Thanks for your reply...
It "may" not be true that dyes "wouldn't affect performance" or that
they are a petroleum distillate".
One of the great debates in aviation today is exactly "How much dye is
acceptable in jet fuel?" and exhaustive tests are being conducted.
The current specification for jet fuel requires that the fuel
introduced into an airplane be "water white" or in our venacular,
"clear". The dyes are thought to cause problems by clogging filters,
building deposits on turbine blades, etc. I even found one report
within the marine community of a nuclear submarine, which was
operating on its standby power (diesel) during maintenance on the
reactor having an engine failure attributed to clogged fuel
filters...a story which didn't leave me with warm fuzzies...
There is much unknown about the issue...but for me...clear is better,
both in skys and fuel for my lbc!!!!
Cheers!
PMcQ
______________________________ Reply Separator _________________________________
Subject: Re: Re[2]: BAAAAD GAAAAS
Author: jruwaldt@indiana.edu at Internet
Date: 8/12/97 10:40 PM
Peter,
I wasn't aware that so many different colors were added to gas.
The most I'd heard of was yellow for automotive, blue for aviation. It
isn't surprising, though, that the dyes wouldn't affect the performance,
because, undoubtedly, the percentage of the dye in the gas would be so
small. It would probably also be a petroleum distillate anyway.
Jim Ruwaldt
'72 TR6 CC79338U(being restored)
Bloomington, IN
On 12 Aug 1997, Peter Mchugh wrote:
>
>
> Several years ago my offcie did an indepth analysis of the use of dyes
> in aviation fuels...as a result of concern about dyes leaching into
> aviation gasoline and jet fuels. The following is extracted from that
> work...
>
> Both the IRS and EPA require use of dyes in fuels...today they require
> that all untaxed (highway use taxes) diesel/kerosene (IRS) and fuels
> which do not meet emissions requirements (EPA) be injected with red
> dye...untaxed fuels are used on farms and as home heating oil...and
> these fuels work fine in commercial trucks on the highways...and cost
> much less than half of the taxed fuel. A huge mafia (believe it or
> not?) organization is involved in taking advantage of this gap between
> the taxed and untaxed price...and the IRS and lawenforcement agencies
> have exacted huge penalties for violations....the dye in untaxed fules
> helps to catch the scoflaws, and returns significant millions of
> dollars to the treasury.
>
> For the EPA, the dye permits enforcement of environmental regulations
> since some high emissions fules must continue to be available for
> selected purposes. There are few exceptions to the legislation that
> is the basis for the dye use, one of which is for aviation fuels.
>
> Aviation gasoline (avgas) once was distributed in several octane
> ranges and was color coded to permit pilots to check that they (their
> airplanes) were being supplied the proper fuel...red avgas was 80/87
> octane, 100/130 is green, and 115/145 octane was purple...(the first
> two still exist, but I am not aware of there being any remaining
> 115/145 <military high test, so to speak>.
>
> Petroleum manufacturer/refiners have over the years added dyes to fuel
> as marketing ploys...witness the black dye use for Texaco Silver, and
> the argument that "clear" Amoco is better for engines than other, less
> "pure" fuels, etc. None of the dyes in the gasoline makes any
> significant difference in terms of performance...and long term, dyes
> aren't really good for engines at all.
>
> Gas does age...and it turns to lacquer...which tho a combustable isn't
> great for carbs and filters and deposits in engines, etc. I'm not
> sure that old "baad gaas" can actually be detected by the color, tho
> the smell of old gas is a dead give-away...and the residuals in a tank
> are pretty obvious, assuming one can see into the tank.
>
> I guess my point is, the presence of color may or may not be an
> indication of age...particularly if dyes are present.
>
> Cheers!
>
> PMcQ
>
> 76 Spitfire
> 73 TR-6
> 72 GT-6
> 69 GT-6+
> 47 TR 1800 Roadster
>
>
> ______________________________ Reply Separator
_________________________________
> Subject: Re: BAAAAD GAAAAS
> Author: van@nucmar.physics.fsu.edu at Internet
> Date: 8/12/97 1:12 PM
>
>
> Scions,
> Did not read all of this thread, but did catch the comment on new
> fuel formulations and whether or not they turn to varnish by C. Pugh. As
> far as I have been informed there is still a storgage limit to gasoline
> and it is a great concern to boaters who store their crafts for long
> periods... "hmmm, two years ago this motor started fine" is a comment
> heard on the dock many a spring. no sig file, Van
>
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