I don't know how many of you guys get it, but I'm signed on to get a weekly AOPA e-newsletter. Today's had an article about the search for a viable alternative to 100LL. I shot an email off to AOPA saying that such a thing already exists for a lot of us, it's called ethanol-free car gas, and I asked them why they haven't stepped up to the plate & lobbied to prohibit ethanol blending of premium car gas so that we can continue to use it.
Maybe if a bunch of us did the same thing, they'd get off their duffs & make something happen. I used a "send feedback" link at the bottom of the newsletter, the address it goes to is [email protected] . Be sure and include your membership number (if applicable) and your name.

Slainte wrote:> ...
I read an interesting article a few weeks back. It said that there are something like 280 million gallons of 100 LL produced a year. I'm thinking hey, they wouldn't blow us off with that kind of number. Then I read US fuel consumption for cars is 300 million gallons A DAY! Oops, we could be in trouble.

Actually your 100LL production stat is wildly optimistic. According to DOE/EIA stats that you can find on the internet, it appears that 100LL production this year might make it to 200 million gallons, but it is declining by about 7.5 million gallons / yr. on average. Has been for the last 8 years or so. And yes mogas consumption is on the high side of 300 million gallons / day.

There are other serious problems with 100LL production. Only one company makes TEL and it isn't in the U.S. and its demand declines every year and by 2012 will probably go into precipitous decline as third world countries finish their refinery conversions to unleaded auto gas and diesel. Less than 10 refineries in the U.S. make 100LL, one more will cease making the product by the end of this year. Pilots need to realize that the bean counters could triumph and convince management that it isn't worth it to make a leaded gasoline product anymore. There isn't much business sense in making a product whose demand ONLY declines.

how exactly would I know that? It's an A1A. 180hp

There isn't much business sense in making a product whose demand ONLY declines.

I would think when and if the economy improves the use of 100LL would go up.

Slainte wrote:how exactly would I know that? It's an A1A. 180hp

Found the engine specs online-- 85.:1 compression ratio.
www.aerosportpower.com (home of "bart" engines) has a pretty good online reference library with specs, OH manuals, etc.

Throttle Pusher wrote:I would think when and if the economy improves the use of 100LL would go up.

The average decline is over at least the last 8 years, long before the economy tanked. There are a couple of reasons. We are constantly told that 30% of GA uses 70% of the avgas. This statistic has no basis in fact. Nobody can point out where it comes from. It has been around since at least the early part of the decade. But just assume it is mostly true. That means as the large bore commercial aircraft that need and use 70% of the 100LL, mostly in Part 135 operations, decline mainly because they either go out of business in this lousy economy or upgrade their equipment to more efficient turbine aircraft, the decline in 100LL demand decreases rapidly. It is probably accelerating now because it is clear that the future of 100LL is uncertain and you are going to have to gamble that a 100 octane replacement will be found in time and will be affordable. If I was a commercial operator, I wouldn't bet on it when turbine is a sure bet. Clearly the other side of GA, those of us who have to pay our own bills, is declining too. And just about all of us could be using mogas and a lot of us were. All of the new LSA aircraft and most homebuilts don't need 100LL. The only question is, who will kill 100LL, the EPA (probably not), Innospec (good chance after 2012) or the gasoline producers (good liklihood if the bean counters have their way).

I was getting gas yesterday at the station I have been using and there were the dreaded ethanol stickers on the pumps now. I asked the kid working there if it had ethanol and he told me all the deliveries after the 1st will have Ethanol. I just got a couple of gallons and checked it today. It was still OK so I am filling everything up before the holidays.

On my 97 Chev truck, the "Check Engine" light comes on when I use Ethanol and I lose about 2 MPG. When I fill up with straight gas the light goes off. That's not going to be good when it comes time to emissions it. I hope the station I used before is still selling it.

I read that the owners are switching because of a tax credit they get for selling the ethanol. I also read that all stations would be switching by the end of the year. That's just great that the Government is paying people to make my Truck run worse and get lousy mileage. You guys better check your gas. This sucks!!!!

Sniff around, there may be a hold-out or two around somewhere. All but one of the few remaining E-zero sources around here went E-10 last August. I have one last local source of E-zero premium. I'm hoping they can hang in there.
I was hoping the legislature would wake up & let the ethanol tax credits/blending credits/ other subsidies expire, but it looks like they're gonna be renewed as part of "the bush-era tax breaks". I wrote all 3 of my federal legislators about this earlier this month but no response yet. I'm sure it won't do any good but we all gotta do what we can.