Synthetic fuel

[ralphwiggum]

Did Synthetic fuels have any negative effects on Liftwaffe planes engines
or in any other ways at all

 

[ChrisMAg2]

No. It was equal in output to fuel made from crude oil.

 

[Beto Aero]

Germans developed this 'Fisher-Tropsch' cracking methode, that could build virtualy any fuel type, from Diesel to AvGas, starting from any sort of boimass. Today, South Africa (SAZOL) flyes on 5% bio-Jetfuel.
Problem is not in the first attempt: is with the prolonged use. Of course, who cares about long usage in war time?
Also, depending on how it was assembled, could lead to highly corrosive fuels. Being an ester, i.e., could be as corrosive as Skydrol!
Regards.
Beto Aero

 

[bf109 Emil]

The Role of Synthetic Fuel In World War II Germany
very good source and history of synthetic fuel, and what was needed, producted, and octane ratings..
A small quote from the topic i included

A breakthrough in gasoline production occurred in the United States in 1935 when it became technically possible to produce isooctane with a reading of 100 in large quantities. By 1939, both the American and English air forces had begun to use the improved gasoline, and their planes could then be equipped with correspondingly stronger engines. In Germany, also, a method had been discovered to manufacture such a high-test gasoline, but the process was much more complex, cumbersome, and expensive than the American method, which used different primary materials. Due to these difficulties in production, the Luftwaffe until the end of 1938 neglected to insist on the production of high-octane fuel. For this reason until 1945 the German Air Force had no fuel equal to that available in the English-speaking countries.19

How important the new aviation fuel was is demonstrated by the improved performance it made possible: 15 percent higher speed, a 1500-mile longer range for bombers, and an increased altitude of 10,000 feet. Göring attempted to make amends for the past neglect at the end of 1938 when he demanded that the 19 million barrels of aviation fuel included in the Revised Economic Production Plan be manufactured as high-test gasoline equivalent to the quality of isooctane.2

 

[Denniss]

Somewhat questionable text. It seems the author or the sources cited never heard of the german C3 fuel which was equal or better than allied 100/130 aviation fuel. As for the production cost they may have failed to notice the US had plenty of crude oil while germany had to use synthetic fuel from coal to produce high-octane aviation fuel.

I fail to see an explanation how on earth a better fuel quality should so much improve speed, range and altitude , it's writen as if only the fuel was responsible for this but it was an adoped engine with a better performance delta and/or supercharger to achieve this.

 

[syscom3]

I fail to see an explanation how on earth a better fuel quality should so much improve speed, range and altitude , it's writen as if only the fuel was responsible for this but it was an adoped engine with a better performance delta and/or supercharger to achieve this.

The higher octane fuels delayed the "knock" occuring from the high boost superchargers

 

[bf109 Emil]

"
Denniss
Senior Member"I fail to see an explanation how on earth a better fuel quality should so much improve speed, range and altitude , it's writen as if only the fuel was responsible for this but it was an adoped engine with a better performance delta and/or supercharger to achieve this."

a quick look at drag cars can solve the difference in type/power of fuel....a 484 cubic inch Kieth Black engine, with a roots type blower on alcohol makes around 1500 to 2000 horsepower...the same engine, with a simple lowering of compression ratio, and a change in Mag timing produces over 5,000 to 6,000 horsepower, all by a different type of fuel...

even the octane rating on pump fuel is around 87 for reg, 91 for premium...back in German auto fuel octane was only 40 in 1930...try using this in a corvette, or a supped up engine...

 

[Kurfürst]

Check here : Kurfurst - Your resource on Messerschmitt Bf 109 performance