• Steel Soldiers now has a few new forums, read more about it at: New Munitions Forums!

  • Microsoft MSN, Live, Hotmail, Outlook email users may not be receiving emails. We are working to resolve this issue. Please add support@steelsoldiers.com to your trusted contacts.

Flip a switch to use gas?

Micmada

Active member
159
211
43
Location
Florida
Some guy at Walmart talking to me about my M35 and he be like “yeah I drove those trucks in the Army back in the days blabla….can use any fuel,just had to flip this switch if you ran on gas”.

is there such a switch? Or is it a different engine?
 
  • Like
Reactions: HDN

Micmada

Active member
159
211
43
Location
Florida
Nope. His mind is clouded now.

Anything other than AV gas is OK, mixing fuels permissible.

BTW, if any of you are in an attainment area and have to pass a smog test, running it on straight gas will net you a better score on CO2 and particulates.

Conelrad
I know. I often have those “former” new experts coming up to me and telling me how my truck runs. Drives me crazy sometimes.
 

Micmada

Active member
159
211
43
Location
Florida
Nope. His mind is clouded now.

Anything other than AV gas is OK, mixing fuels permissible.

BTW, if any of you are in an attainment area and have to pass a smog test, running it on straight gas will net you a better score on CO2 and particulates.

Conelrad
Interesting. I hear alcohol is about 120 octane. I once read in article (that I cannot find anymore) that 117 octane xylene or toluene was used to improve cetane in some additives, but I might have seen a mirage because that stuff is too dry. What you say makes sense about high octane being a negative on cetane, since both are opposite, so to speak. AcGas uses lead for ignition delaying, though.
 
  • Like
Reactions: HDN

G744

Well-known member
Steel Soldiers Supporter
1,725
3,885
113
Location
Hidden Valley, Az
It is simple: Lead or other Octane raisers in gasoline retard the flame front upon ignition to stave off knocking, but that makes it harder to ignite on time in a Diesel engine.

The only thing I worry about running used oil in my trucks is the residual acid level. I have found that testing my used oil usually isn't that acidic so it gets filtered and goes in my fuel tanks. I suspect this is about the only good that comes from low-Sulfur or oxygenated fuels.

If it really turns the blue Litmus paper red (usually from friends that save it for me), I use it to start manure piles on fire.

Conelrad
 

ldmack3

Well-known member
Steel Soldiers Supporter
849
1,740
93
Location
N. Central Idaho
Had a guy tell me the biggest concern was that if bumped in gear the engine would start and run backwards.
 
  • Wow
Reactions: HDN

DaneGer21

Well-known member
614
1,162
93
Location
Creston, Ohio
Actually, on some trucks that have dual tanks, a switch could be used to use fuel from a different tank, which could have “different” fuel in it. He isn’t wrong…
 
  • Like
Reactions: HDN

glcaines

Well-known member
3,917
2,608
113
Location
Hiawassee, Georgia
When I was in the army, I saw a deuce left in gear that was bumped from behind and it took off with several guys chasing it. It must have been in 2nd or 3rd gear because it was moving fairly fast, but one guy caught it before it hit anything. It was a severe penalty to leave a truck in gear - parking brake only.
 

INFChief

Well-known member
722
1,348
93
Location
New York
Some guy at Walmart talking to me about my M35 and he be like “yeah I drove those trucks in the Army back in the days blabla….can use any fuel,just had to flip this switch if you ran on gas”.

is there such a switch? Or is it a different engine?
No switch. Just dump whatever you had for fuel in the tank.

My wreckers had dual tanks and there was a LEFT & RIGHT tank diverter valve to pull from which ever tank you wanted.

Now I’m trying to remember if it had a L & R switch for the fuel gauge?
 

98G

Former SSG
Steel Soldiers Supporter
6,089
4,493
113
Location
AZ/KS/MO/OK/NM/NE, varies by the day...
No switch. Just dump whatever you had for fuel in the tank.

My wreckers had dual tanks and there was a LEFT & RIGHT tank diverter valve to pull from which ever tank you wanted.

Now I’m trying to remember if it had a L & R switch for the fuel gauge?
They do. Switch in the dash controls where the fuel gauge looks. Lever next to driver seat controls where fuel comes from.

I know of at least two people who thought the dash switch was all that was needed.....
 

HDN

Well-known member
2,127
5,128
113
Location
Finger Lakes Region, NY
When I was in the army, I saw a deuce left in gear that was bumped from behind and it took off with several guys chasing it. It must have been in 2nd or 3rd gear because it was moving fairly fast, but one guy caught it before it hit anything. It was a severe penalty to leave a truck in gear - parking brake only.
I'll have to remember that. I've always parked stuff with manual transmissions in gear, even my dad's WW2 and Korean-era gassers. But diesel doesn't need an on switch to work unless there's an electric fuel shut-off solenoid valve.
 

ldmack3

Well-known member
Steel Soldiers Supporter
849
1,740
93
Location
N. Central Idaho
My A2 has 2 tanks.
There is a switch for the quantity indicator, a switch for pump select and valve in the floor for tank select. I considered making the indicator switch a double pole to combine with pump select but I figured there will be times I want to double check what is in the other tank without turning a pump off and another on. It does draw without the pump on at idle but I've never tried while at cruise.
 

Micmada

Active member
159
211
43
Location
Florida
When I was in the army, I saw a deuce left in gear that was bumped from behind and it took off with several guys chasing it. It must have been in 2nd or 3rd gear because it was moving fairly fast, but one guy caught it before it hit anything. It was a severe penalty to leave a truck in gear - parking brake only.
I started the deuce in gear after driving around the m923, forgot it was not automatic. Almost drove through my son in law's and daughter's house. That would have been a doozy, dad.
 
Top
AdBlock Detected

We get it, advertisements are annoying!

Sure, ad-blocking software does a great job at blocking ads, but it also blocks useful features of our website like our supporting vendors. Their ads help keep Steel Soldiers going. Please consider disabling your ad blockers for the site. Thanks!

I've Disabled AdBlock
No Thanks