Aircraft nearly brought down by Tesco Fuel

anotheruser

Inch_High wrote: »

Well done.

You're not allowed to buy or store it in a 20 litre container. 10 litre is the maximum and it must be metal.

You bought the fuel illegally and want tesco to do something about it.

Come again?

How was it purchased illegally?
My petrol container is plastic, so are many of the other ones I see for sale :S

I use Tesco fuel on and off and don't notice a difference in distance travelled or anything. As another poster said, fuel is fuel, it all comes from the same place and the differences in quality won't be that much compared with the difference in price.

shaun_from_Africa

You stated that you added fuel to your microlight, using that bought at Tesco.
What was the fuel quantity already in the tank and did you carry out water and debris contamination checks on both the microlight tank and the Tesco fuel before adding it?

Why, when you first realised that your microlight engine was producing 10-12% less power than it should have done, didn't you immediately abort your flight?
If my car was running badly and wouldn't rev as high as I expect it to, I would know that I had a problem. I might well keep driving, the difference being that if my engine packed up I wouldn't be at 1000 to 2000 feet altitude.

One other thing that could have a bearing on what happened.

Last week bought 20 litres of Momentum top-grade petrol from Tesco Market Weighton, to go in the Microlight;
..
Following weekend puts fuel in aircraft,

Was the fuel in your safe keeping in the time between buying and using?
If not, there is the possibility (however remote) that someone either deliberately tampered with it, or borrowed some and when they replaced it, replaced it with diesel instead of petrol.

AdrianC

anotheruser wrote: »

Come again?

How was it purchased illegally?
My petrol container is plastic, so are many of the other ones I see for sale :S

Yes, they are. Five litre plastic containers are legal.
http://www.fireservice.co.uk/safety/fuel-storage

The Law

Storage of fuel at home or the workplace (unless specifically licensed) is restricted by law to either metal containers with a maximum capacity of 10 litres or approved plastic containers of a maximum 5 litres capacity. These containers should be designed for the purpose and must be fitted with a screw cap or closure to prevent leakage of liquid or vapour.

Petrol and diesel fuel should be stored in no more than two 10 litre metal containers or two 5 litre plastic containers. They should be clearly labeled as to their contents.

Just because people sell containers doesn't make it legal to use them...

But, no, that's the least important of the various factors involved here.

shaun_from_Africa

Not that it has any bearing on the problem being discussed, but this is just for general information.

If the petrol was stored in a hangar that classes as a workplace, then it wouldn't have been illegal to store it in a 10L plastic jerry can provided that it was kept in a secure well ventilated area clearly marked as being for flammable materials.

Workplaces are no longer covered by the storage regulations mentioned in the post above, instead they are now covered by the "Dangerous substances and explosive atmospheres regulations" and the petroleum containers regulations no longer apply to workplaces (apart from filling stations).

mgdavid

DigForVictory wrote: »

You fly on fuel that scumbles car engines?

I've a Customs & Excise pal who won't use Tesco's stuff - the Road Fuel Testing Unit team regard it as right on the border between dubious & hazardous.

They hold that there are passable cheap teabag teas in life, but no cheap answers for acceptable fuel.

1) there is no Customs & Excise
2) OP bought Momentum which is 99 octane.
3) I run a race car on Momentum, it's good stuff. My son is a fuel test analyst and his company put the additive pack together so if produced to standard it should be good.
4) plenty of opportunity for human error in the delivery chain between refinery and microlight tank however.

bigjl

I think i was correct the first time.

Very impressive to troll with such a far fetched story and get it to 4 pages.

Well done that troll.

bigjl

mgdavid wrote: »

1) there is no Customs & Excise
2) OP bought Momentum which is 99 octane.
3) I run a race car on Momentum, it's good stuff. My son is a fuel test analyst and his company put the additive pack together so if produced to standard it should be good.
4) plenty of opportunity for human error in the delivery chain between refinery and microlight tank however.

I remember a proper rolling road test done with the performance orientated pump fuels.

And if memory serves Momentum was not very good.

It was several years ago now though.

I tbink they compared a normal car and an Impreza.

It might have been Fifth Gear.

I prefer Fifth Gear in many way over TopGear.


And not just because of VBH.........

Well.......er.....

andygb

neilmcl wrote: »

I never said there wasn't and I'm not the one trying to tell the OP how he should fly a microlight when I have absolutely no experience myself.

I was agreeing with you;)

myhooose

bigjl wrote: »

I think i was correct the first time.

Very impressive to troll with such a far fetched story and get it to 4 pages.

Well done that troll.

I've just checked the microlight forums and the OP is a known experienced and respected microlighter, assuming it is the same guy who has posted here and not a troll who has copied his story.

bryanb

It's always best to avoid naming companies on an internet forum. Especially on such a contentious issue as the quality of their product.