Eli5: why do fighter jets use less refined fuel than cars

606 viewsEngineeringOther

Cars use gasoline but jets use something closer to diesel, maybe kerosene, that’s less combustible. Wouldn’t they need a _more_ volatile or explosive fuel to get the most thrust for performance?

In: Engineering

13 Answers

Anonymous 0 Comments

Timing is everything. You don’t want fuel to just combust, you want it to stay unexploded until the exact moment you need it.

Otherwise, your engine suffers from Premature Detonation, better known as knocking. It severely reduces engine efficiency.

Of course, coming up with fuels that cum … uhh … combust exactly on command is really hard. That’s why the stuff is so expensive, and why normal cars don’t use it. But with fighter jets, especially with a military budget, that’s less of an issue.

You are viewing 1 out of 13 answers, click here to view all answers.