smaller airports, but you need to do some homework before you take off and land there low on fuel. Most small airports will only have fuel for sale during business hours. Some do have 24 hour self serve pumps that you can use your credit card with, but many just have a truck or pump that you would need a key for, and they don't just give out keys to anyone. Best thing is to get a AOPA airport directory and look up all the airports within your flight path and get their phine numbers and call to confirm they will be there to sell you gas. Find out who has gas and what their hours are and plan your flight around that info so you will have fuel if you need it.

[GyroRon]

Oh yeah, make darn sure you have a extra quart or two of two stroke oil strapped somewhere on the gyro or in your coat pocket. Chances are slim to none that you will find two stroke oil for sale at a Regular small - or large - airport.

[Echo]

$3 a gallon for Avgas....... I pay over $4 for Diesel here in Oz. Avgas is about $1.26/litre........$5 a gallon!
Eric

[barnstorm2]

This is great news. :D

I thought you could not use AVGas in a Rotax 447. I was planning on bothing my friends into meeting me at airports with cans of gas for x-country flights.

[GyroRon]

Just don't make a habit out of using Av gas. Check your rings for carbon build up more often if you do a lot of Av gas too.

Av gas is still gas. It is a better gas in many ways and It is much cleaner. It wouldn't hurt to always use Av gas except for the lead that is in it. The lead will build up in the pistons ring groves and on the piston and basically everywhere you are already going to have carbon build up. you don't want to add more yuck in your engine by only using Av gas, But like I said if your out and need fuel, filling the tank with Av gas is perfectly fine.

I burn 87 octane in my Rotax as much or more than the prefered 93. It makes no difference - the Egt and Cht is same with either fuel - and it is cheaper.