100VLL vs 100LL

Tom-D

Tom-D

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Tom-D
How do you know what you are buying at the pump?

100VLL has the low limit for TEL to meet the same spec, that may be as much as 39% in most cases.

The industry has been over dosing the 100LL for years to appease the 100/130 fans by placing the upper limit of TEL in the 100LL.

100VLL is the same color, same spec. so how do we know what we are buying.

yes it is a big deal when we run engines certified on 73 oct and foul plugs on the 100LL
 
Do what I did - switch to Jet-A.....:ihih:
 
1) You didn't know before. What you were buying could have had anywhere between 0 and the maximum limit of TEL for 100LL. There was no minimum limit to the lead in 100LL

2) If the pump is labled 100VLL the potential range of lead is now smaller so you know more about what you are getting (the possibility of the higher lead content is reduced).

3) From what I have read, what you actuall will get is exactly what you have been getting for the past few years. Most (all?) 100LL sold today meets the 100VLL standard. So, if you are lead fouling plugs now, you will keep fouling them on the 100VLL.
 
Capt. Geoffrey Thorpe said:
1) You didn't know before. What you were buying could have had anywhere between 0 and the maximum limit of TEL for 100LL. There was no minimum limit to the lead in 100LL

2) If the pump is labled 100VLL the potential range of lead is now smaller so you know more about what you are getting (the possibility of the higher lead content is reduced).

3) From what I have read, what you actuall will get is exactly what you have been getting for the past few years. Most (all?) 100LL sold today meets the 100VLL standard. So, if you are lead fouling plugs now, you will keep fouling them on the 100VLL.
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Mind telling us where you got that info?

if it is true, why did we get a new designation for VLL ?
 
Tom-D said:
Mind telling us where you got that info?

if it is true, why did we get a new designation for VLL ?
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From the various places that I read about the 100 VLL in the first place.

It's a paper excercise to make people less upset about leaded av-gas - since purd near all of the stuff out there is already using less lead than allowed, they can change the spec. to match what is acutally being sold. Changing the spec then reduces the calculated potential for lead contamination from aircraft exhaust / spills.

http://www.pilotsofamerica.com/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=23829&d=1316021387 has some of the info.

They are reducing the maximum by 19% but the stuff out there is already up to 39% less than the maximum for ll.
 
Capt. Geoffrey Thorpe said:
From the various places that I read about the 100 VLL in the first place.

It's a paper excercise to make people less upset about leaded av-gas - since purd near all of the stuff out there is already using less lead than allowed, they can change the spec. to match what is acutally being sold. Changing the spec then reduces the calculated potential for lead contamination from aircraft exhaust / spills.

http://www.pilotsofamerica.com/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=23829&d=1316021387 has some of the info.

They are reducing the maximum by 19% but the stuff out there is already up to 39% less than the maximum for ll.
Click to expand...

actually the spec does limit the lower limit.. or it could not meet the requirements of 100 ?LL

getting back to the question,, how would you know what you are putting in your tank?
 
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You only know if it's labeled. Or by asking the FBO who may have to ask their supplier.

From the end-user's point of view since labeling isn't required, it's a useless specification.

It allowed the EPA numbers for lead released to the world to be lowered to reality instead of being at the upper limit as a "worst-case" scenario.

Government changing things to make other government reports look better, mainly. Probably tied to (or about to be) incentives to refineries to lower lead content.

I could ask around in the refinery biz contacts I have and see if anyone's bothering to produce the high-lead 100LL above the VLL spec, but I bet the answer will be "depends on the refinery and their gear". Might also depend on those alleged "incentives".
 
Tom, the best way to tell is to mix a small amount into your hot buttered rum. If it kills you just a little bit, it's 100VLL.
 
Tom-D said:
actually the spec does limit the lower limit.. or it could not meet the requirements of 100 ?LL

getting back to the question,, how would you know what you are putting in your tank?
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The minimum octane doesn't change

You didn't know how much lead was in there before. You don't know how much is in there now.
 
Reminds me of a Q&A at the Coors brewery several decades ago. Colorado has 3.2 beer and someone wanted to know the difference in process to limit the alcohol to 3.2. The answer was that their beer typically is around 3.2 anyway, so they just check more carefully before labeling a batch as such.

I think I heard that 100VLL is much the same game. 100LL has been down to or below the 100VLL maximum lead content, so it's just a name game at this point.
 
coors is 3.2? who would've guessed it was that high.
 
Blue Moon is what to drink from Miller-Coors if you must. Although the name "Banquet Beer" has an interesting reason, historically.

You will all have to come out here for the brewery tour (free and free beer) to find out. I'll drive, you fly. ;)
 
flyersfan31 said:
Do what I did - switch to Jet-A.....:ihih:
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So did you stay in the PA46 family, or did you upgrade further? Inquiring minds want to know. ;)

I've been adding Jet-A aircraft to the list of what I fly. I'm still not entirely sold on them.
 
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