fuel additive

[bnrg]

Hello,
We are doing some testing of Jet A and the issue came up of additives. Our vendor tells me that a product called diethylene glycol monomethyl ether is added to the fuel to enhance the fuels lubricity, but he doesn't have any details on this. A google search revealed that it inhibits micro-organism growth but that was all that I could find. Does anyone have any experience with this? This is for use in the USA.

Thanks,
Bob

 

[FieldTeam]

Per ASTM D 1655 and D 4171:
diethylene glycol monomethyl ether is added as a fuel system icing inhibitor.

 

[johnSchwaner]

Do a Google search under "PRIST" by PPG Chemicals.

This is a fuel system icing inhibitor. Years ago it was also advertised and sold as a icing inhibitor / biocide.

In the late 1970's or 1980's they dropped the biocide from the label. I was told at the time by PPG that they would have to license the product as a biocide and that it was less costly to sell the product as a icing inhibitor only. It can also be used in AVGAS (at lower concentrations) as a icing inhibitor both for the fuel system and to inhibit carburetor icing.

In 30 years of selling the product I have never heard of it described as enhancing the fuels lubricity.

 

[bnrg]

Thankyou for your replies gentlemen.

 

[Boathouse]

Pratt and Whitney have a Service Bulletin whose number escapes me at the moment that gives dosage levels for a lubricity enhancer called DCI4A. It is actually a corrosion inhibitor primarily but does "up" the lubricating properties of the fuel as a by product. The dose levels are so small that it is only detectable by performing a wear scar test or a rust test. We have not found a way to detect it, let alone measure the concentration in our fuel in the field.

Hope that helps.

Oh, DCI4A is made by a company called Innospec (used to be Starrion I believe).

 

[DavidLeyman]

Diethylene glycol monomethyl ether is added as an icing inhibitor. It doesn't do anything to the fuel but lowers the freezing point of the water, I am told. It has limited capability as a biocide but anything that helps prevent fungus can only be good. We took many pounds out of a C130 in Singapore after all four engines stopped on taxi out (how lucky was that?!).
Lubricity? No. We used to use a lubricity additive sometimes with a special metering bottle attached to the fuelling hose but it was only tiny amounts. Can't remember what i was called - possibly some trade name for Boathouse's DCI14A.

 

[WKTaylor]

bnrg...

There is a ton of data on jet fuel... but like everything, specifics are necessary.

What's the Spec for Your Jet Fuel?? ASTM D1655-08??? ASTM D6615-06??? foreign equivalent???

Check the spec for approved additives... then start calling...

Regards, Wil Taylor