Vliegwerk Holland is the European representative of Petersen Aviation regarding autofuel STC's. Together with the Deutscher Aero Club we can offer an LBA/EASA approval for using the autofuel STC in Europe. Petersen Aviation has been doing research on the use of automotive fuel for aircraft since 1983. Forty-eight different engine types and more than 100 airframes have been approved since they began conducting our tests. Included in these approvals are nearly all 80/87 octane engines, and the vast majority of airplanes in which these engines were installed. Several high compression engines are approved for the use of 91 octane auto fuel including the 180 horsepower 0-360 and the 0-235-L2C.
Auto fuel is safe for use in approved aircraft. Over twenty-five years of use has clearly demonstrated the suitability of this fuel for General Aviation aircraft. Over 34,000 airplanes world wide are now using a Petersen STC. Most foreign countries accept U.S. auto fuel STC's or have approved them in conjunction with localized Flight Manual Supplements.
The use of auto fuel is the best thing that has happened to General Aviation in the last three decades. In an era when the cost of flying has inflated to ridiculously high levels, automotive fuel STC's have done more than anything else to reduce those costs.
Installation of an auto fuel STC on a low compression 80/87 octane engine is an uncomplicated procedure. No major modifications are needed on this type of engine. We provide you with the paperwork and placards required by the FAA/EASA to make it all legal. A certified mechanic must "install" the STC by adding the new fuel placards and an engine placard. The whole process takes approximately 30 minutes. No additional modification is required on this type of engine.
The same holds true generally for the higher compression Lycoming 0-360 and 0-320 engines depending upon the airframe in which they are installed. Generally speaking when these engines are mounted in an airframe equipped with a gravity feed fuel system (no fuel pumps), installation of the STC's consists only of paperwork and placards, with no modifications made. Some people then reason why buy an STC if it's only paperwork and placards.
In some airframes equipped with suction lift fuel systems (pump fed systems), different electric fuel pumps may need to be installed to insure adequate fuel flow, and/or the fuel pump locations must be moved. The STC for the PA-28-160, -161, -180, -181 requires the removal of the factory installed electric pump. This pump is replaced with two completely different pumps and a revised fuel system forward of the firewall. Installation on this airplane takes between four and six hours, approximately double that on 24 volt PA-28's. Please ask Vliegwerk Holland for more information and prices. Click here for more info on the Piper PA-28, -160 thru -181.
A note regarding Lycoming Engines - There are STC's available for increasing 150hp 0-320's to 160hp. Not all of them provide a new data plate when the engine is overhauled and the compression and power increased. Therefore it is possible for a 160 hp 0-320 engine to have a model number indicating 150 hp. When ordering a 150 hp 0-320 STC make certain, by thoroughly examining the engine logbooks, that the horsepower is indeed 150 and not 160. The 160 hp 0-320 auto fuel STC requires 91 octane minimum. One other note here, the Lycoming 0-320 H2AD engine has not been detonation tested and is therefore not approved. Our recommendation for anyone owning one of these engines, is to run it out and then replace it with any of the other 160 hp 0-320 engines. We will then be able to provide an auto fuel STC.