Octane rating

Here's a question for our 4 Pet Depot, Warendorf guy....

I always remember in BAOR, mid sixties, that the Petrol Jerry Cans were labelled as 'MT 80.' I suppose the 80 meant Octane rating 80.

What was the Octane rating of the petrol which preceded the 80? The reason I ask is because what ever it was, it burn't engine valves out and caused lots of unecessary work!

It was probably 74 Octane, but don't take that as gospel.

I seem to remember my late stepfather talking about Octane ratings (he was RAF during WW2)

Paul.

Right Paul a bit before my time but,80 (octane) MTGAS F-50 was preceded by 74 MTGAS F-50

You probably know that the F-XX denotes interchangeability within NATO forces.

There appears to be just one Armed Forces gasoline type left. F-67 ULGAS . Octane rated at 95 ,unleaded. I hate that ULGAS name and I do know who was responsible for it.

Through the 80s the move was to eliminate all gasoline powered vehicles from Armed Forces use. Fuel to be of course diesel. At the same time the Single Fuel Concept (SFC) was mooted. The idea being that all vehicles ON THE BATTLEFIELD would run on aviation kerosene. An idea not too popular with the brass hats. "You're not running my tanks on aircraft fuel."

Originaly I think the type of fuels were divided thus,

1 Army - Petrol

2 Navy - Diesel

3. RAF - Kero

In the late 60 the Army went a funny way! They introduced Multi-Fuel vehicles into the fleets including Fighting Vehicles.

Apparently, Chieftain Tanks which ran on diesel, could be converted to run on. umm! Petrol?? Apparently it was supposed to involve just a few adjustments!

I never saw a vehicle converted, so I cannot comment on the feasability!

alan8376 wrote:

....Apparently, Chieftain Tanks which ran on diesel, could be converted to run on. umm! Petrol?? Apparently it was supposed to involve just a few adjustments!

I never saw a vehicle converted, so I cannot comment on the feasability!

Was that the K-Series engines? I believe that they were the multi-fuel engine. The theory was apparently that if it contained a reasonable amount of alcohol (in any form) it could power the engine.

Likewise, I never saw or heard of a K-Series engine running on anything but diesel.

Paul.

Paul,

You are correct it was the K-Series Engine.... Not sure if I am correct, but I reckon the Bedford MK had the ability, or not!

I must look at the Internet.

Alan

Just found this on the net.

The MK has been produced with a variety of different bodies with this version depicting the standard cargo truck. Initially the MK was fitted with A Bedford 330-93 6 cylinder multi fuel engine but this was replaced in 1981 was a more powerful diesel engine with the resulting vehicles being known as the MJ series.

Alan