LEADED vs UNLEADED

[def38]

Maybe, maybe not...

My engine engineer said the single biggest impact to longevity has been the evolution of motor oil and lubricants in general... the specs met today are very impressive and beyond imagination not all that long ago...

Not to add fuel to the fire... he was only stating the single across the board significant change...

While engine oils have improved dramatically, so have engine manufacturing techniques and designs as well as metallurgy. It is not out of the ordinary for a late model automobile engine to last 250,000 miles. Usually, other systems wear out before the engine is junk. Most cars I see being junked have been abused, poorly maintained or rusted away. I know of one fellow who has well over 500,000 miles on his BMW...and its a 2 cylinder, air cooled boxer motorcycle running the original rotating assembly. Do the maintenance, don't abuse it, keep it clean and it will serve you well.

 

[def38]

I believe the changes in ignition started the increase in gasoline engine life, the fuel injection system on gasoline cars was the major leap foreword in engine longevity, better faster easier starts, less raw gasoline washing down cylinder walls and diluting oil. :2cents:

Eliminating the Bernoulli effect from automotive fuel systems did have an impact on engine longevity but the main reason for FI is low cost, performance, emissions and fuel economy. Managing fuel delivery in an automobile engine using digital signals is accurate and precise. Also, few folks had the facility to properly rebuild a carburetor and adjust it for proper A/F delivery. Ad in the Lambda system and now your engine is cleaner than 10 years ago, runs better, cooler, produces more HP per engine displacement and lasts longer. Also, we can plug in an OBD code reader and the ECU will tell us what needs fixing. This means, someone with a few tools can repair most anything that goes wrong with the modern day automobile engine. Also, the automotive aftermarket parts industry has everything the DIYer needs to keep his engine in top shape. Today, a tune up means checking tire pressure, filling the washer fluid reservoir and spraying some carb cleaner into the air intake on your engine. Even spark plugs last years in most auto engine. My last car, was 18 years old and had the OE plugs in the engine. That engine still delivered the same fuel mileage as when I bought it new. I never added any top up oil to the engine and it never leaked any fluid.

 

[buickanddeere]

http://www.aviation-fuel.com/pdfs/MSDS_for_AvGas_100LL_from_P66_dated_3-04-13.pdf

 

[buickanddeere]

Yep. Avgas is the largest lead polluter in the country by far. I think people that burn it in their small engines should re-think it just on that alone. It's just not necessary.

tons of the stuff per home owner. How about all those nasty hydrocarbons ?

 

[fried1765]

What did you burn it in?

I sold a lot of it working at airports.

Worldwide, in four turbo compounded Wright R-3350's, mounted on a large wing.

 

[MossRoad]

Worldwide, in four Wright R-3350 Cyclone's, mounted on a large wing.

b-29s?

 

[fried1765]

As kid, I used to pedal my bicycle down to the airport in Minneapolis and stand at the end of the runway as those beautiful Lockeed Connies were preparing for takeoff. The propwash contained oil and fuel exhaust smoke in great quantities. I would come home and mom would ask, "Did you enjoy the airplanes at the airport"? She could smell the exhaust on me. Today, I don't care for aircraft exhaust smoke...kerosene from a jet engine just isn't exciting.

Ah... the "Connie" ..... in my opinion, the most beautiful transport type airplane ever built.

 

[fried1765]

b-29s?

"b-29's"..... No..ooo.
I am old, but not THAT old!
The Super Connie..... USN... EC-121-M

 

[MossRoad]

"b-29's"..... No..ooo.
I am old, but not THAT old!
The Super Connie..... USN... EC-121-M

Hahahaha, sorry about that. :laughing:

Back in the 80's when I was working at the airport, the Confederate Airforce (now the Commemorative Airforce) brought in their B-29 FIFI and stayed here for about a month. They were doing rides and promotions in the area, and yes, they sucked down many, many gallons of gas while they were here. As I recall, we only had a 350 gallon truck for gas. So many trips to the fuel farm, too.

The Super Connie is still one of the most beautiful planes ever built! :thumbsup:

 

[fried1765]

Hahahaha, sorry about that. :laughing:

Back in the 80's when I was working at the airport, the Confederate Airforce (now the Commemorative Airforce) brought in their B-29 FIFI and stayed here for about a month. They were doing rides and promotions in the area, and yes, they sucked down many, many gallons of gas while they were here. As I recall, we only had a 350 gallon truck for gas. So many trips to the fuel farm, too.

The Super Connie is still one of the most beautiful planes ever built! :thumbsup:

Since 115/145 has not been available for quite a while, I assume that the Commemorative Airforce is now using 100/130, thus having derated power.

 

[MossRoad]

I have no idea, as I haven't been involved in aviation since 1986. I've read that it is available at places like the Reno air races and such, and it is still made in special runs, for special orders.... isn't that special? hahahha. It would be interesting to see what fuels they use when they travel around the country in planes with engines spec'd for that fuel.

 

[PILOON]

Some time back we had a petroleum engineer that posted and answered questions.
He agreed with me that using diesel oil in gas engines was a bonus due to the additives contained therein, more lubricants in the composition .

 

[fried1765]

I have no idea, as I haven't been involved in aviation since 1986. I've read that it is available at places like the Reno air races and such, and it is still made in special runs, for special orders.... isn't that special? hahahha. It would be interesting to see what fuels they use when they travel around the country in planes with engines spec'd for that fuel.

Last time I used/burned any 115/145 was in 1967

 

[MossRoad]

Last time I used/burned any 115/145 was in 1967

The very first day I worked at an airport, it was an airshow! Lots of warbirds and vintage aircraft. Our fixed gas pumps had 80, 100, 100LL and jet fuel. They brought in a truckload of 115. I distinctly remember red, blue, green, purple gas. This was 1979.

I switched to a different airport in 1980. We had no fixed pumps, just trucks. We had 100LL and jet fuel. That's it. When we had airshows, they'd bring in 115 as I recall. That was 1980-1986. Only two airshows as I recall.

I do miss working those airshows. The pilots were always nice and friendly and would show you everything about their planes if you asked. :thumbsup:

 

[Handloader109]

Leaded gas was not to help with valve wear. Old mechanics lie. It was ENTIRELY USES TO INCREASE OCTANE at a cheaper cost than refining. Use premium if you need 93 octane. Forget wear enhancements. Its baloney

 

[PILOON]

Ah... the "Connie" ..... in my opinion, the most beautiful transport type airplane ever built.

My first plane flight was on a Connie in my youth.
Air Canada's Connies were rigged for long trips and the seating was like on a RR sleeper car.
2 seats facing each other and convertible to sleeping bunks.
In the tail section they had a lounge area with a center table. You could almost get sea sick back in that lounge as it wiggled from side to side.

 

[fried1765]

My first plane flight was on a Connie in my youth.
Air Canada's Connies were rigged for long trips and the seating was like on a RR sleeper car.
2 seats facing each other and convertible to sleeping bunks.
In the tail section they had a lounge area with a center table. You could almost get sea sick back in that lounge as it wiggled from side to side.

"Air Canada's Connies were rigged for long trips"..

Not Air Canada...but U.S. Navy... I spent 16+45 flying a Connie.

 

[MossRoad]

"Air Canada's Connies were rigged for long trips"..

Not Air Canada...but U.S. Navy... I spent 16+45 flying a Connie.

Would love to hear your best/favorite story related to that plane.

 

[buickanddeere]

Worldwide, in four turbo compounded Wright R-3350's, mounted on a large wing.

What airframe used those four Rows of radial cylinder engines ? The engines that overheated the 3rd and 4th row of cylinders in particular . Then suffered cracking when throttled back .

Wright R-335 Duplex-Cyclone - Wikipedia