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Quiz: Can You Answer These 5 Aircraft Fuel Questions?

This story was made in partnership with AOPA. Ready to join the largest aviation community in the world? Sign up and become an AOPA Member today.
Boldmethod

What's so hard about aircraft fuel?


  1. 1) How much does 100 low lead fuel weigh per gallon (at ISA)?

    100LL weighs 6 pounds. Actually, it's 6.01 pounds at 15 degrees C, if you want to be exact.

    100LL weighs 6 pounds. Actually, it's 6.01 pounds at 15 degrees C, if you want to be exact.

  2. 2) Engine pre-ignition is _______.

    Pre-ignition is an event where the air/fuel mixture in the cylinder ignites before the spark plug fires. It's usually caused by hot spots in the cylinder, a spark plug that's too hot, or carbon deposits in the cylinder.

    Pre-ignition is an event where the air/fuel mixture in the cylinder ignites before the spark plug fires. It's usually caused by hot spots in the cylinder, a spark plug that's too hot, or carbon deposits in the cylinder.

  3. 3) You sample the fuel out of an aircraft, and it's slightly straw colored (very pale yellow). What kind of fuel is on board?

    When it's straw-colored or clear, you have Jet A on board. 

    When it's straw-colored or clear, you have Jet A on board. 

  4. 4) Engine detonation is ________.

    Detonation happens when small pockets of fuel/air mixture ignite at the wrong time, typically before the spark plug fires. This causes shockwaves and a 'pinging' sound in the engine. It's also referred to as engine knocking.

    Detonation happens when small pockets of fuel/air mixture ignite at the wrong time, typically before the spark plug fires. This causes shockwaves and a 'pinging' sound in the engine. It's also referred to as engine knocking.

  5. 5) Prist (fuel system icing inhibitor) is made of __________.

    To be specific, it's actually Diethylene Glycol Monomethyl Ether, or DEGMME. And when it's added to fuel, any water that is in the fuel is prevented from crystalizing down to temps as cold as -85 degrees Celsius. That's cold.

    To be specific, it's actually Diethylene Glycol Monomethyl Ether, or DEGMME. And when it's added to fuel, any water that is in the fuel is prevented from crystalizing down to temps as cold as -85 degrees Celsius. That's cold.

Those were some tough fuel questions...

You scored %. But you learned quite a bit along the way.

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Not bad, you have most of these fuel questions down.

You scored %. Nice work.

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Nailed it!

You scored %. Well done.

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Ready to join the largest aviation community in the world? Sign up and become an AOPA Member today.


Colin Cutler

Colin Cutler

Colin is a Boldmethod co-founder and lifelong pilot. He's been a flight instructor at the University of North Dakota, an airline pilot on the CRJ-200, and has directed the development of numerous commercial and military training systems. You can reach him at colin@boldmethod.com.

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