In the Sept. 23, issue of General Aviation News, there was a letter to the editor from Jack Thompson, who wrote: “Re: Visser’s Voice: Knock free, Aug 26 issue: It is a sad commentary given that the IC engine is such an integral part of aviation that the user community is so ignorant of its […]
Visser's Voice
Winterizing your plane
A couple of days ago when I went out for my morning walk I noticed something had changed. Instead of warm and sunny, there was a chill in the air. I then realized that fall is approaching and I needed a jacket. The same kind of thing happens to many pilots each year. They are […]
Knock free
In one of my recent columns I stated that if an engine runs knock free on an 87 octane fuel, using a higher octane fuel will not benefit you in any way. I received several inquiries about whether this was for automobiles or airplanes. Basically it applies to both. In your automobile, if the owner’s […]
Flawed logic
Ben Visser is an aviation fuels and lubricants expert who spent 33 years with Shell Oil. I recently received a question from reader Bill Blank asking whether there was more BTUs in higher octane fuels and if there was any reason to use a higher octane fuel if a vehicle ran knock free on a […]
Good science
Ben Visser is an aviation fuels and lubricants expert who spent 33 years with Shell Oil. In one of my past columns, I criticized the ethanol industry and others for using “bad science” to promote their products. I received several emails from readers who felt that I was off base because, they said, the Wright […]
How long can fuel be safely stored?
The octane or anti-knock rating of a fuel is one of the most critical — if not the most critical — property of an aviation gasoline. If the octane quality of a fuel does not meet the requirements of an engine, it can lead to a total engine failure.
Testing for ethanol
Ben Visser is an aviation fuels and lubricants expert who spent 33 years with Shell Oil. He has been a private pilot since 1985. How do you test for ethanol in auto gas? Recently, I’ve received a lot of e-mails from people who want to know exactly how much the water phase volume will change […]
The fuel of the future: Is it already here?
Ben Visser is an aviation fuels and lubricants expert who spent 33 years with Shell Oil. He has been a private pilot since 1985. I recently received a note from reader Scott Shroyer, who is looking to buy a used Cessna 182 with an auto gas STC. He wants to know if it is worth […]
How long can Jet A be stored?
The main concern with Jet A is the water phase. In all large storage tanks, water is present or will form due to condensation.