No Avgas 100LL by 2030 ??

[Reynard]

The global availability of Tetra Ethyl Lead (TEL) may influence the supply of 100LL Avgas sooner rather than later.  Is Australia’s GA and Recreational fleet ready for this……and will airfields around Australia have an alternative available in time ??

“U.K.-based Innospec, which is the sole remaining manufacturer of TEL in the Western world, plans to permanently discontinue production in the 2028–2029 timeframe. The highly corrosive nature of manufacturing TEL makes maintaining the aging equipment too expensive to justify continued operations” (AVweb)

[skippydiesel]

Go Rotax!!!! 😈

Edited Friday at 07:13 AM by skippydiesel

[440032]

America is not even ready for it.

It is widely not known that many Lycomings are factory certified to run on unleaded automotive fuel that meets their nominated specifications.

Lycoming Service Instruction 1070AB and there are significant provisos.

Automotive ground transportation fuels available direct to consumers (e.g. “pump gas”) usually do not have labels with sufficient information to identify compliance with the requirements in Table 2.

IN COMPLIANCE WITH THIS SERVICE INSTRUCTION, THE AUTOMOTIVE FUEL MUST AGREE WITH ALL SPECIFICATIONS IN TABLE 2. AUTOMOTIVE GASOLINE THAT IS NOT IN CONFORMANCE WITH THE SPECIFICATIONS IN TABLE 2 IS NOT TO BE USED.

WHEN USING THE AUTOMOTIVE FUELS IDENTIFIED IN TABLE 2, LYCOMING OIL ADDITIVE P/N LW-16702, OR AN EQUIVALENT FINISHED PRODUCT SUCH AS AEROSHELL 15W-50, MUST BE USED.

Presumably they tested that exact grade of fuel and approved it. The problem is the user (us) cannot be assured any auto fuel purchased is that exact same grade. It won't be, certainly not here in DownUnderstan.

I did try look into what spec our auto fuel is, but I soon lost the will to live.

Interesting that some older aircraft have an auto fuel STC. Amazing that a piece of paper can fool a leaded engine into happily running unleaded, though probably with a couple of provisos there too.

 

Some breathtaking info:

1 gram of TEL contains 640.6 milligrams of lead.

AVGAS 100LL contains less than 0.56grams/litre of TEL.

0.56 grams of TEL contains 0.358 grams of lead.

0.72kg of avgas (1lt) contains 0.358 grams of lead, or 0.05%

 

 

[Reynard]

If you fly a Rotax and have an understandably strong bias toward Mogas, it is almost logistically impossible to fly long distances in Australia without having to resort to using Avgas at some locations. (Don’t ask me how I know)

[pmccarthy]

My Archer had a Mogas STC. Mogas in the USA is not the same, but my Archer didn’t know that.

[facthunter]

Years ago, Cropdusters in Brazil operated on 100% ethanol. You use a lot more but it's high Octane. Motors run much colder. Nev

[Thruster88]

On 10/07/2026 at 5:13 PM, skippydiesel said:

Go Rotax!!!! 😈

Lycoming and Continental engines have been proven over a long time period to love running on unleaded fuel just as much as Rotax do. We just need the legal to be in place. Compression ratio is lower in lycons. Valves seats are hard.

Edited Saturday at 07:45 AM by Thruster88

[facthunter]

Vapour lock is worse and recent Mogas is more suited to Injection than wayback was when Carburetters reigned supreme. and there is not the quality control in Manufacture or distribution.. Engines don't have emotions and the fuel doesn't KNOW what engine it is running in. Also the Octane  is a different scale to the Aviation one ( about 4 Lower). Auto fuel is made of anything they want to Put in it.. Compared to Avgas it's the wild west. nev

[Blueadventures]

Maybe they will supply say a regulated 98 in similar supply, transport and storage to how Avgas is done; that way the blend will be 100%.

[Arron25]

51 minutes ago, Blueadventures said:

Maybe they will supply say a regulated 98 in similar supply, transport and storage to how Avgas is done; that way the blend will be 100%.

Would this not be the 'logical' process (oh I forgot common sense doesn't exist any more🤔)

[facthunter]

It would cost more and therefore there would not be a lot of call for it.  I wonder what the Planes HARS fly will use?  They would already be derated on 100 LL.  The Original fuel would have been 130/145 . Higher Octane with a lot more Lead. Nev

Edited Sunday at 12:34 AM by facthunter
More content.

[Reynard]

IOR has AvPULP (aviation grade 98 mogas) bowsers at Bendigo, Latrobe Valley and Camden. That’s it, so far.

[Blueadventures]

30 minutes ago, Reynard said:

IOR has AvPULP (aviation grade 98 mogas) bowsers at Bendigo, Latrobe Valley and Camden. That’s it, so far.

That is good and will be better when more available for the R and J pilots who currently use 98 or 95.

[skippydiesel]

Strange thing:

 

I have owned 2 Rotax 912 ULS. Both use 98 RON. Twice I have adulterated this good fuel with a  bit of AvGas - No Change to performance. No Benefit other than availability/convenience on that particular trip/day

The first went to 900 hrs+ befor being sold.

The second I am now using - 250 hrs.

In all of the time & flight (Hobbs) hrs never so much as a cough - smooth as silk.

 

As you may know,

• Rotax 912 UL (80 hp) is recommended to burn ULP Min. 91 RON 
• Rotax 912 ULS (100 hp) recommended to use ULP Min. 95 RON

 

When I acquired my firs 912, I took the view that adulteration, at some stage in the fuel supply system,  was possible.

With this in mind I decided to go the extra  mile/cost and use 98 RON whenever possible (99% of the time).

The theory being, that even if the 98 RON had significant adulteration, with other fuels, it was unlikly to go lower than the equivalent of 95 RON.

So far so good.

Later Rotax came out with a recommendation, for 912 ULS, of 98 RON as the prefered fuel quality ( to do with reduced "knock" potential), can still use 95 RON with care.

 

This is my long winded way of poring scorn on the notion that ULP 98 RON (from a well patronised fuel station) is somehow inferior to that supplied  as "AvPULP (aviation grade 98 mogas)"  which sounds like a marketing ploy, for which the gullible patrons will, no doubt, pay dear.😈

Edited Sunday at 07:35 AM by skippydiesel

[BurnieM]

46 minutes ago, Reynard said:

IOR has AvPULP (aviation grade 98 mogas) bowsers at Bendigo, Latrobe Valley and Camden. That’s it, so far.

 

Just wondering what the actual difference is between this and the 98 PULP at the servos (apart from the price).

 

Edited Sunday at 07:34 AM by BurnieM

[skippydiesel]

2 minutes ago, BurnieM said:

 

Just wondering what the actual difference is between this and the 98 PULP at the servos (apart from the price).

 

See my comment above.😈

[Reynard]

I would suggest the critical difference between AvPULP 98 and Servo 98 is convenience.

 

”If you have the right stuff at the right place at the right time, you can set your own price”

on IOR’s website, they suggest that AvPULP is not adulterated with any of those nasty additives that bulk fuel suppliers use………

 

 

“Unlike MOGAS which may contain dangerous, uncontrolled, and incompatible oxygenated and other fuel components harmful to users and the environment, the safety of AvPULP is enhanced with an assured higher-octane quality and energy content.”

 

[BurnieM]

27 minutes ago, Reynard said:

I would suggest the critical difference between AvPULP 98 and Servo 98 is convenience.

 

”If you have the right stuff at the right place at the right time, you can set your own price”

on IOR’s website, they suggest that AvPULP is not adulterated with any of those nasty additives that bulk fuel suppliers use………

 

“Unlike MOGAS which may contain dangerous, uncontrolled, and incompatible oxygenated and other fuel components harmful to users and the environment, the safety of AvPULP is enhanced with an assured higher-octane quality and energy content.”

 

For many years now most (all?) states have had laws requiring servos to declare the ethanol content in their fuels.

Maybe this was an issue 15 years ago but it has not been for a while but sure why not stir it up to counter questions about your price 🙂

 

Anybody have any info of on airfield AvPULP 98 prices ?

Camden would be good as the NSW Fuelcheck app lets you quickly compare.

I can see the BP truckstop has PULP 98 for 182.8 per litre (I am ignoring smaller brands)

Obviously you have to hump it but if the difference is enough then it may be worth it.

 

Edited Sunday at 08:16 AM by BurnieM

[Reynard]

Anybody have any info of on airfield AvPULP 98 prices ?

Most recent OzRunways user price for AvPULP at Camden on 2 July, was $2.00…….which sounds fairly reasonable.

 

 

[BurnieM]

14 minutes ago, Reynard said:

Anybody have any info of on airfield AvPULP 98 prices ?

Most recent OzRunways user price for AvPULP at Camden on 2 July, was $2.00…….which sounds fairly reasonable.

 

Yep, if you are transiting thru Camden that would be a reasonable convenience markup.

 

Checked IOR Fuelcharge app and it is indeed 200.0 for AvPULP at Camden.

App did not ask for a credit card.

 

Edited Sunday at 08:37 AM by BurnieM

[BurnieM]

IOR AvPULP price is currently 200.0 cpl at all the limited locations they have it (according to IOR Fuelcharge app).

 

$4.15 for 100LL at Birdsville was a shock but I guess the freight prices are high.

 

Edited Sunday at 08:44 AM by BurnieM

[BrendAn]

1 hour ago, skippydiesel said:

 

 

I have owned 2 Rotax 912 ULS. Both use 98 RON. Twice I have adulterated this good fuel with a  bit of AvGas - No Change to performance. No Benefit other than availability/convenience on that particular trip/day

 

 

the tecnam and eurofox trainers at latrobe valley always ran avgas until the mogas tank was installed. didn't bother them at all.

Edited Sunday at 09:20 AM by BrendAn

[skippydiesel]

50 minutes ago, BurnieM said:

 

Yep, if you are transiting thru Camden that would be a reasonable convenience markup.

 

Checked IOR Fuelcharge app and it is indeed 200.0 for AvPULP at Camden.

App did not ask for a credit card.

 

BP Camden 98 ULP $1.83 

I carry 20L fuel bladders. 

If I land at Camden (unlikly) and hitch a ride into the BP, I will save almost $7.00 on 40L 

If I were to take a taxi - I would loose on the deal.

So not just convenience also cost effective to fill from the airfield pump.😈

[facthunter]

It IS NOT the same product, Skip. One has quality assurance. It depends on YOUR attitude to Safety as to what value that has for YOU. Would you like your Brand of anything to come in an Unsealed tin? Nev

[T510]

20 hours ago, skippydiesel said:

This is my long winded way of poring scorn on the notion that ULP 98 RON (from a well patronised fuel station) is somehow inferior to that supplied  as "AvPULP (aviation grade 98 mogas)"  which sounds like a marketing ploy, for which the gullible patrons will, no doubt, pay dear.😈

I'm with you on this one Skip, apart from IOR's marketing material there seems to be very little technical data supporting their clams.

 

I can't find a specific standard for AvPULP, it appears to be made to the usual fuel industry PULP standard but with claims of "superior aviation specification additives".

 

The only advantage I see to AvPULP is the convenience if you happen to be at one of the 4 airports that have it available.