turbo diesel tractor or not???

[RobJ]

It was the center fuel tank in the fuselage, and the FAA determined the last report I read, was heat caused by air conditioning compressors located near the tank with continous running to cool the a/c because of a long departure delay on the ground? I believe there was minimum fuel in the tank also? It is a detailed report, and the conjecture is still flying as to the cause of the explosion. The FAA recovered the center tank where the explosion occurred, but the last I read an electrical source was ruled out? Of course other theories, including a stray missle fired from an unknown submarine, bomb on board, and other stories still haunt the case.

FYI...

The National Transportation Safety Board determines that the probable cause of the TWA flight 800 accident was an explosion of the center wing fuel tank (CWT), resulting from ignition of the flammable fuel/air mixture in the tank. The source of ignition energy for the explosion could not be determined with certainty, but, of the sources evaluated by the investigation, the most likely was a short circuit outside of the CWT that allowed excessive voltage to enter it through electrical wiring associated with the fuel quantity indication system.

Contributing factors to the accident were the design and certification concept that fuel tank explosions could be prevented solely by precluding all ignition sources and the design and certification of the Boeing 747 with heat sources located beneath the CWT with no means to reduce the heat transferred into the CWT or to render the fuel vapor in the tank nonflammable.

 

[GaryCrowell]

In the Navy in the 60's on the aircraft carriers it was JP-4, and I think that was the only jet fuel available for the Navy. The runway was **** short, and the added heat over the civilian jet fuel provided more power. It's been too many years, and JP-8 maybe an upgrade performance wise! If my memory is correct, JP-4 weighed 7.1#/gal?

JP-4 was the Air Force's main fuel, the navy used JP-5. JP-5 has a much higher flash point than JP-4 so it's safer to use on carriers. You really don't want a fire to break out on a carrier, it's a bad thing. Fuel selection has nothing to do with which one provides more power on the carrier, the catapult is what gets you off of the deck, you're not going anywhere without it. Navy munitions are also different than their air force counterparts. Navy bomb bodies have an asbestos coating that isn't present in the air force counterparts. This is to keep them from "cooking off" inside the store room if a fire breaks out. Many compromises have to be made to operate airplanes off of ships, the fuel is just one of them.

Of course, all this aviation talk has absolutely NOTHING to do with turbocharged tractors. Piston turbo aircraft engines are so different than a turboed diesel that the comparison is of no use what so ever. Turbo go very nicely with diesels and in tractor applications they will not reduce the lifespan of your engine. You'll wear out the rest of the tractor before you'll wear out the engine on most modern tractors, turboed or not.

 

[Doc_Bob]

You'll wear out the rest of the tractor before you'll wear out the engine on most modern tractors, turboed or not.

That is what I am hoping. I assume clean oil clean fuel, change filter and cool down the turbo bearing at idle for a few minutes will mean many years of high pressure turbo power.
Bob

 

[Kentucky bound soon]

Thanks for your thoughts..so the bottom line is to get more HP, from a smaller motor ,at a less cost to build ????

 

[Doc_Bob]

Thanks for your thoughts..so the bottom line is to get more HP, from a smaller motor ,at a less cost to build ????

Go with factory installed turbo!
Bob

 

[daTeacha]

..... and follow the manufacturers suggestions regarding service schedules, cool down, operating style, and so on.

All you're trying to do with any form of artificial breathing on an engine is to make a small engine act like a big one when you need it, and to act like a small engine when you don't. When it's acting like a big one, the parts are stressed more, but as long as you don't mess with the overpressure relief you won't hurt it.

My '85 Saab 900 turbo had a PO who apparently messed with the overpressure mechanism in some way I never discovered. The thing would blow fittings out of the plenum chamber or elsewhere if I wasn't a little careful. I finally wired them in place since it was so much fun listening to the turbo spool up and then watching the scenery disappear in the rear view mirror. The engine was never hurt by what I estimate to be about 20 lb of boost. Newer ones will allow something like 21 lb. of boost for short periods right out of the box.

 

[whitetiger]

You stated the difference in your first sentence. I was refering to a mechanic that works on farm tractors, not over the road diesels. I've never seen a farm tractor with 16,000 hours on the original engine. Two completely different applications.

I have seen severial farm tractors with over 16,000 hours on their original engine.

 

[Soundguy]

I've personally worked on a tractor that had over 10000 hours on it and the engine was running strong... So i know they can make it at least that long, if taken care of.

Soundguy

 

[Turbys_1700]

I've personally worked on a tractor that had over 10000 hours on it and the engine was running strong... So i know they can make it at least that long, if taken care of.

Soundguy

Around here in the NC piedmont you have smaller farms and the units don't get as many hours on them. I would expect down east where larger tracts are used that higher hours are more common as you have in Florida. It's just not commone here in the NC piedmont / foothills.

 

[Soundguy]

Around here in the NC piedmont you have smaller farms and the units don't get as many hours on them. I would expect down east where larger tracts are used that higher hours are more common as you have in Florida. It's just not commone here in the NC piedmont / foothills.

Sounds reasonable. Tractor usage seems to be very different region to region, depending on use.. etc ( row croppers, high clearance models.. cultivators..e tc.. )

Soundguy