Peter Mchugh wrote:
>
> 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
> >
Boy, I just couldn't wait for my chance to for 2 cents worth. Those
clogged deisel filters were more likely due to fungus growth, believe it
or not. This is a common problem in the marine environment and additives
are available to curb the growth.
And yes, I too have experienced BAAAD GAAAS due to long storage.
Vic Whitmore
76 Spitfire
Thornhill, Ontario
|