One of the joys of being retired is that I get to read more of the newspaper each evening. Now the front page has all of the big stories that are of worldwide importance, like the Kim Kardashian marriage that lasted only 72 days. But if you read the inside pages, you can find some […]
Visser's Voice
Why lead reduces knock
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 […]
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 […]