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what is avgas or afgas

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Old Oct 27, 2005 | 06:44 AM
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Default what is avgas or afgas

can i get any info on this fuel?
what mods do you need to do to your car to run this fuel?
Most rally cars in tanzania and kenya use this, and its cheaper than buying petrol in blighty.
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Old Oct 27, 2005 | 08:29 AM
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From: Preston
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avgas is aviation fuel, not for jet engines but for piston engined aircraft.
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Old Oct 27, 2005 | 08:36 AM
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think it has a lot of lead in so not good for a cat, burns a bit slower than normal fuel but can take a high CR ratio and boost before detonation. used to mix it 50/50 with unleaded on bike racing engines to allow more CR.

just slap it straight in and you will not see any performance advantages. the boys in blue will take a very dim view if you are caught with it. Prices vary massively. if you go to one of the little airports (i used to go to nottingham) then its not particularly cheap. If you can find an enthusiast who flies small planes from his farm or something like that then you can get it very cheaply.
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Old Oct 27, 2005 | 09:13 AM
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Would a car run on avtur aswell????
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Old Oct 27, 2005 | 09:29 AM
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AVGAS in the UK is 100 Low Lead. Low Lead is a misnomer as it is actually very high lead content in relation to road petrol.
I understand it is a slow burn fuel and will not show power gains in highly developed road car engines. It is typically intended for use in piston aero engines like the flat four Lycoming engines of 5.5litres, low compression, flat out at 2,700 rpm, cruising at 2,400 rpm and maximum power of 160-200 bhp.
The fuel is dyed light blue and specially formulated to avoid carburettor icing and has none of the additives necessary for modern road engines.
Its cost is similar to road fuel, perhaps even more expensive and there is nothing illegal about putting it in a road car but it is not advisable and it will destroy any cat in short order. The fuel is readily available. If the aircraft it is fueling for a "foreign" flight, Channel Islands, I.O.M. or where ever, the pilot can complete a "General Declaration" and a refund cheque is sent in due course for a portion of the duty.

Turbine fuel (AVTUR/JET1A/JP) is very cheap by comparrison as no duty is charged but that is no use for car/piston engines.

Just to add, the engines using 100LL will run on road pump fuel, it used to be 4 star, not sure what it is now but it is bad practice as there are no carb. ice addatives and some Red - X to protect the valves is desirable. Small piston engines like Rotax or aotomotive derived engines used in Microlights all run Mogas. ie road pump petrol.

Last edited by harvey; Oct 27, 2005 at 09:44 AM.
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Old Oct 27, 2005 | 12:52 PM
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if theres no advantage of using avgas why are rally cars using it?
one of my friends who became TRC champion last year swears by it (he drives an evo).
team sunvic in arusha also use it.
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Old Oct 27, 2005 | 01:43 PM
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i was told it was something like 116 octane ??
a lot of the rgv boys race the bikes on a 50/50 mix and it seems to make the things pretty quick
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Old Oct 27, 2005 | 02:03 PM
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yep, i used to race an RGV250 in the early 90's on 50/50. But to make it work properly you need to optimise CR, squish clearance and ignition timing to suit. will have no benefits at all putting it in an engine that runs on SUL day to day. And all it did then was allow you a bit more power (1 or 2bhp) but a lot safer. Its certainly not 116 RON. I used to think it was 102. but i will go along with Harveys 100.

Tell the RGV boys they are cheats cos it was banned years ago.
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Old Oct 27, 2005 | 03:44 PM
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From: Darlington
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In the UK and Europe it is 100 Octane for a fact and is refered to as 100LL.
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