Hard Time

File: 082696_d50030_058.txt
Page: 058
Total Pages: 101
E.   Questions on Fuel Conversions and Vehicle Procedures

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L.   Do you have to change fuel filters on vehicles/equipment previously ser-
viced with diesel fuel when using JET A-~ or JP-5?

     Answer:  No.  No requirement exists for changing fuel filters on those
              vehicles/equipment that have been routinely exercised and pro-
              perly maintained.  For those vehicles/equipment that have been
              under some extended period of inactivity and there is some
              suspicion that maintenance may not have been as complete as
              desired, changing of fuel filter elements shoul~ be considered
              as an insurance measure.

2.   Are there any special requirements for servicing tank truck refuelers
previously containing diesel fuel prior to their being filled with JET A-~
or JP-5?

     Answer:  No.  If these tank truck refuelers will be servicing only
              ground vehicles/equipment, no special requirements/changes are
              needed.  For example, the dispensing filter/separator element
              does not need changing.  However, if these tank truck refuelers
              are to service both aviation and ground materiel, the tank
              interior should be flushed at least once with JP-5 or JET A-L,
              lines should also be flushed, and the dispensing
              filter/separator element replaced.

3.   If JET A-t or J?-5 are introduced in~o vehicles/equipment previously
serviced with diesel fuel, will there be any problems?

     Answer:  No.  With vehicles/equipment that have been routinely exer
              cised, been properly maintained, etc, there will be no
              problems.  Howe'jer, for vehicles/equipment that have been
              somewhat inactive or those which have not had proper main-
              tenance pulled such as routinely removal of water/debris from
              fuel cell/tank sumps, etc, introducing JP-5 to those
              vehicles/equipment could cause a slight increase in replace-
              ments of fuel filters.  This would be due to the presence of
              the Fuel System icing inhibitor in JP-5 which will (t) gra-
              dually kill microbiological organisms (i.e., bugs) present in
              fuel tanks where water bottoms exist and cause this "dead"
              microbiological debris to be carried into the fuel filter
              and/or, (2) slowly dissolve some the deterioration products
              left by previous diesel fuel service (i.e., gums, sediment) and
              cause this "dissolved contamination" also to be carried into
              the fuel filter.


                                   G-lo