Your engine is beautiful, I love that it's diesel. I work in a small smart systems lab for the University of Maryland, and have a few questions for you about the engine performance. Do you have any estimates on torque, power output, or engine efficiency numbers or What type of fuel exactly does it run on? I know most mini diesel engines run on a highly specific blend of diesel mixture and not just regular diesel. One of my lab colleagues is travelling to Australia this summer and was curious as to where exactly your lab is? Thank you very much. I'm very impressed with your engine!
Peter replied:
Pete,
The engine is very tolerant of fuel formulae, providing that there is a sufficiently high percentage of oil to maintain lubrication to the plain bearings.
Most commercial fuels are OK.
I use a straight-forward 1/3 each of ether, kerosene and castor oil for the initial hand start and test run. I prefer 35% ether, 30% kerosene, 33% castor oil and 2% amyl nitrate when it has had some use. Brian Winch, when testing for the June '04 Airborne review, used a standard fuel with ease.
I don't yet have full figures. I have been very conscious of "user friendliness" and configured the engine design for torque rather than top RPM; but it is certainly no slouch and will still turn well over 11,000 rpm on a 6x3!
I have put two video and audio starting and running clips on the Pictures page.
I am inland of the Queensland, Gold Coast. Feel free to contact me if you should wish to visit.
Peter
On Friday 28th 2004f May 2004, Pete Gackenbach wrote:
Peter replied: