Cross Country Trips

[Tfoster100]

Hello all. New member here - I’ve been reading and learning what I can about the KitFox and other high wings to build. Tried searching for this answer but didn’t see anything recently.

My question is around planning a long distance trip or two and the availability of Mogas on airport. From looking at the Mogas finder websites it seems there are limited airports with onsite Mogas and would prefer not to burn 100ll. How practical is it to plan trips just including Mogas selling airports? Or do most folks just burn 100ll on cross country type trips when they have to.

Are there good websites or blogs on planning something like these type trips.

Thanks

[Rodney]

I love flying long cross country trips in my Fox. On the subject of 100LL, I just resign myself to looking for the lowest cost airports near my route of flight that sell 100LL.

The only drawback is changing oil n filter at 25 hours and maybe pulling the plugs for a good cleaning.

At home, I bought a 100 gallon tank n use 91 octane w/o any ethanol, mixed with a little 100LL. Put it in the back of my pickup, so it is easy to pump it into my airplane.

For sure, DO NOT EVER USE ANY ETHANOL gas in a Kitfox.

My 912S runs ok on 100LL, better n cleaner on 91, but I've quit looking for mogas on long trips. It's just mostly not available.

Regards
Rodney

[Av8r_Sed]

Swift Fuels UL94 is a good choice where available. Availability is spreading from the Midwest out. http://swiftfuels.com/ul94-map/

[Dave S]

I keep a jug of TCP (decalin) in the back when on CX. Mostly can never find UL fuel out there, but more Swift Fuel locations are starting to show up.



Another thing to remember is Rotax advises up to 25% 100LL should not be a problem.


I have no empirical evidence that the Decalin does anything; but urban legends and tribal knowledge seem to indicate it helps keeps the lead crud in suspension in the oil to be gotten rid of and it seems to have no negative effects.


We have one FBO on the home field running rotaxes on 100% 100LL. I guess they just do the frequent oil changes and plug changes.


We mostly run corn free autogas and never have dirty plugs.

[aviator79]

I believe Stick and Rudder runs 100% 100LL with Decalin as well. It was clear while I was there that Paul takes meticulous car of his equipment.

[Delta Whisky]

I used Decalin in my RV-6 (Lycoming) for over 600 hours and swear by it. It drastically reduced the amount of "lead balls" and lead build up on the tops of the piston. I never experienced a fouled plug after starting to use it and the plugs were pretty close to "beautiful" at condition inspection - and the build up on the pistons slowly disappeared over the years. It works because it changes the chemistry of the tetra ethyl lead in the fuel during the combustion process. From the manufacture's website: Some white deposits may be seen on the plugs and in the exhaust pipe during use; this is normal with RunUp since the lead in the fuel is being converted to non conductive lead phosphate. When no additive is used, lead oxide is formed. It is lead oxide which causes plugs to misfire due to its partial conductivity shorting out the plug. In addition, lead oxide tends to form in large clumps or clinkers whereas the lead phosphate is crumbly and if any is left behind in the combustion chamber it deposits in even layers.



Of course, your mileage my vary and I'd do more research before using it in a engine with 02 sensors.