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What would you reccoment for fuel in a PE90?

FP1201

Well-known member
I know this has been discussed before, and it sort of went on a tangent: The previous owner ran it on hi-test and Marvel Mistery Oil.
It's been said the Avaition gas (100LL or 110LL) is best, but it's expensive and a PITA to get.
The PE is said to be a low compression engine, that being the case it shouldn't need high octane fuel, altho a lead additive/substute should proabably be added.
Perhaps the added cost of "additive" and the price of 93 or 94 octane would come within a couple dollars per tank of the cost of av-gas.
What say you?
 
We ran my kids PE-60 on regular pump gas for years and years never had a seconds trouble with it.

Scotty :)
 
First by what you said I assume this motor is completely "stock" I have heard guys say they run 89 octane but I wouldn't (but have before) my engine is been changed up a little but still low compression 7:1 and it will run on 89 or 83 octane but not as well and it is a bitch to shut off it will spit and sputter and you have to keep playing with it to get the engine to die. I can find AV fuel down here without going to far out of the way but mostly for making it easy on me I run 93 octane (no extra additives) and it runs just fine for that matter I can't really tell any difference then AV fuel compared to 93 octane. the higher Octane AV fuel is supposed to hep the engine run cooler though.
anyway that is just how it has worked for me I sure more will post up
 
My personal opinion is you will be well advised to use 100LL as much as you can!
If you work it hard the savings for running car gas is minuscule!
The only way I would run it, is if I just couldn't get AV gas.

Grant
 
AFAIK the only modification to the engine is the Holly 2V
Pulling it over by hand it doesn't "feel" like a high compression engine, but a compression test hasn't been done either (runs nice and fires on the first turn).
 
i ran 93 in my pe150 foe years.but it would take forever and a day to start.once running it ran good .when i would get off the fuel and then back on the motor would cough . and shutting off sucked to.my buddy was impaction about going out one night and filled my tank up with av gas out of his drum.my motor never ran better.started up,no proublem.no more coughing or not wanting to shut off.i have some mechanics around here tell me to run 87 in the motor,no way.i had a very well know mechanic tell me to run avgas.i have tride the additives ,but nothings runs like 100ll av gas!!
 
FP1201":30py0tog said:
AFAIK the only modification to the engine is the Holly 2V
Pulling it over by hand it doesn't "feel" like a high compression engine, but a compression test hasn't been done either (runs nice and fires on the first turn).
A low comp GPU engine will run fine on pump gas....$ave your money
That's my 2cent... :D
 
I've run BP (formerly Amoco) Ultra (93 octane) in my PE-150 without problems. Definitely not av gas, I lose a couple 100 rpms at top end, but it's a lot more economical. I do add Marvel (approx. 6 oz per 20 gallon). I don't have a mechanical fuel pump, and shut off the electrical fuel pump to kill the engine (it takes a couple of minutes, but the engine doesn't sputter when it turns off).

If there was a local place to get 100LL, I'd pay the extra to run it, not just for the performance increase, but also for the additives which make the engine run cooler. I don't doubt that running 93-octane leads to premature loss of compression due to ring/valve/cylinder damage due to over-temp. But since the local airport is 10 miles out of the way, and there's no gas stations that sell 100LL in my area, I live with the over-temp possibilities. BTW, Marvel also makes the engine run a bit hotter, but I like the smell!!!

In short, I'd recommend 100LL if it's convenient. But 93-octane will do okay if you understand the ramifications and ride accordingly.
 
Doc Holliday":uo39wlnc said:
I've run BP (formerly Amoco) Ultra (93 octane) in my PE-150 without problems. Definitely not av gas, I lose a couple 100 rpms at top end, but it's a lot more economical. I do add Marvel (approx. 6 oz per 20 gallon). I don't have a mechanical fuel pump, and shut off the electrical fuel pump to kill the engine (it takes a couple of minutes, but the engine doesn't sputter when it turns off).

If there was a local place to get 100LL, I'd pay the extra to run it, not just for the performance increase, but also for the additives which make the engine run cooler. I don't doubt that running 93-octane leads to premature loss of compression due to ring/valve/cylinder damage due to over-temp. But since the local airport is 10 miles out of the way, and there's no gas stations that sell 100LL in my area, I live with the over-temp possibilities. BTW, Marvel also makes the engine run a bit hotter, but I like the smell!!!

In short, I'd recommend 100LL if it's convenient. But 93-octane will do okay if you understand the ramifications and ride accordingly.
Your engine makes 200 more RPM's with av gas?
 
Always run avgas in an aircraft type engine if you can. The low compression can run on pump gas but you've heard the problems associated with it. Just stay away from any of that junk ethanol. Ethanol should be used up within a few days if you get stuck with it. 100 low-lead avgas will last for over a year in your tank with no ill effects. Pump gas is good for a month.

Some of the guys I fly with put in one tank of Av-gas and another tank of Auto fuel. It seems to work all right. You just need to remember that Auto fuel goes stale in short order.
 
speed wheelie":1znf7jbh said:
Your engine makes 200 more RPM's with av gas?

I haven't checked lately, but when I first bought my boat I clocked it at 54 mph@3000 rpm. Last I checked, I hit 45@2800 rpm. Course, maybe that's something to do with the wear and tear 2 years of pump gas has on the engine.....or maybe the wind was at my back that first day......
 
The auto fuel av gas controversy has been going on since they did away with 80 & 100 octane fuel and went to the supposedly universal 100LL fuel. As a suggestion anyone using the older continental motors and experiences lead fouling. Try Alcor TCP Fuel Treatment. I have to use it it my Cub when traveling because one tankful of 100LL will foul the plugs. My other airplane has a 0320E Series engine and it will tolerate l00LL and I don't use TCP with it. My clunker airboat with the 220 GPU likes anything from 87 to 93. I do use some MM Oil for upper cylinder lubrication. Only when I have run the airboat very hard will I get any dieseling. If you have a mixture or fuel shut off this is the best method of shutting a airplane engine down. I think a person needs todo what they are comfortable with. I personally prefer Mogas and have been using it since they did away with 80 Octane. However if you have a HOTROD you better stay with 100LL. Gerry
 
Des makes a good point about fuel that has ethanol in it ...... that stuff has NO shelf life. When I have to buy it I only get enough to get me home.
 
Made a call today, the local FBO gets $4.20 a gallon for 100LL (taxes included)
94 Octane Sunoco is ~$3.10 per gallon with 93 being closer to $3.00 then factor in a bottle of marvel and there's about a $7.00 diffrence to fill the two tanks* with a mixture vs AV-gas. Maby I'll try one of each and see what happens...if nothing else my old Beemer will like it.

*(the boat uses two, six gallon Johnson outboard tanks)
 
I have been running Lucas.I started out with 93 octane and then went down to 87 with no run on and it started great.When I use 89 with no additive my motor pings like crazy under load but with the Lucas it runs great.
 
OVER BUDGET":179qmsdm said:
I have been running Lucas.I started out with 93 octane and then went down to 87 with no run on and it started great.When I use 89 with no additive my motor pings like crazy under load but with the Lucas it runs great.

I have a super charge 0540 that I have been having problems with it getting on the warm side around 190-200/ I put the lucas gas treatment in and my temp drop to 160 and stayed there... I was shocked to say the least. I guess all this time those valves were heating up good untill I put some Lucas in.
 
speed wheelie":h5gmkptl said:
We're paying $2.85 per gallon!!! :D
For high octane....right? Please don't tell me AV-gas is that cheep down there, else I'm bring back a couple drums of it on my next trip home.
 
FP1201":1zxaxx16 said:
speed wheelie":1zxaxx16 said:
We're paying $2.85 per gallon!!! :D
For high octane....right? Please don't tell me AV-gas is that cheep down there, else I'm bring back a couple drums of it on my next trip home.
Yes av gas.Right down town dundee...If your coming from lakeland, it's on the way to camp mack!!!
 
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