Which statement is true regarding fuel viscosity and contamination?

Which statement is true regarding fuel viscosity and contamination?

• A. Jet fuel is of higher viscosity than aviation gasoline and therefore holds contaminants more readily
• B. Viscosity has no relation to contamination of fuel
• C. Aviation gasoline has higher viscosity than jet fuel and holds contaminants more readily
• D. Contamination is independent of viscosity

Answer: (A)

Viscosity affects how contaminants behave in fuel. A higher viscosity means the fuel is thicker, so solids and water droplets are more likely to stay suspended with the flow rather than quickly separate out. Jet fuel has a higher viscosity than aviation gasoline, so contaminants are carried along more readily and are harder to remove with filtration and separators. That’s why jet fuel can hold contaminants more readily than lighter, lower-viscosity aviation gasoline. The other statements ignore how viscosity influences suspension and cleanup—if viscosity didn’t matter, contamination control would be the same for all fuels, which isn’t the case, and saying aviation gasoline is more viscous contradicts typical fuel properties.

Viscosity affects how contaminants behave in fuel. A higher viscosity means the fuel is thicker, so solids and water droplets are more likely to stay suspended with the flow rather than quickly separate out. Jet fuel has a higher viscosity than aviation gasoline, so contaminants are carried along more readily and are harder to remove with filtration and separators. That’s why jet fuel can hold contaminants more readily than lighter, lower-viscosity aviation gasoline. The other statements ignore how viscosity influences suspension and cleanup—if viscosity didn’t matter, contamination control would be the same for all fuels, which isn’t the case, and saying aviation gasoline is more viscous contradicts typical fuel properties.