Most small general aviation airports have self serve 100 octane low lead aviation fuel available 24 hours per day. The 100 octane sounds great but I think it is measured differently so that doesn't mean it is 13 octane points higher than regular auto gas. In fact my plane would prefer 87 auto gas to the 100 low lead because it doesn't have the lead in it and is otherwise similar - except for the possibility of getting alcohol in it. Anyway, back to the self serve pumps. If you want to get aviation fuel that way you will just need to pretend you are a plane. The pump will ask you if you grounded the plane and then you swipe your card. It may ask if you want 100 low lead or jet fuel (kerosene, essentially) and whether you want a set amount or fill up. Turn on the pump, pump the gas, turn off the pump, get your receipt. That's about it. I do it all the time in my plane at small airports all over the place. The security at more urban airports may make it harder to drive to the pumps. David Grah Bishop California
I would like to add to the av-gas comments. I would really avoid using so-called 100 LL. We have forgotten the problems created by lead in the fuel and our little engines are not designed for it. Granted most of us don't burn enough to matter, but lead deposits can gum the rings in all and foul the oil in your 4-stroke in a hurry. To say nothing of the plug. Try and stay with 87 octane "auto-gas". If I was looking to buy fuel at an airport I would start at Airnav. A little weird to find your way around at first. Find an airport, then scroll down to see what fuel is available. Should also give hours attended and other info to save you a wasted trip. The pertinent links: http://pure-gasoline.com/ http://airnav.com/ Just remember.....buy your gas and leave. If you start hanging around at the picnic table watching planes you could end up with a whole new addiction. Mike (recovering)
David, thanks for the reply. Are you concerned that unknown amounts of Ethanol could degrade some of the synthetic fuel-carrying lines ? I was of the understanding that all aviation fuel had ZERO Ethanol in it due to life and death engine health. Thanks again.....Larry Hughston in Sacramento. -----Original Message----- From: montgomery_boats-bounces@mailman.xmission.com [mailto:montgomery_boats-bounces@mailman.xmission.com] On Behalf Of David Grah Sent: Wednesday, April 23, 2014 6:27 PM To: montgomery_boats@mailman.xmission.com Subject: M_Boats: Buying Aviation Fuel Most small general aviation airports have self serve 100 octane low lead aviation fuel available 24 hours per day. The 100 octane sounds great but I think it is measured differently so that doesn't mean it is 13 octane points higher than regular auto gas. In fact my plane would prefer 87 auto gas to the 100 low lead because it doesn't have the lead in it and is otherwise similar - except for the possibility of getting alcohol in it. Anyway, back to the self serve pumps. If you want to get aviation fuel that way you will just need to pretend you are a plane. The pump will ask you if you grounded the plane and then you swipe your card. It may ask if you want 100 low lead or jet fuel (kerosene, essentially) and whether you want a set amount or fill up. Turn on the pump, pump the gas, turn off the pump, get your receipt. That's about it. I do it all the time in my plane at small airports all over the place. The security at more urban airports may make it harder to drive to the pumps. David Grah Bishop California
No, I am not concerned about alcohol in aviation fuel but I did want to note that something in aviation fuel ruined gaskets in my old Triumph automobile when I used it. ________________________________ From: "Hughston, Larry@DGS" <Larry.Hughston@dgs.ca.gov> To: David Grah <d_b_grah@yahoo.com>; For and about Montgomery Sailboats <montgomery_boats@mailman.xmission.com> Sent: Tuesday, April 29, 2014 9:58 AM Subject: RE: M_Boats: Buying Aviation Fuel David, thanks for the reply. Are you concerned that unknown amounts of Ethanol could degrade some of the synthetic fuel-carrying lines ? I was of the understanding that all aviation fuel had ZERO Ethanol in it due to life and death engine health. Thanks again.....Larry Hughston in Sacramento. -----Original Message----- From: montgomery_boats-bounces@mailman.xmission.com [mailto:montgomery_boats-bounces@mailman.xmission.com] On Behalf Of David Grah Sent: Wednesday, April 23, 2014 6:27 PM To: montgomery_boats@mailman.xmission.com Subject: M_Boats: Buying Aviation Fuel Most small general aviation airports have self serve 100 octane low lead aviation fuel available 24 hours per day. The 100 octane sounds great but I think it is measured differently so that doesn't mean it is 13 octane points higher than regular auto gas. In fact my plane would prefer 87 auto gas to the 100 low lead because it doesn't have the lead in it and is otherwise similar - except for the possibility of getting alcohol in it. Anyway, back to the self serve pumps. If you want to get aviation fuel that way you will just need to pretend you are a plane. The pump will ask you if you grounded the plane and then you swipe your card. It may ask if you want 100 low lead or jet fuel (kerosene, essentially) and whether you want a set amount or fill up. Turn on the pump, pump the gas, turn off the pump, get your receipt. That's about it. I do it all the time in my plane at small airports all over the place. The security at more urban airports may make it harder to drive to the pumps. David Grah Bishop California
participants (3)
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David Grah -
Hughston, Larry＠DGS -
speedernut2＠gmail.com