Let's see if I understand everything that I don't know about this gas/water/alcohol issue. First, water and gasoline don't mix. Second, gasoline and alcohol will mix, but it's an unstable mixture at best. If something is introduced into the gasoline i.e.. water, that the alcohol likes better, it will divorce the gasoline, and attach itself to the water. Third, water, even though it won't burn, will pass through the fuel system, and out the exhaust. It will make it's passage without burning, thus no power is produced during this process. Fourth, if you have water in the fuel, and you introduce sufficient alcohol into the tank to completely "absorb" the water, it will then also pass through the fuel system, but in the process it will burn and produce power. Thus, as it passes through you do not experience engine failure and bumpy landing. So, even though upon inspection, it looks as though you still have water in the system, it's actually an alcohol / water solution that burns. Do I understand this correctly?
Larry [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: > As I understand it, water will sometimes stay suspended in gasoline. > Normally, though, the water separates out to the bottom of the container > showing a distinct surface between it and the gasoline. > > Obviously, since they sell it that way, alcohol will stay suspended in > gasoline. > > But, when water and alcohol mix in the gasoline, the alcohol will come > out of the gas/alcohol suspension and mix with the water. As far as I > know, the alcohol is distributed evenly throughout the water/alcohol > mix. Water/alcohol is, I think, a solution, not a suspension. (A > solution likes it that way, a suspension just needs an excuse to > separate.) > > If you mix one inch of water with 10 more inches of gasohol in a tube, > shake it, it will _look_ like you now have two inches of clear liquid. > (10% of the gasohol is alcohol = 1" in the tube.) > > If your engine gets a slug of water, it will pump it through as long as > the prop keeps turning -- but no power is being produced. You might get > carb icing for all I know. If the engine is windmilling, the cylinders > pump air and, presumably, suck liquid out of the carburetor jets. The > common question is: do you contact the ground before the water is pumped > out and the engine develops power again? > > If you have gas line antifreeze in your tank, the gas and water mix, > separate and pass through the engine, hopefully continuing to produce > power in the process. This works fine in cars. > > To the best of my knowledge, gas line antifreeze is NOT authorized in > aircraft. It certainly attacks sloshing compound inside the tanks and > makes a suspension of slush flakes and dirty gas. Perhaps someone knows > if it also attacks other fuel system components. > > After my forced landing from gas line icing, I used HEET some when I was > suspicious of water accumulation or contamination. I eventually stopped > because of the sloshing compound issue. I've wondered if I could arrange > a pump to push a bottle of HEET into the nose tank if the engine stops > the next time I fly below zero. Probably won't mess with the HEET > injection idea but that stuff sure cleans out gas line ice FAST! > > [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: > > > > I'm confused (something everyone on the "other" list is well aware of). I > > thought the alcohol absorbed the water, allowing it to pass through the > > system > > and be burned. You're saying it separates out like the water. How then > > does it > > pass through the system? > > -- > Ed Burkhead > Peoria, Ill. > Ercoupe N3802H, 415-D > > --------------------------------- > to unsubscribe send mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] > > _____________________________________________________________ > Check out the new and improved Topica site! > http://www.topica.com/t/13 --------------------------------- to unsubscribe send mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] _____________________________________________________________ Check out the new and improved Topica site! http://www.topica.com/t/13
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