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Heres a URL for the EAA
http://www.eaa.org/education/fuel/oxygenated.html What is MTBE? MTBE is manufactured by the chemical reaction of methanol and isobutylene. It has been a blending agent in gasoline to raise the octane number for over 20 years. The conversion of methanol to MTBE eliminates the unfavorable characteristics associated with alcohols, such as materials compatibility problems, water tolerance and corrosive action. More recently, MTBE has been classified as an oxygenate by the EPA. Is it safe to use gasoline with MTBE? Yes, all industry and FAA testing to date indicate no safety problem. EAA believes, but cannot prove, that MTBE was in the automobile gasoline in our initial STC testing in the early 1980s. MTBE was not an issue at that time, so its presence was not determined. You might notice a slight leaning of the mixture when using gasoline with MTBE. Is gasoline with MTBE or ETBE okay under the EAA STC? Yes! On December 14, 1992, EAA received clarification from the FAA that: "Automobile gasoline blended with MTBE is approved for use in aircraft that are approved for use of automobile gasoline STCs." EAA, Petersen Aviation and others have worked with the FAA to have MTBE "approved" based on the common industry knowledge that it has been in automobile gasoline for years. The FAAs determination that gasoline blended with MTBE can be used safely in aircraft (that are STC approved) was based, in part, on FAA tests, research and review of service difficulty reports. No material compatibility or performance problems were found. The FAA also approved the use of automobile gasoline that contains ETBE on December 1, 1995. This approval was based on flight test, ground tests and material compatibility test performed by EAA, FAA and Petersen Aviation. What is Ethanol and can I use it in my aircraft? Ethanol is often confused with methanol. These two alcohols have distinctly different characteristics; however, all STCs prohibit the use of gasoline containing alcohol - either methanol or ethanol. |
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