Jet A as Diesel Fuel

[California]

I think I would consult with an injector shop, since that is where the mis-fueling failures end up. They've seen it all.

I suspect they will tell you you will be ok using a lubricity additive, and you may need one that increases the cetane rating so you can get the tractor started in cold weather.

For your occasional use, it sounds like keeping a few quarts of additives on a shelf is preferable to a new diesel storage system.

 

[Arkie1940]

Since the airport is a government entity, I have to write a bid spec. and go out for bids. I can't just pick a tractor and go buy it. I think I'll put something in the spec to the effect that the manufacturer's warranty position if Jet A is used as a fuel will be an item of interest but not an overriding consideration. Bottom line is, we will do what is needed to maintain the warranty for the period of time that it is in effect. If we can use Jet A, I'll look for recommendations from the supplier on additives to use. If injectors are the weak point, running Jet A in a Massey Ferguson 255 and a Woods mower with a 26 HP Kubota engine as well as a Diesel engined fuel truck has not been a problem.

 

[tommu56]

I read the book Icebound, the take the jet fuel out of the planes for the anartic station for their diesel generators

tom

 

[AlanB]

Yes, you can do it, will post more thorough answer tomorrow.

 

[AlanB]

OK, in the FWIW category

Jet A and JP-8 are almost identical.

Your military uses JP-8 for Everything it has. (well darn near and close enough for this discussion)

The problems encountered when switching from Diesel to JP-8 that amounted to problems (and I bet you will encounter them) were two, kind of 3.

Older equipment developed a lot of leaks, filters clogged. I believe this was caused because the JP-8 was more "solvent" and broke the accumulated junk loose, in doing so a lot of seals and o-rings etc started leaking that had not been a problem in the past.

The engines in the heavy equipment such as dozers at our landfills, road graders etc. lost some percentage of power... Now, was that operator placebo effect? lack of BTU's in the JP-8 compared to Diesel we discussed this at length and I for one am not convinced of any of it, but I did not get the opportunity to operate in both conditions myself, and to be honest do not have the experience to notice fine differences that an operator that operates the machines on a daily basis notices.

Currently, we run diesel in the graders and tractors for the roads and grounds folks.

JP-8 runs in all military diesel engines including the JD tractors moving aircraft etc. etc.

We will probably start running our recycled JP-8 in our oil truck shortly, now that the money is available to fix it if it causes problems.

 

[psj12]

The military figures an 11% reduction in power from DL2 to JP8. JP8 is basically Jet A with ludricosity additives. I would not use Jet A without Lubricosity additives.
I have performed Dyno tests on military/civilian engines that confirm the 11% power loss.

 

[AlanB]

psj12, do you know exactly which additives or different, or could you point me in the direction to find out?

We are kind of having a round robin discussion as to what the exact difference is.

I was thinking along the lines that the FSII was different but that was the big difference.

Several manufacturers show the same MSDS for both.

 

[SkyPup]

psj12, do you know exactly which additives or different, or could you point me in the direction to find out?

Aviation Fuels: Index

 

[AlanB]

Too cool, thanks skypup.

 

[Mahana79]

i can attest to the use of JP-8 in al of our Ground Equipment at my base since i am a mechanic for it. we run JP-8 in all of it, all the way from little single cyl Yanmar and Hatz engines to bigger 6V92TA 2 stroke Detroits. we have equipment with all makes and models of engines- John Deere, Cummins, Izuzu, Hatz, Yanmar, Detroit, CAT, and this is all heavily used stationary equipment that may run for several consecutive shifts