Mogas CO₂ emissions per gallon and liter

Mogas to CO₂ converter

Enter the fuel you burned. The result is the CO₂ from burning it, and what it costs to offset.

CO₂ from common amounts of mogas

Our factor next to the agencies' factors

Each agency publishes its own figure for this fuel. They differ because of the fuel density and heat content each one assumes.

Each agency publishes one unit. We convert volumes at 3.785 liters per US gallon, and show a per-kg figure only where the agency gives one. CO₂e adds methane and nitrous oxide to CO₂. The per-kg figure on this page uses 0.75 kg per liter.

Why mogas releases more CO₂ than avgas

By the US EPA's figures, mogas carries 70.22 kg of CO₂ per million BTU against 69.25 for avgas. A gallon of mogas also holds more energy: 0.125 against 0.120 million BTU. Together, a gallon of mogas releases 5.7% more CO₂ than a gallon of avgas. The gap is the same per liter.

Other agencies show a smaller gap

UK DESNZ lists 2.34 kg of CO₂ per liter for petrol (100% mineral) and 2.28 for aviation spirit: 2.5% more per liter. We use the US EPA figures for both fuels.

For the aircraft below, the calculator keeps the avgas factor. A pilot who flies them on mogas emits about 5.7% more than the calculator shows. For your own flights, multiply the gallons you burned by 8.78.

These factors are for fossil gasoline. If your mogas holds ethanol, we still count the full figure and make no deduction for the biofuel share.

Burn mogas only where your aircraft's maker and your authority approve it. Check the engine manual and the aircraft flight manual.

What this factor covers

The factor covers burning the fuel only: the CO₂ that leaves the exhaust. It leaves out producing, refining and moving the fuel, and effects other than CO₂ such as contrails.

Counting the whole chain (well to wake) gives a higher figure. UK DESNZ lists 0.61 kg of CO₂e per liter to produce and deliver this fuel, which is 26% on top of the 2.34 kg of CO₂ per liter from burning it. We do not add it to your figure: one basis keeps every aircraft page comparable.

Aircraft on TrimCarbon that often run on mogas

CO₂ per flight hour at typical cruise fuel flow. Each name links to the aircraft's own page.

Worked examples

• A 2-hour flight in a Tecnam P2008 burns 10.6 US gal (40 L) of mogas. At 8.78 kg per gallon, that is about 93 kg of CO₂. The calculator prices this aircraft on the avgas factor, which gives 88 kg for the same flight.
• Burning 50 L of mogas releases about 116 kg of CO₂, or 0.12 tonnes. That fuel is 13.2 US gal and weighs about 37 kg.

Keep reading

• GuideHow to calculate your flight's CO₂ emissionsThe formula, the emission factors for avgas and jet fuel, three ways to get your fuel figure, and a worked example for a year of flying a Cessna 172.
• GuideUnleaded avgas fixes lead, not CO₂: what each new fuel changes for your planeUnleaded avgas barely moves your CO₂ per hour. By Diamond's figures, a Jet-A diesel DA40 cuts it by about 15% to 27%. What each new fuel changes, with a checklist for owners, renters, schools and clubs.
• CalculatorFlight emissions calculatorEstimate the CO₂ of a year of flying in your aircraft.
• FuelAvgas 100LL8.31 kg of CO₂ per US gallon and 2.20 kg per liter.
• FuelJet A and Jet A-19.75 kg of CO₂ per US gallon and 2.58 kg per liter.
• FuelAll fuelsAvgas 100LL, mogas and Jet A side by side, per gallon and per liter.