Fuel Expansion
Sit. Stay.
Joined: Oct 2001
Posts: 18,308
Likes: 20
From: Washington State
The thermal expansion coefficient of Diesel is 0.00046/°F. Assuming constant atmospheric conditions.
Example: 1 gallon pumped in a receptacle at 60° and then goes to a 150° environment.
Increase in Volume @ 150°F = (150°-60°) times 0.00046 = 0.0414 Gallons
Example: 1 gallon pumped in a receptacle at 60° and then goes to a 150° environment.
Increase in Volume @ 150°F = (150°-60°) times 0.00046 = 0.0414 Gallons
FTE Leadership Emeritus
Joined: Sep 2000
Posts: 23,174
Likes: 1,678
From: Stephensville WI
Actually not. Your formula is off a little. Your formula assumes a linear expansion (you basically multiplied 1 gallon of fuel by 1.0414 90 times) but the expansion (if charted) is actually a curved line, not linear.
Why is that, you may (or may not) ask? If a gallon of fuel goes from 60 to 61, it becomes 1.00046 gallons. Go from 61 to 62, then you need to multiply 1.00046 times 1.00046, for 1.00902, then again and again...88 more times.
This slight error widens as the temp climbs. By the time you reach 150 degrees, you would have 1.0422599 gallons of fuel, not 1.0414 gallons.
Why is that, you may (or may not) ask? If a gallon of fuel goes from 60 to 61, it becomes 1.00046 gallons. Go from 61 to 62, then you need to multiply 1.00046 times 1.00046, for 1.00902, then again and again...88 more times.
This slight error widens as the temp climbs. By the time you reach 150 degrees, you would have 1.0422599 gallons of fuel, not 1.0414 gallons.
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
'94IDITurbo7.3
Pre-Power Stroke Diesel (7.3L IDI & 6.9L)
25
Mar 16, 2012 12:36 PM
