Mixing different colors of Avgas

[Bernoulli]

Does anyone know what happens when you mix two different types of avgas... lets say mixing Blue 100LL with green 100/130? I don't mean what your engine would do, but what it would look like in your fuel tester. Do the collors mix and create another "warning" color or do the colors separate so you would see blue over green for instance? Thanks in advance for any comments.

 

[propilot]

This may seem a bit obvious, but why don't you just conduct a little experiment in your free time...might get yourself one of them there educational benefits in the mean time...sorry, it just seems odd that a fueler who has access to the needed components would be asking everyone else for help instead of helping him/herself...

 

[FearlessFreep]

From what I have been told in the past when two different types of dyed fuel are mixed together the fuel will turn clear and have no color. Haven't been around avgas lately. It was my impression though I could be wrong that the only Avgas widely available is 100 LL. Since Mogas, (auto fuel) is being approved and widely used, I would not think that you would have any problems mixing those two fuels.

The biggest problem at this point in time would be mixing Jet A and Avgas. That's a big problem but has been somewhat negated with the use of different nozzles. The Jet nozzle for overwing fueling is rectangular and will not fit in the smaller tank openings of Avgas burning aircraft.

Jeez Propilot, how 'bout a little patience! I would think that you would have learned that with all your "Gold Seals". We all have to start somewhere, Don't you remember when you first started off. Just ask a question, and not re-invent the wheel if don't have to. Not only that having an "experiment" has the opportunity of developing a environmental hazard of a possible "fuel spill" and all the inherent paper work and ensuing bureaucratic morass. Can't just go take some off the trucks after all the gage starts click off immediately and has to be accounted for. If you go draining the sumps of some aircraft your not affiliated with it might be misconstrued that your stealing fuel. (This rhetorical segue is partially in jest!) Relax!

Good Luck To Us All!

 

[EagleRJ]

The mix would probably still be a blue/green shade. There won't be any "warning color" and it won't be clear.

There won't be any octane problem either. The octane of the mix will be at least as good as 100, and may even be higher than 130, since sometimes mixing fuel results in an octane rating even higher than the componants.

The color doesn't guarantee sufficient octane, though. Mix mogas and 100LL for instance, and the result is still blue.

 

[Tags68]

hmm
ya know its funny, i know i was told by a ground school instructor that if you mix 2 different grades, the color would fade and appear to be clear. i wanna say is would also happen if you mixed it with automotive gasoline..
ill have to look into that..
interesting.. maybe i heard it wrong..

 

[Lead Sled]

Where are you getting 100/130 avgas? Just wondering.

 

[mmmdonut]

I'm pretty sure that "It'll turn clear" story is a big ole rumor/urban legend.

 

[Lead Sled]

I'm pretty sure that "It'll turn clear" story is a big ole rumor/urban legend.

No, it's not an urban legend - if you mix 80 and 100 octane avgas, the mixture does indeed turn clear. It's just that most of you guys have never seen 80 octane avgas. I haven't seen any of the recently approved 82 octane fuel and I don't know how the dyes in it will react when mixed with 100 LL. By the by, there are different dyes used with "road" diesel (road taxes paid) and "farm" diesel (no road taxes). That way, it makes it easy for the powers that be to see if any of you guys are running "off road" fuel in your 18-wheelers.

Lead Sled

 

[Bernoulli]

This may seem a bit obvious, but why don't you just conduct a little experiment in your free time...might get yourself one of them there educational benefits in the mean time...sorry, it just seems odd that a fueler who has access to the needed components would be asking everyone else for help instead of helping him/herself...

Touche'... ya... I probably should update my personal info... I have not been a fueler for quite some time now. Even so, I was fueling only jets and did not have access to Av-gas... only JET-A. I think the idea of doing a field test is a good idea though...if I could come up with two different colors of av-gas. I guese I could mix 100LL with some jet-A. I really would like to see what would happen when red 80 is mixed with blue 100LL. If anyone has actually done the test and seen it with their own eyes please let us know. Thanks

 

[great cornholio]

I've never seen it done in real life, but I saw some pictures of it. It turned clear. It was a couple of pics where it showed them mixing red and blue. I forget where I saw the pics, but I think it was in the training binder when I was a line guy. Anyways my FBO only sold Jet-A and 100LL so I never had a chance to try it in real life. We did accidentally get a load of monster truck fuel once. (of course once we took the sump from the truck we never hooked it up to the fuel farm) It smelled like Jet-A, but it was a yellow-brown weird color.