Andy,

You seem to have made a great discovery.

We have probably all discovered having to increase compression when the ether content gets low. Since kero is the power ingredient, it definitely runs hotter. I have always added ether so it will run at a lower compression setting...less stress on the parts. I'm wondering how much running at a higher compression will shorten the life of the engine. Still, considering the decrease in fuel cost, perhaps it will be justified.

You have tried ABC and AAO, I wonder if iron/steel will run OK or perhaps get thermal runaway.

I wonder if you could use a glow that has not been converted to diesel. I think you could adjust head shims to get the optimum compression setting, and you could use the glow plug with booster to heat the engine up to running temp. When you disconnect the booster, the glow plug should assume the ambient temp of the combustion chamber since there is no alcohol to sustain a catalytic reaction. The glow plug might eliminate the need for a ether prime.

Hmmm. all the possibilities!

George