Why Isn't Aviation Fuel Used in Cars?
However, they are way too slow compared to airplanes that cruise at over 600 miles per hour. Can we give race cars a “speed boost” by switching from gasoline to aviation fuel?
The answer is a big NO. Aviation fuel has more in common with kerosene than gasoline and will not help cars go faster; worse, it will ruin the engine.
Airplane engines are designed to operate in extreme temperatures and more hostile environments (outside air temperature for an airplane flying at 36,000 feet is ~-70o F). Aviation fuel contains additives, including lead, to function smoothly at extreme temperatures and reduce the risk of icing or explosion. If used in cars, aviation fuel will seriously damage pistons, the catalytic converter and other expensive parts.
The fuel combustion in a car engine is intermittent whereas it is continuous in an airplane engine. This means the fuel used in an airplane should have a higher-octane rating, which is a measure of how slow fuel burns and how long it can withstand heat, pressure and compression before igniting. A higher-octane rating is achieved with additives which are not suitable for car engines. Aviation fuel is more expensive to produce as well.
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