Mailing List flyrotary@lancaironline.net Message #39459
From: James Maher <deltaflyer@prodigy.net>
Subject: Re: [FlyRotary] Re: Fiberglass fuel tanks
Date: Sun, 16 Sep 2007 15:11:07 -0700 (PDT)
To: Rotary motors in aircraft <flyrotary@lancaironline.net>
Steve,
Thanks for the reply.
I'm am sure that Vinyl ester will hold up to Avgas as intended with the Glasair
but I am looking for anyone who has experience with it and modern-day Mogas
with ethanol.
Are Glasair parts made with vacuum bag and autoclave technology?
My epoxy tank held up well for almost 5 years to Mogas with MTBE but soon after
ethanol was added it began to deteriorate.
In all the searching on the web I have not found anything that says conclusively that
Vinyl-ester is impervious to E10 (Gasoline with 10% ethanol).
I'd like to find someone who can say that they have been running this fuel for a year or more without any adverse effects on their fiberglass fuel tanks.
There are many using Mogas (RV's) but most have aluminum tanks.
Also, many regions in the country do not ad ethanol to the Mogas.
There are many fiberglass aircraft but most use Avgas.
I need to find the small minority who have both fiberglass fuel tanks and use Mogas with ethanol.
I figure if those folks are out there, they will be on this list.
Hope to hear from them.
Jim

Steve Thomas <steve@stevet.net> wrote:
I'm not flying yet, but the resin system used in my aircraft is impervious to ethanol.  I'm building a Glasair, and the resin system is a Dow 411-45 vinyl-ester resin system.  The vinyl-esters were originally designed for making fiberglass underground gas tanks.  All Glasairs have a integral gas tank in the forward part of the wing.  

However, be cautious about using any vinyl-ester or polyester resin system over epoxy.  It won't stick.

Best Regards,

Steve 
____________________________________________________________________


On Sep 16, 2007, at 12:41 PM, James Maher wrote:

Is there anyone in this group who is running Mogas with ethanol exclusively and also has
fiberglass fuel tank(s)?
If anyone fits this profile and their tanks are holding up and not leaking or softening please respond with what type of resin system was used.
I used the Aeropoxy brand epoxy and this did not hold up.
I am looking for an alternative.
Thanks,
Jim


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