Unleaded is recommended providing you've followed the Europa fuel line plan
and PFA conditions of use, especially regarding measures to avoid the risk
of vapour locks. Certainly not LRP - which is not approved for aviation use!
Avgas is the next best bet if you can't comply with unleaded conditions of
use (e.g. temperatures > 20C.)or are unsure of your unleaded supply quality.
Another oil recommended by Rotax is Motul 3100 (now rebadged 5100). This is
a high quality semi - synthetic motorcycle oil, with gear additives, made in
France - available mainly in motorcycle shops. I have used it for the last
100Hrs+ (OK so far).
Regards
Roger Mills
141
-----Original Message-----
From: owner-europa@aztec.houxou.com
Subject: Right oil ! now what about the fuel ???
Mark Waite said
> Anyone considering using automotive fuel or oil additives in their a/c
engine. Please don't.
Thanks for the warning Mark, though I am not sure (from the comments on this
forum) that anyone was seriously considering using an additive - certainly
not Slick !!!!.
However, having spent the last week trying to establish which oil would be
best to use in my Rotax 912 (Europa) I came accross information from Rotax
themselves (in my engine manuals) that certainly confused me until Fred
Fillinger pointed me in the right direction (ie-
www.rotax-owner.com/sdocs.htm). My operators manual says that I should use a
good grade automotive oil without additives whereas the maintenance manual
says use a Motorcycle grade oil with gearbox additives (note the use of the
word "additives" !!!).
A trip to my local branch of Halfords confirmed that Castrol oil was
available in abundance (Castrol GPS and Castrol R4 Superbike) but there was
no mention of additives (gearbox or otherwise) on any of the labels. A visit
to the Castrol WWW site was no help either.
Further research indicated that my choice of oil should be determined by
whether I intended to use avgas or unleaded fuel. In fact once you get there
it is all very clearly explained in the Rotax Information sheet 18UL97.
---From what I have eventually gleaned from the information sheet there are
only two oils (in the UK) that fulfil the optimum requirements (ie- must be
able to scavenge residual lead compounds from the engine and also contain
the gearbox additives ). They are Castrol GPS and Shell Advance VSX4.
I feel that a little guidance from Europa in the engine installation manual
would not go amiss.
This leads me on to the question of which is the best fuel to use. There
seems to ba a choice between unleaded, lead replacement , 4star leaded and
Avgas (100LL). Again I am not sure which one Rotax considers the best. No
doubt the answer is buried somewhere in those Service Information circulars.
Any suggestions !!!
----- Original Message -----
From: "Mark Waite" <Mark@europa-aircraft.com>
Subject: Re: Europa-Mail: Slick 50?
>
> Before working for Europa, I was sales manager for the UK subsidiary of a
large American additive manufacturer. I can tell you that (in my experience)
none of the commercially available, automotive additives will work in aero
engines without producing potentially harmful side effects.
>
> If you want the best possible protection for your engine, buy good quality
oil of the recommended grade, and change it regularly.
>
>
> Mark A.Waite
> Sales Manager
> Europa Aircraft Company
>
>
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