Ethanol in mogas for airplanes is not allowed under any circumstance under the nearly all STCs in aircraft for those unaware.
It would seem that this change was federally mandated yet it appeared through my research at the time that no one knew about it. At least no person or organization in my circle of aviation was talking about it.
I brought up the subject here to see what others around the country in the 170 world knew about it. And hopefully relieve some of my frustration.
Well yesterday (Monday) I happened upon the federal bill or mandate that made this happen and along with a conversation with a representative of the EAA auto fuel department who made the bill understandable. So I think I have a handle on it.
Here is what happened and why some of you are scratching your heads saying "we don't have ethanol in our gas what the heck is Bruce talking about".
In simple terms it is the Clean Air Bill passed in the 1990 or there about that mandates oxygenated fuel be used in some areas of the country in order to reduce pollution. If you live in one of these areas, which is quite small when the entire US is considered **, you will recall that we have a winter blended gas and a summer blended gas. This is actually called Reformulated Gas. It has been around so many years that we probably have forgotten all about it.
**(see this link for the areas required to use reformulated gas. http://www.epa.gov/otaq/rfg/whereyoulive.htm)
There are several kinds of oxygenaters but the 2 that are at all practical and available are MTBE and Ethanol (alcohol). MTBE because of many issues with alcohol was the chemical of choice.
Here is the problem. MTBE has been linked with water contamination. So for some time know the EPA backed by congress has mandated (in very small print it seems) that at the winter to summer gas change over (May 1 to May 5th) MTBE would not longer be expectable as oxygenater in the fuel for these special areas of the country. This only left the oil companies with ethanol as an oxygenater. This law was probably enacted several years ago and was just sitting there ticking like a time bomb silently out of the public eye TILL NOW.
So where do we stand. Well as it turns out ethanol when burned in car gas has less BTUs and so we get poorer gas mileage meaning you will have to burn more fuel to go the same distance. More burned full means more air pollution. Ethanol also burns dirtier that gas with out it so the pollution is even more. Because of the added pollution the states of California, New York and Connecticut so far have gotten a waiver and will not be using ethanol. I’m not sure whether they will continue to use MTBE or just not oxygenate the fuel at all. All states have this option but have not exercised it yet to my knowledge.
The EAA rep told me that the EAA and the AOPA because of the way this went into effect, not being in the public eye till it happened, were caught a little off guard. He said they are formulating a joint response which will become public shortly, and will probably ask for a blanket waiver which offers some sort of compromise along the lines that had been propose in the individual states Like Washington and Wisconsin that had considered mandatory ethanol separate to the Clean Air Act.
That waiver being that premium fuel be exempt from the inclusion of an oxygenater requirement (the addition of ethanol) or the continued use of MTBE be allowed in those areas covered by the Clean Air Act. At least until a more suitable oxygenater than ethanol can be found.
This would give those of us stuck well inside these areas at least a source of ethanol free fuel for not only our airplanes but our lawn mowers, boats, snowmobiles antique cars and all sorts of various tools and toys that have engines that will be damaged by ethanol.
The EAA rep also said that the EAA will be reviewing the possibility of getting a change to their STCs to allow some ethanol but wouldn’t elaborate further.
So for now if I want to run mogas in my 170, I have to drive an additional 10 miles past the airport from my house. This will take me into the next county that isn’t required to oxygenate their fuel in hopes to fill up my 33 gallon tank in the back of my pickup with ethanol free fuel and haul it back to the airport.
I think I need to double the size of the my 33 gallon tank.
NOTE: I do not profess to be an expert in the Clean Air Act, fuel additives such as MTBE or Ethanol, so the above information is offered as I, a laymen, understands it. Corrections are very welcome.
