AV gas for the generator

wopachop wrote:
Thats a lot of gas cans!! My buddy said you have to walk inside the gate. No vehicles allowed. He posted a picture and circled where the pumps are. Just double checked he wrote $3.50 and posted a picture of his gas cans. Appears to be light blue in color.

IPL

Well then, . . . rather than just "listening to your buddy" I suggest you go try it today! Please post your findings.

Chum lee

wopachop wrote:

prichardson wrote:
Ditto. Running any engine on a higher octane fuel than what the manufacturer recommends is a waste of money.

Not always. Ive been putting 110 octane fuel into small engines for 25 years. People often overlook how excessive engine load can cause knocking as well. Its not strictly about compression ratio. Swear to you i currently have 8 month old 110 octane inside a little 1989 TW200 motorcycle. I ride this bike every single day up and down the same hill where i live. While it does not need 110 octane, i promise you there is a performance gain. The bike makes 15 HP i hold the dang thing wide open and ride it like a maniac. It runs stronger on race gas. Its even mixed to 40:1. Only running it because i ran out of regular 91 and need to use up the old gas.

Another thing people dont consider is that yes the manufacture recommends 87 octane. Trailer sits for 6 months. What octane do you think that gas has degraded to? I always put 91 into my trailer for this reason.

Lwiddis wrote:
Why not just follow the engine manufacturer’s recommendations?

Because with very basic modifications you can increase efficiency. I have never owned a vehicle and left it completely stock. For example the big ole Donandson air filter on my 7.3L. It filters better and flows better. Engine manufacture would most likely recommend i buy a motorcraft filter im guessing. I like OEM for some things. Aftermarket for others. The manufactures engine tune is junk. You can increase power and fuel economy if you dont follow the manufactures tune.

So does this "1989 TW200" motorcycle, (I have no idea what that is)
have fuel injection, an ECU (engine control unit), oil injection, etc.? It's not surprising that it runs better on higher octane fuel. (like 100 octane LL AVGAS) In the mid/late '70's, early '80's I used to run Yamaha carbureted, oil injected, 2 stroke air cooled 125-250 cc dirt bikes. They get hot! They always ran better on higher octane fuels. Leaded premium, if I could get it. In the early '80's the last locally available gas station in my area (Union 76) stopped selling premium leaded gas. You had to go to the airport (John Wayne in Santa Ana) to get it and you had to know someone working on the flight line who would sell it to you.

Chum lee

Thats a lot of gas cans!! My buddy said you have to walk inside the gate. No vehicles allowed. He posted a picture and circled where the pumps are. Just double checked he wrote $3.50 and posted a picture of his gas cans. Appears to be light blue in color.

IPL

wopachop wrote:

Chum lee wrote:
I'm a private pilot. Right now, the average price for 100 octane low lead AVGAS is $5.17/gal in the SW USA. IMO, this fuel will work fine in your generator, but, . . . why would you consider using it when 87 octane unleaded fuel (the correct fuel for your generator) is readily available in SO CAL for under $3.00 a gallon?

Chum lee

I dont put 87 in anything. AV gas is $3.50 and 87octane is 3.29. My buddy who posted the AV gas price was excited i think because it was a good deal. We are desert people and its been a good 10 years since i heard talk of guys running AV gas in their sandrails or dirt bikes. When he posted about using it for the generator i thought it could be something interesting to look into.

For me its hard to keep fresh gas in my genny during the summer. I literally add 1 gallon every 2 or 3 months. Just so i can start and run the genny for 45-60 mins.

If you can buy certified spec grade 100 octane LL AVGAS in the USA for $3.50/gal, I suggest you spend every last dollar you have on it, and, sell it a little below market price in the general aviation market. IMO, the general aviation world will beat a path to your door. Yes, . . . you could be the next Jeff Bezos/Bill Gates/Warren Buffett, etc.

Chum lee

Years ago the blend of avgas at dispatch used a centrifugal spin filter special tank trucks for both 87 and 110 L/L. Both grades were the same fuel except the leaded 110 contained 10% more alkylate and 1.3 grams of tetra ethyl lead per gallon. Purple 110/145 octane was highly restricted because it contained 50% alkylate and 5.2 grams of TEL. It cost 20x more than 88 octane and did absolutely zero for a snowblower and my Sunbeam Tiger. But on the other hand 12.5 to 1 pistons. Giant valves and a full race cam worked magic on a propane 350 engine in a pickup truck. Butane cost .45 a gallon down here then.

Chum lee wrote:
I'm a private pilot. Right now, the average price for 100 octane low lead AVGAS is $5.17/gal in the SW USA. IMO, this fuel will work fine in your generator, but, . . . why would you consider using it when 87 octane unleaded fuel (the correct fuel for your generator) is readily available in SO CAL for under $3.00 a gallon?

Chum lee

I dont put 87 in anything. AV gas is $3.50 and 87octane is 3.29. My buddy who posted the AV gas price was excited i think because it was a good deal. We are desert people and its been a good 10 years since i heard talk of guys running AV gas in their sandrails or dirt bikes. When he posted about using it for the generator i thought it could be something interesting to look into.

For me its hard to keep fresh gas in my genny during the summer. I literally add 1 gallon every 2 or 3 months. Just so i can start and run the genny for 45-60 mins.

prichardson wrote:
Ditto. Running any engine on a higher octane fuel than what the manufacturer recommends is a waste of money.

Not always. Ive been putting 110 octane fuel into small engines for 25 years. People often overlook how excessive engine load can cause knocking as well. Its not strictly about compression ratio. Swear to you i currently have 8 month old 110 octane inside a little 1989 TW200 motorcycle. I ride this bike every single day up and down the same hill where i live. While it does not need 110 octane, i promise you there is a performance gain. The bike makes 15 HP i hold the dang thing wide open and ride it like a maniac. It runs stronger on race gas. Its even mixed to 40:1. Only running it because i ran out of regular 91 and need to use up the old gas.

Another thing people dont consider is that yes the manufacture recommends 87 octane. Trailer sits for 6 months. What octane do you think that gas has degraded to? I always put 91 into my trailer for this reason.

Lwiddis wrote:
Why not just follow the engine manufacturer’s recommendations?

Because with very basic modifications you can increase efficiency. I have never owned a vehicle and left it completely stock. For example the big ole Donandson air filter on my 7.3L. It filters better and flows better. Engine manufacture would most likely recommend i buy a motorcraft filter im guessing. I like OEM for some things. Aftermarket for others. The manufactures engine tune is junk. You can increase power and fuel economy if you dont follow the manufactures tune.

I'm a private pilot. Right now, the average price for 100 octane low lead AVGAS is $5.17/gal in the SW USA. IMO, this fuel will work fine in your generator, but, . . . why would you consider using it when 87 octane unleaded fuel (the correct fuel for your generator) is readily available in SO CAL for under $3.00 a gallon?

Chum lee

hypoxia wrote:
The only advantage I see is if you plan to leave the generator sit unused for years.

On point...

Without recommendation, the best quality of a gas can be proven to be a higher level of refinement. Compare two clear jars with a pint of auto fuel vs a pint of 100LL after evaporation. The LL jar will be almost clear and the auto fuel will show considerable varnish.