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I am sure this board has some pretty smart people on it so I have a question.

In last night's Daytona 500 we saw the jet dryer catch fire and all the jet fuel burn.
So my question is ...is it possible to use diesel fuel instead of jet fuel and would it be safer.

I ask because years ago a guy that lived in town named Bob Elliott that had a jet funny car and we were always told he ran diesel fuel in it.

Jet fuel is basically higher refined diesel fuel. It is similar to kerosene. It would not have made much difference in that case. When any of the types of fuel used to power a jet engine get that hot you will have a fireball. Those dryers might use diesel since they are not for aircraft use and diesel is cheaper, I'm not sure.

I would assume jet fuel is used for racing because of a higher octane level, which would make it more combustible and therefore produce more power upon burning up. It's also lighter in weight and less viscous (it's thinner, diesel is thicker).

EDIT: Some guy posted a great deal of info on this subject that he received in response to an email question. Please note that I don't claim to understand the majority of it.

http://www.thedieselstop.com/forums/f33/jet-vs-diesel-62296/

Coelacanth wrote:I would assume jet fuel is used for racing because of a higher octane level, which would make it more combustible and therefore produce more power upon burning up. It's also lighter in weight and less viscous (it's thinner, diesel is thicker).

EDIT: Some guy posted a great deal of info on this subject that he received in response to an email question. Please note that I don't claim to understand the majority of it.

http://www.thedieselstop.com/forums/f33/jet-vs-diesel-62296/

Your kidding right? I dont know of any nascar team using jet fuel in their cars. They are all gasoline motors

shodog wrote:

Coelacanth wrote:I would assume jet fuel is used for racing because of a higher octane level, which would make it more combustible and therefore produce more power upon burning up. It's also lighter in weight and less viscous (it's thinner, diesel is thicker).

EDIT: Some guy posted a great deal of info on this subject that he received in response to an email question. Please note that I don't claim to understand the majority of it.

http://www.thedieselstop.com/forums/f33/jet-vs-diesel-62296/

Your kidding right? I dont know of any nascar team using jet fuel in their cars. They are all gasoline motors

I was responding in general terms to the original question. Funny you should pick on that detail even though it's irrelevant to the discussion... Time to put the fine-toothed comb back in your pocket!

Charlie don't surf wrote:Almost sounds like you are implying that you aren't something that the ones who don't imply they are, aren't.

Not to say that I am implying, that if you were implying that you weren't what you might not be, that I may have to imply that any such implication may be misconstrued.

Or so it might be implyed-

pretty much applies to any post I want it to!

Yup. Not sure where this thread went. He was asking about the fuel in the jet engine powered track cleaner/dryer. When dumb-ss Montoya slammed into it and it turned into a fireball. Yes the cars use 108 octane E15 unleaded.

CamplinP wrote:Yup. Not sure where this thread went. He was asking about the fuel in the jet engine powered track cleaner/dryer. When dumb-ss Montoya slammed into it and it turned into a fireball. Yes the cars use 108 octane E15 unleaded.

Hey now, JPM is a talented driver, and I mean that seriously.

Don't want to come across as a nascar hater because I'm not, it just doesn't interest me. However, the closet comedian in me has to ask: Really? We needed an actual demonstration of a stock car driver showing us why they don't drive in big giant circles fast because of rain? Really. Don't they teach drivers to slow down in the wet to stay safe?

lpddpd wrote:Don't want to come across as a nascar hater because I'm not, it just doesn't interest me. However, the closet comedian in me has to ask: Really? We needed an actual demonstration of a stock car driver showing us why they don't drive in big giant circles fast because of rain? Really. Don't they teach drivers to slow down in the wet to stay safe?

what does the rain have to do anything with what happened at daytona with montoya? it wasn't raining, the track wasn't wet. his car broke going into turn 3, and the jet dryer happened to be there.

I think he means, why cant they adapt to the rain- and as a NASCAR fan I agree, if F1 can, anyone can-

indy cars don't race on wet ovals either.

the nationwide series ran in the rain a few times (on road courses) and the racing sucked (with half the horsepower). so i'm glad they won't make the cup cars do it.

See, and I absolutely deplore Indy/Champ cars on an oval anyway. I understand why they don't in the rain-but part of me thinks they could adapt to it.

I won't race my RC-10 in the rain.

I think the majority of racing series don't run in the rain is due to the fans. Have you ever stood outside in the rain for 2-5 hrs, paid a significant amount for tickets/travel/lodging, watched rooster tails of water spray drive by you and enjoyed yourself?