100 Octane Low Lead in OPE engines?

[KGMtech]

I work part-time doing grounds and building maintenance at the local flight school. We have 34 aircraft that use 100LL aviation fuel. We just had to repair one of our 1 year old Ariens snowblowers due to the 87 Octane unleaded deteriorating over the 3 off seasons - despite using Stabil. The question is can we use the 100LL instead of 87 ? all the fuels in SW Ontario, maybe all of Canada, are now using ethanol which causes so many issues.

No Cats on the lawnmowers or the snowblowers, so other than a possible lead film on the sparkplugs will we see anything to worry about?

 

[Whimsey]

You breathing the lead fumes in since you're right by the exhaust.

 

[jetman]

I use 100LL in all my lawn care equipment (homes in 2 states), snow blower, & 2 cycle golf cart. and have for 30+ yrs. No issues. My stihl weed eater and chainsaw I purchased new in the mid 80s.
I have my own aircraft.

 

[wings&wheels]

No problem at all, unless you use synthetic oils...then maybe. I used 100LL in my ope for years as it has a long shelf life and no ethanol.

 

[KGMtech]

You breathing the lead fumes in since you're right by the exhaust.

When I was a teenager, I pumped gas for Chevron in Vancouver when they were just introducing Unleaded. Lots of exposure to regular and premium leaded fumes and some skin exposure almost every shift. Now all these Cessna's are spewing 100LL doing their start-ups.

I'm at more risk driving home than breathing at the airport.

 

[y_p_w]

Is it even legal?

That being said, there might be issues with lead deposits. Not sure about the valves, but it should be easy enough to periodically check the spark plug for lead fouling.

https://ngksparkplugs.com/en/resources/read-spark-plug​

LEAD FOULING​

Lead fouling usually appears as yellowish brown deposits on the insulator nose. This cannot be detected by a resistance tester at room temperature. Lead compounds combine at different temperatures. Those formed at 370-470°C (700-790°F) have the greatest influence on lead resistance.​

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I'm thinking that power equipment rings aren't that tightly sealed and you might also want to look into oil contamination.

 

[Jackson_Slugger]

I work part-time doing grounds and building maintenance at the local flight school. We have 34 aircraft that use 100LL aviation fuel. We just had to repair one of our 1 year old Ariens snowblowers due to the 87 Octane unleaded deteriorating over the 3 off seasons - despite using Stabil. The question is can we use the 100LL instead of 87 ? all the fuels in SW Ontario, maybe all of Canada, are now using ethanol which causes so many issues.

No Cats on the lawnmowers or the snowblowers, so other than a possible lead film on the sparkplugs will we see anything to worry about?

I don't know the laws there about importing fuel, but in NY they sell 90 octane "recreational fuel" with no ethanol. I use it for whatever small engines I have left...

 

[Rand]

I'd pass you can get lead buildup in your engine, and you breathe in the lead fumes.

Drain gas tank and store dry by running the carb out of gas. or drain carb bowl too.

 

[MRC01]

As you already mentioned, lead damages catalytic converters, so don't use it in engines that have them. Other than that, avgas should present no problems. It has no ethanol, low vapor pressure, and a long shelf life.

 

[Cujet]

I've used 100LL in my various small engines for years. Never a problem. As you know, 100LL will last for years (if sealed) with no issues. In fact, I had a Kawasaki powered Snapper mower that was jetted too much on the lean side. The 100LL solved that problem and it ran like it should on Avgas. The engine made it about 20 years, and what took it out was bending the crankshaft twice.

 

[nbpt100]

I work part-time doing grounds and building maintenance at the local flight school. We have 34 aircraft that use 100LL aviation fuel. We just had to repair one of our 1 year old Ariens snowblowers due to the 87 Octane unleaded deteriorating over the 3 off seasons - despite using Stabil. The question is can we use the 100LL instead of 87 ? all the fuels in SW Ontario, maybe all of Canada, are now using ethanol which causes so many issues.

No Cats on the lawnmowers or the snowblowers, so other than a possible lead film on the sparkplugs will we see anything to worry about?

Stabil helps but is limited. Your problem is basically ethanol in the gas not the octane. Going to LL 100 octane in a small engine is a waste of money. You can not adjust the timing so you may lose some power as it burns slower. The lead has health issues. Well established and not controversial. See if you can get Non ethanol gas that is often available in a 90 to 94 octane range. It is usually more economical and will have better shelf life. Also, part of your problem was storing E10 gas for 3 years. Do not store conventional E10 gas for more than 6 mo. Even if treated with some kind of stabilizer. You can put it in your daily driver so it is not wasted. I know people have said they have used the LL100 in their lawn mower for 20 years. That does not mean they optimized the engines life. Plenty of lawn mowers go 20 plus years on conventional gas with semi regular oil changes. My opinions, but based on facts. Not emotion.

 

[RDY4WAR]

It'll work though not ideal.

 

[wag123]

There isn't any problem whatsoever using 100LL in OPE. It solves more problems than it causes. I used it at my shop for 6 months of the year, it prevented come-backs on machines that were serviced in the fall and winter.

 

[RDY4WAR]

In a naturally aspirated engine on ground level, I prefer a fuel with a better flame speed index. It makes starting easier and usually improves throttle response. (the later part not really mattering to an OPE running steady state) I like the 20% distillation point to be <150°F. Pump gas is ~145°F, race fuels meant for NA engines are down in the 125-140°F range. 100LL is way up at 195°F. It's this way to ensure the fuel won't vaporize in the tanks in the low pressure environment at high altitude. The last thing any pilot wants is a vapor-locked engine mid-flight. Of course, an air-cooled OPE will quickly reach head/valve temps above 200°F and thus the fuel will vaporize readily. In my own experience, 100LL has been a little prone to cold starting. Not terribly so, not like E85.

The later issue is seen more in low temperature operation such as drag racing, where coolant temp may be just 120-140°F at the line. I've seen more than one occasion where switching to 100LL, from pump gas or a more appropriate race fuel, slowed an NA car down a few hundreths in the 60ft. They would still have the same MPH on the top end though so power wasn't lost, just response was due to less of the fuel being vaporized in the chamber at the time of ignition.