Rajan Wilcox
The idea of using jet fuel in cars to boost performance has been a topic of fascination for many car enthusiasts. However, the reality is that putting jet fuel in a car's gas tank can lead to costly engine damage and stalling rather than a magical speed boost. Jet fuel, which is essentially high-purity kerosene, has a very high octane rating, leading to its allure as a potential performance enhancer. While it may seem like a tempting experiment, the consequences can be severe and expensive.
What happens if I put jet fuel in my car?
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Performance boost | No |
| Engine damage | Yes |
| Costly repairs | Yes |
| Engine explosion | No |
| Engine stall | Yes |
| Hazardous | Yes |
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What You'll Learn
Jet fuel will not make your car faster
The idea that jet fuel can be used in cars to get additional performance comes up a lot, with many people fantasizing about filling their cars with jet fuel to achieve faster speeds. However, this is just a myth.
While it is true that jet fuel has a very high octane rating, which is a measure of stability, it is not designed for use in cars. Jet fuel is essentially high-purity kerosene with an additive package. Kerosene can certainly be a hazardous material, but there is no danger that your vehicle will catch fire if its gas tank is filled with jet fuel. Instead, your car will likely stall, and the jet fuel can cause severe and costly damage to your engine.
In addition, jet fuel has no lubricating properties, which means that you would need to add two-stroke engine oil to it at a specific ratio to prevent damage to your engine. Even then, there is no guarantee that your car will perform better or faster with jet fuel. In fact, modern engines are prone to problems when running on jet fuel.
While it may be tempting to experiment with jet fuel in your car, it is not worth the risk of costly repairs and potential engine damage. It is best to stick to the recommended fuel type for your vehicle to ensure optimal performance and safety.
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Jet fuel is kerosene with additives
Jet fuel is a kerosene-based product with added additives. It is defined by its performance specifications rather than a chemical compound, as its composition varies depending on its petroleum source. Kerosene is routinely called "fuel oil" in some places, and it is used in lanterns and space heaters.
Kerosene is a good fuel for jet engines because it avoids pre-ignition problems and some safety hazards. It also has a higher energy density than gasoline, and it burns slowly and relatively coolly. Military turbine engines are designed to run on JP4/JP5, which is roughly the weight of kerosene.
Jet fuel contains more sulfur, giving it better lubricity. However, it does not require a lubricity additive, unlike pipeline diesel fuels. The introduction of Ultra Low Sulfur Diesel (ULSD) brought the need for lubricity modifiers. The aviation industry's demand for jet kerosene has increased to more than 5% of all refined products derived from crude, and new processes have allowed flexibility in the choice of crudes and the use of additives.
While jet fuel is kerosene-based, it is not suitable for cars with gas engines. One source says that if your car runs well on gas, it will not run well on jet fuel. However, jet fuel can be used in diesel cars with the addition of two-stroke engine oil, as jet fuel has no lubricating properties. Tactical vehicles in the military often use JP5 or JP8, the same fuel used in aircraft, although these vehicles run better on diesel.
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Jet fuel is not volatile
It is not advisable to put jet fuel in your car. While it is possible to use jet fuel in a car, it will not run well. Jet fuel is essentially kerosene, which is similar to diesel. However, jet fuel lacks the lubricating properties of diesel, which can cause issues with your car's fuel pump and injection pump.
Jet fuel is a performance specification rather than a chemical compound, as its composition varies widely based on its petroleum source. It is defined by the requirements for the product, such as freezing and smoke points. Kerosene-type jet fuels, including Jet A and Jet A-1, have a carbon number distribution between about 8 and 16 carbon atoms per molecule. These jet fuels have a flash point higher than 38°C (100°F) and an autoignition temperature of 210°C (410°F). Jet B, a naphtha-kerosene fuel used for its performance in cold weather, has an even lower flash point, making it more dangerous to handle and less suitable for standard use.
While jet fuel may be suitable for military tactical vehicles, which often use JP5 or JP8 fuel, it is not designed for standard cars. Using jet fuel in a car can cause issues with fuel lines and oxygen sensors, leading to expensive repairs. Therefore, it is not recommended to use jet fuel in a car, as it can cause damage and is not worth the potential savings on fuel costs.
In summary, jet fuel is not a suitable replacement for standard automotive fuels such as gasoline or diesel. It lacks lubricating properties, has different performance specifications, and can cause damage to car engines. While it may be used in some military vehicles, it is not safe or practical for everyday cars.
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Jet fuel can damage your engine
Jet fuel is essentially kerosene with an additive package. Kerosene has no lubricating properties, so if you use jet fuel in your car, you will need to add two-stroke engine oil. Even then, your car's engine may still be damaged. For example, one person who ran jet fuel in their diesel car had to replace their o2 sensor every six months, and another person's fuel pump was ruined by lead in avgas (aviation gasoline).
Additionally, jet fuel is not as volatile as gasoline and has a different burn rate. As a result, jet fuel will not provide a performance boost to your car. In fact, jet fuel will likely cause your car to stall out.
While jet fuel is not likely to make your car explode, it can still be a hazardous material. If you put jet fuel in your car, you may need to have your fuel lines flushed, which can be expensive. Therefore, it is best to avoid putting jet fuel in your car.
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Jet fuel is not a fire hazard
It is a common misconception that jet fuel is a fire hazard. This myth was debunked on the TV show Mythbusters, where it was shown that bullets passing through the gas tank of a vehicle do not ignite it. Without ignition, there can be no explosion.
Jet fuel is essentially kerosene with an additive package. Kerosene is a hazardous material, and it can cause severe damage to a car engine. However, it is not volatile, and it will not cause a car to burst into flames. In fact, jet fuel has a high octane rating, which is a measure of stability. While it is true that jet fuel has a high energy density, it will not increase the performance of a standard car. The high octane rating of jet fuel is alluring to some car enthusiasts, but it is not suitable for most car engines.
The use of jet fuel in cars is not a new concept. Some people have tried using jet fuel as a substitute for racing gas due to its high octane rating, which can help prevent premature detonation (knock). However, jet fuel is less dense than racing gas and requires different carb or injector jettings. It is generally designed for very different environments.
Additionally, jet fuel does not have any lubricating properties, so using it in a car engine can lead to costly repairs. It can also cause problems with fuel pumps, especially in older, non-common rail diesel engines. In cold weather, jet fuel can freeze, causing issues when starting the vehicle.
In conclusion, while jet fuel can certainly be a hazardous material and cause severe damage to a car engine, it is not a fire hazard.
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Frequently asked questions
Putting jet fuel in your car will not boost its performance. In fact, it can stall your vehicle and cause severe and costly damage to your engine.
Jet fuel is essentially high-purity kerosene, which can be used in diesel engines but not in gasoline engines. While it has a high octane rating, avgas (aviation gasoline) is less dense and requires different carb or injector jettings.
Jet fuel is a fuel form used in aircraft, also known as kerosene or avgas (aviation gasoline). It has a high octane rating, which is a measure of stability.
Jet fuel is sometimes used in military vehicles, which often have diesel engines that can run off of jet fuel.
