DiscoWings

My Feedback: (76)

I have turbines from 2 manufacturers and after running diesel for sometime both of them have recommended I go back to JETA or KERO; These are both German Made turbines. They said the issue they found was igniters getting cooked up and needing cleaning. This was about after 7 hours or run time and I am wondering if this is because during startup Diesel doesn't burn as fast as kero or jeta. I also notice more "flames" with diesel and a bit rougher start, however, once it gets going it runs the same for the most part (albeit acceleration is a bit choppier).

Other than the issues with igniter for the most part both mfgs said internals look normal and they found no difference between this and kero.

I wanted to get some more opinions on people that have been running diesel for a while, how have things been treating you guys.

chrigui

After 30hrs running diesel in jetcat no cooking in combustion chamber and kerostart

DiscoWings

My Feedback: (76)

Is there a difference between European Diesel and the Diesel we have in the U.S.?

chrigui

I don't know but diesel fuel is very good now ..because it's serve sofisticated engine car injection system and must to be
good for reduce bad emission in the atmosphere

we have lot of turbine that run on diesel without any problem...

OIL 3,5% NOT 5% as usual

George

My Feedback: (57)

No issues with diesel for me; and yes they do smoke more on start & shutdown (the only downside IMO)

I don't know, chrigui may be on to something with the 3.5% vs 5% oil, but I don't want to be guinea pig unless authorized by the engine manufacturer.

B.S.

You need to use less oil when you change to diesel (3-4%)

chrigui

no problem on bearings with diesel... 30hrs on jetcat , no problem on other engines also
we have a good oil..no toxic and no dte similar... it' s new product ...like aeroshell but without toxic components

Vincent

My Feedback: (61)

Hi Chris
We have ultra low sulfur diesel here in the US do you have the same in Italy??
Vin...

chrigui

hi vincent...i think yes...for last anti smog rules and euro 6 or euro 7 engines

vinnyjet

My Feedback: (39)

I have been runing diesel in jetcat kero start turbines no issues
vinny

josecilurzo

Well, my experience on diesel :
i have 12 jetcat, i allways runs on jeta1, since last january i'm using diesel S10, mixed 4 to 4,5% turbine oil, after around 100 hs run time on ours jetcats ( gas and kerostarts ), they running absolutely ok, verya reliiable, fast response and smooth, but, after many ratio mix ( diesel x jeta1 ), to me the best ratio is 70% diesel to 30% jeta1.
Doesnt have smoke on startup and shutdow.
in my last inspection on jetcat, the engine was in perfect conditions.
I will change the oilt to Dte32 light.

jose

Zeeb

My Feedback: (41)

Most definitely a difference. The Europeans get some really good stuff with much better lubrication properties. More power, better mileage and less maintenance.

The stuff we get here can really cause problems with the Bosch high pressure common rail fuel injection systems used on most trucks. Those systems originally came out working at 22,000 psi. and I think they run higher than that now. The American diesel does not lubricated those parts very well and if you get any water in it, it'll cut the fuel injectors just like a water jet cutter in a machine shop.

On the Jet A; it's gotten quite difficult to get that stuff anymore as the EPA told all the FBO's (Fixed Base Operators) that they could not sell aviation fuel over the counter. It's thought that they wanted to stop people from buying AvGas for snow machines, jet skis' and such. There was no mention of still selling Jet A so most FBO's will not sell it to you.

Kero is a bit expensive if you buy it in the prepackaged 5 gal. containers at Home Depot or such, but if you look around, unless you're in California, you can usually find distributors who will sell it to you in your own containers for about $5.00 a gallon and it doesn't stink as bad as the Jet A.