Anybody using E-85 or AGE-85 in their RV

lancef53 · Post by **lancef53** » Tue May 22, 2007 6:59 am

Hi, I am new to the forum and am getting close to taking the plunge and starting an 8. I am interested in info on ethanol as a fuel source, and wondering if anybody has much experience with it. What special things need to be done to the airframe to use ethanol?

Thanks for the info, this is a very cool site. I think it might be an expensive one, though!

Lance

JohnR · Post by **JohnR** » Tue May 22, 2007 7:25 am

Welcome to RB! There was a team of RV aviators out of the Dakotas that flew Ethanol powered RV's so it can be done. I don't have a link but maybe someone else will.

Your right about one thing, hanging around here can cost you some time and money.

ptrotter · Post by **ptrotter** » Tue May 22, 2007 8:53 am

Lance,

Although I am sure that it is possible to use ethanol in an airplane under the right conditions, I would be very careful as there are a number of issues using ethanol in a normal airplane engine. First you need to ensure that any rubber components such as o-rings are the proper material. Ethanol will cause the standard buna o-rings to swell which could cause a problem. Another, possibly significant problem, is that enthanol is hydroscopic, that is, it absorbs water and that water would not be drained out of your tank drain. It is possible that at cold temperatures that water could freeze out of the ethanol and block a fuel line. Most people who run auto gas in their engines try to find gas that does not have ethanol added for these reasons.

Now if you do go this way and want to make your own ethanol, I'd be happy to sell you the corn

Good luck on your project.

Post by **Spike** » Tue May 22, 2007 2:32 pm

Welcome

captain_john · Post by **captain_john** » Tue May 22, 2007 2:56 pm

I don't like any E-fuels.

It raises the cost of Captain Morgan's!

CJ

lancef53 · Post by **lancef53** » Tue May 22, 2007 9:21 pm

Thanks for the replies, I know I saw 4 RV-3's painted up and promoting ethanol a couple of years ago, but I can't remember where, or who they were with. I think they would be a good place to start, now to find them again!!!!

The AGE85 website (www.age85.org) has some neat info, but I would like a little more info than they list, and when I tried to get some info a couple of years ago, they were kinda tight-lipped.

Thanks, Lance

jim_geo · Post by **jim_geo** » Tue May 22, 2007 10:42 pm

Contact the University of South Dakota. They have several planes, RV4's I believe, that are running straight Ethanol.

Oh not straight Ethanol the distiller adds 15% Isopentane to denature it.

BrickPilot · Post by **BrickPilot** » Wed May 23, 2007 11:06 am

I think it's the "Vanguard Squadron" that has ethanol-powered RV-4's, if I'm not mistaken.

Bob Barrett · Post by **Bob Barrett** » Wed May 23, 2007 9:09 pm

The Vangard Squadron which I believe is located at Sioux Falls, S.D. uses RV-3's and have been experimenting for a number of years with various ethanol programs. These airplane I believe have beens especailly rigged to use ethanol. I have talked with some people from the Squadron and they were enthused however I have also heard that some planes have experienced problems. Check carefully and be sure that your systems can tolerate ethanol. I have an 0-320 160HP Lycoming in my project and I have flown that engine in a Rental 172 on pure 92 octane unleaded gas with no adverse affects. I am planning to attempt to get it rated to use 92 octane in the left tank for crusie flight and keep 100-low lead in the right tank for take-offs and landings. I won't put ethanol in my project.

lancef53 · Post by **lancef53** » Wed May 23, 2007 10:29 pm

Thanks for the lead, the site was www.ethanolairshows.com, I emailed them for some more info.

This site is great!!!!

RivetBangers.com

Anybody using E-85 or AGE-85 in their RV

Anybody using E-85 or AGE-85 in their RV

Ethanol Powered RV's