AVGAS grades & colours
Aviation fuel is dyed by grade, so you can identify it by colour (TC AIM AIR 1.3.1, Table 1.1):
| Fuel | Colour |
|---|---|
| AVGAS 80/87 | red |
| AVGAS 100/130 | green |
| 100LL | blue |
| aviation turbine fuel (Jet A) | straw-coloured or undyed |
Using fuel other than specified for the aircraft is contrary to a condition of the Certificate of Airworthiness and may seriously damage the engine and cause an in-flight failure (TC AIM AIR 1.3.1). Never substitute a lower grade than the engine calls for; in an emergency use the next higher grade (TP 1102).
Trap: do not go by the tank or truck label alone, confirm the grade by colour before fuelling, and never accept a lower grade to "get by".
References
- TC AIM AIR 1.3.1
- TP 1102 (Flight Training Manual)