REFLECTOR: Fuel Consumption Performance

Scott Derrick scott at tnstaafl.net
Wed Aug 12 08:08:34 CDT 2009


Doug,

I'd like the details of that fuel filter incident? What kind of filter
you running? Was it a bad load of gas?

I used to have one of those little cylindrical filters you get at
autozone. glass tube with a replaceable white fabric(looked like
release) filter. About 2 inches long, maybe a 3/4 inch in diameter. I
always worried about that thing. replaced the filter twice a year.

Now I have a Fram canister filter that is 4inches in diameter, 4 inches
long, with a regular paper insert filter. Its 20 times heavier but can
hold a lot more gunk before clogging up.

Scott



Douglas Holub wrote:
> Got back from vacation today-- Texas to Seattle and back. My fuel
> filter clogged up at 10,500 feet between Butte and Missoula in the
> Rockies. Pretty exciting. Ask me about that story some time.
> Last two legs were Laramie, WY to Denver FTG, then FTG to Dallas. Had
> to divert around some thunderstorm activity, so those two legs were
> 765 nm on 38 gallons of fuel. 5.9 hrs on the hobbs. That's 20.1 nm/gal
> including two take offs and landings. Average TAS around 140-145 kts
> at 9500 feet, 2400 RPMs, 50 degrees LOP. IOX-360 with electronic
> ignition. FG with a retractable nose gear. Fixed pitch, 2-blade prop.
> Standard fuselage. Hauling about 475 lbs of people and baggage.
> Doug Holub
> N2980W, 95 hrs
>
>     ----- Original Message -----
>     *From:* Tom Tolton <mailto:tjtolton at charter.net>
>     *To:* 'Velocity Aircraft Owners and Builders list'
>     <mailto:reflector at tvbf.org>
>     *Sent:* Thursday, August 06, 2009 8:08 AM
>     *Subject:* Re: REFLECTOR: Fuel Consumption Performance
>
>     Thank you all for the data on my fuel consumption question. I
>     especially appreciate the time spent to help me better understand
>     what is involved. It is a pleasure to be part of a group so
>     interested in building and flying.
>
>     *From:* reflector-bounces at tvbf.org
>     <mailto:reflector-bounces at tvbf.org>
>     [mailto:reflector-bounces at tvbf.org] *On Behalf Of *Al Gietzen
>     *Sent:* Tuesday, August 04, 2009 12:15 PM
>     *To:* 'Velocity Aircraft Owners and Builders list'
>     *Subject:* Re: REFLECTOR: Fuel Consumption Performance
>
>     Corrected data below - I made an error on the number for Dave’s
>     plane; it should be 15.2 nm/g at 165KTAS. So you can delete the
>     previous message and look at this one.
>
>     Al
>
>     -----Original Message-----
>     *From:* reflector-bounces at tvbf.org
>     [mailto:reflector-bounces at tvbf.org] *On Behalf Of *Al Gietzen
>     *Sent:* Tuesday, August 04, 2009 7:54 AM
>     *To:* 'Velocity Aircraft Owners and Builders list'
>     *Subject:* Re: REFLECTOR: Fuel Consumption Performance
>
>     Tom;
>
>     Fuel burn is directly proportional to power produced; and speed
>     increases by the cube root of power; so it’s very dependant on
>     speed. But 6.2 gph at 125 is very good.
>
>     Here’s a tabulation of what people have reported. Numbers given
>     for fuel consumption are hard to compare because of different
>     conditions, and degree of leaning, so everything below is
>     approximate. Comparing at TAS helps as it eliminates some
>     variables on air density.
>
>     Just computing in nautical miles per gallon (nm/g)
>
>     Jim - - - - - - - - - - - - 20.4 @ 143
>
>     Tom’s friend - - - - - - 20.2 @ 125
>
>     Terry - - - - - - - - - - 16.8 @ 193
>
>     John - - - - - - - - - - - 15.5 @ 165
>
>     Dave - - - - - - - - - - - 12.9 @ 185
>
>     My SE RG with 20B rotary does roughly as follows: speed, burn, nm/g.
>
>     120
>
>     	
>
>     6.2
>
>     	
>
>     19.4
>
>     140
>
>     	
>
>     7.3
>
>     	
>
>     19.2
>
>     160
>
>     	
>
>     9.0
>
>     	
>
>     17.8
>
>     180
>
>     	
>
>     11.4
>
>     	
>
>     15.8
>
>     In an effort to compare at the same speed, I assumed then
>     relationship with speed would be about the same as my plane (using
>     least squares fit to data). So translating to 165 KTAS, the nm/g
>     comes out as follows:
>
>     Terry - - - - - - - - - - 20.4
>
>     Jim - - - - - - - - - - - - 18.8
>
>     Tom’s friend - - - - - - 18.1
>
>     Al - - - - - - - - - - - -- - 17.4
>
>     John - - - - - - - - - - - 15.5
>
>     Dave - - - - - - - - - - - 15.2
>
>     Terry’s look very good (too good?); Dave’s are not leaned; and of
>     course, the 173 FG with 200 hp could probably not go 165 KTAS.
>
>     It is interesting to note that, for my plane, the nm/g flattens
>     goes pretty flat as the speed goes below 140 KTAS, but does peak
>     at about 130 – 135. So if you are looking for minimum cost per
>     mile; somewhere about that speed may be it; but you’d have to run
>     the numbers for your aircraft.
>
>     Hopefully this doesn’t lose its formatting when transmitted.
>
>     FWIW,
>
>     Al
>
>     -----Original Message-----
>     *From:* reflector-bounces at tvbf.org
>     [mailto:reflector-bounces at tvbf.org] *On Behalf Of *Tom Tolton
>     *Sent:* Monday, August 03, 2009 3:29 PM
>     *To:* reflector at tvbf.org
>     *Subject:* REFLECTOR: Fuel Consumption Performance
>
>     I recently traveled to Oshkosh with a friend who owns a Velocity
>     173 with fixed gear and a 200 HP fuel injected Lycoming. He was
>     able to reduce gas consumption to 6.2 gallons per hour at 10500
>     feet and maintain a speed of about 125 nm/hr using LOP techniques.
>
>     I am building a XLFG -5 with constant speed propeller. I am
>     looking for what one might expect in minimum gas consumption using
>     LOP techniques at a density altitude of 10000 feet. I am
>     considering the Lycoming IO540 260 and 300 HP, as well as, the 310
>     HP Continental 550N. It has been suggested that if I buy one of
>     the more powerful 300 HP engines I will just be able to run with
>     less throttle and bring the fuel consumption to a reasonable level.
>
>     I would appreciate any comments / experience of the builders and
>     owners with a similar XLFG configuration.
>
>     Tom Tolton
>
>     989-835-5828 (Home)
>
>     989-750-8567 (Cell)
>
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