The attraction of auto gas for operators of small (especially older C series) aircraft engines, in addition to being half the price of Avgas, is the absence of lead. Blue 100 octane LL has 4 ML more lead per gallon than did old 80/87 avgas. The term '100 octane low lead' means only that it has less lead than did the old 100 octane avgas by comparison. The older engines are easily fouled by the excess lead in 100 LL because they don't have the 30 degree exhaust valves for one thing. I run auto gas in my C85 mainly because it is less expensive. One problem I have had is the tinting of the gas by the sloshing sealer in my wing tanks. Although it burns fine, the gas becomes the color of iced tea. So it must have some aeromatics or alcohol in it which dissolves my sloshing sealer or my gas line. Sometimes I mix avgas and auto fuel for a little lead, but last time I shocked my engine with straight 100 LL it rewarded me with 3 stuck valves at once; probably a record. I have new valve guides and they may have a real close tolerance. As to the safety of the supply of auto fuel, the inventory of auto fuel turns over many more times and faster than slow moving avgas. You may be less likely to have contaminants and moisture because of the rapid turnover of the autogas inventory.
Also, I own a can of TCP and have added it once and a while. The print on the can gives the strongest warning I have ever seen on any product regarding it being a possible carcinogen and says not to get any on your hands. That's real comforting. Lastly, aren't they coming out with a new 90 + or - octane unleaded or low lead avgas to replace the old 80/87? It seems I heard that some where recently. If so, I hope it's lead content is the same as old 80/87. Grover (Skipper) Barfield Ercoupe 99398 Columbus, GA ___________________________________________________________________ Get the Internet just the way you want it. Free software, free e-mail, and free Internet access for a month! Try Juno Web: http://dl.www.juno.com/dynoget/tagj.
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