Understanding Model Jet Engines
Sound & smell - why we love them. 

by John Salt - Last Update August 2022

When I first started doing research on model jet engines (also known as model turbine engines) years ago, I was at first amazed a jet turbine engine could be made so small and even though they were a few thousand dollars, I actually thought they would have cost more.

Wren Manual Start Model Jet Engine

However, model turbine engines are actually very simple in design & principle; not at all like complex axial flow turbine engines.

After all, model turbine engines really only have one moving part - the main rotating shaft that is attached to the compressor wheel/blades at the front of the engine and the turbine wheel/blades at the back end.

Model Turbine Shaft Assembly. Turbine On The Left, Compressor On The Right, Shaft Connecting Both.
Model Jet Engine Diffuser AssemblyDiffuser Assembly

The three most complicated parts of a model jet engine are the compressor, the diffuser/stator assembly, and the combustion chamber where the compressed air enters the combustor and fuel is vaporized and evenly distributed to ensure proper and complete combustion.

This is where model jet engine development costs are astronomical to even get these things to run; never mind run consistently & reliably throughout the entire RPM range of the model turbine engine. 

Shown below is the stainless steel combustion chamber out of my Wren MW54 model jet engine while I had it apart for inspection and overhaul. The diffuser stator vanes shown aid in combustion and cooling as they redirect the swirling turbulent air from the compressor into a smooth flow, lowering the flow velocity while increasing pressure before being introduced into the combustion chamber.

Model Jet Engine Combustion ChamberModel Jet Engine Combustion Chamber

The materials are very important and have to be of the highest quality to be able to withstand the high temperatures and the extremely high centrifugal forces produced.

The rear turbine in this model jet engine for example is cast from Inconel 713. The same expensive, exotic, nickle-chromium alloy that is used in many full size turbine engines.

Inconel 713 offers outstanding resistance to heat, oxidation, and thermal fatigue up to temperatures approaching 1000 degrees Celsius.

After all, the compressor and turbine blades are spinning upwards of 200,000 RPM.

I still can’t get my head around this number - that’s over 3000 rotations per second! Even at idle, these little engines are spinning at around 50,000 RPM (almost 1000 revolutions per second).

Exhaust gas temperatures can get as high as 850 degrees Celcuis during start up; the hottest and most dangerous time of all jet engine operation for model and full size alike.

As there is little airflow through the engine at this time, cooling is at it's lowest during startup. Hot start turbine damage (melted or over fatigued parts) is one of the most feared outcomes of improper starting of any turbine engine. Thankfully these days, the FADEC engine control system almost eliminates any possibility of hot start damage in our little model jet engines.

Exploded View Of Model Jet Engine

As you can imagine, machining tolerances are absolutely critical as is balancing on these little engines. It's the high quality materials, precision, hand assembly, and the decades long development costs you are paying for.

The two following photos show this precision & quality very well. During my Wren MW54H turbine engine overall where the ceramic bearing had to be replaced; I had to send the entire Inconel 713 turbine wheel and shaft back to Wren Power Systems Ltd. I could have replaced the bearing myself, but the turbine must be removed from the shaft to facilitate bearing access, and afterward the assembly would no longer be in balance.

Model Jet Engine Turbine Dynamic Balancing - Note The Brand New Silicon Nitride Angular Contact Ceramic BearingInconel Turbine Wheel Grind Locations For Dynamic Balancing - Note The Brand New Silicon Nitride Angular Contact Ceramic Bearing :-)
Shaft Grind Location For Dynamic Balancing

After the technicians at Wren Power Systems replaced the bearing, they had to then dynamically balance the turbine and shaft assembly using a very precise dynamic computerized balancer.

Small amounts of metal are then ground off both the turbine wheel (both front & back faces) as well as on the front of shaft to achieve perfect dynamic balance of the entire assembly. This takes time, skill, and care to do correctly.

The video below shows a very "quick" overview of the model jet engine manufacturing process. Not everything is explained correctly, but you will get the general idea of "how it's made".

Here's another interesting video showing a see through model jet engine in operation.

Model Jet Engine Fuel

The fuel used in these little jet engines is the same as the big ones:

Jet-A, regular kerosene & some even allow use of readily available diesel. Follow your engine manufacturer's recommendations when in doubt.

Lubrication, A Bigger Topic

Mobil 254 model jet engine oilMobil 254 Jet Engine Oil

You must also add a little bit of turbine lubrication oil such as Mobil 254 or Mobil Jet II Oil, to the Jet-A, kerosene or diesel. This oil is used to lubricate the bearings.

That said, aviation jet oil is not exactly the best stuff to be burning and breathing in as it's considered to be quite toxic; it was never intended to be part of the combustion process after all.

Moreover, not much of the fuel oil mixture is actually diverted to the bearings for lubrication; so in effect, you are burning the vast majority of this toxic oil (along with your money) that isn't even being used for lubrication purposes.

Mobil Jet 254 and other aviation turbine oil is getting bloody expensive and can be hard to find. Up here in Canada we are shelling out about $35 for a quart (I get/got it from our local helicopter base which sells the stuff).

I'm not saying Mobil 254 isn't a good model jet engine lubrication oil (I used it for a good number of years), but most model turbine engine manufacturers now agree it and other brands of aviation jet oil toxicity dangers outweigh their good high temperature bearing lubrication properties.

Some manufactures for example now recommend using a good quality 2-cycle oil; which after all has been designed to be burnt with limited toxicity. Keeping in mind, no atomized oil in a combustion process is safe to breath, 2-cycle or otherwise.

Problem with 2-cycle oil is some (certainly not all), can varnish up the turbine bearing and/or gum up the bearing pre-load tube causing premature bearing failure. In other words, only use a 2-cycle oil if your specific turbine manufacturer recommends it. If they do, use the exact brand/type they recommend.

Those that do authorize use of a 2-cycle oil, will generally recommend conventional based oil and not synthetic. Reason being is some synthetic 2-cycle oils don't mix well with Jet-A and will settle out. An easy way to test that is to mix some 2-stroke oil (or any lubricating oil) with Jet-A, put it in clear glass jar and let it sit on a window ledge for several weeks. If the oil doesn't separate from the fuel, you'll know for sure it won't settle out. 

This is actually a good test for any new oil you decide to mix with your Jet-A or Kerosene to ensure the oil won't settle out. 

Another popular & fairly safe recommended model jet engine lubricant by most small turbine manufactures is Mobil DTE Light hydraulic circulating fluid (it's what I'm currently using). The downside is it only comes in 5 gal/20L pails (at least here in Canada), but it's quite cost effective at about $10/L. Getting a pail with a few other blokes to split up is what most of us do.

Mobil DTE 24 (also an ISO 32 grade hydraulic oil) can be used and it's generally easier to find (and in smaller 1gal / 4.5L jugs). I've used DTE 24 once when I couldn't get any DTE Light, and it worked fine.

If you're scratching your head about what jet oil to use in your model turbine engine, you're certainly not alone. Best recommendation is to check & confirm with your engine manufacturer and use what oil/s they recommend. Some won't honor any warranty unless you use their oil recommendations after all.

The main problem is, there really is no lubricant that has been specifically formulated for model jet engines. For years now, the entire model turbine industry has basically been using whatever available oils seem to work the best with as few compromises as possible. This is changing however with the continued growth and popularity of these small model turbine engines.

Power Model Jet Oil for example is a dedicated model turbine jet engine oil specially formulated for use with these engines. It has been approved for use by most small turbine manufactures now, but it can be difficult to source and it's pretty pricey.

Regardless of what oil is used, typical fuel/oil mix ratios range from as low as 40:1 (about 2.5% oil) up to as much as 20:1 (about 5% oil) depending on the engine manufacturer (follow their mix recommendations).

Last up on the model turbine oil topic is to never mix different oils because sometimes the synthetic jet oils may react to the non jet oils and gum up your entire fuel system or engine. If you do switch oils, it's always best to play it safe by flushing out your entire fuel system with fresh Jet-A or kerosene before introducing the new fuel/oil mixture.

Sources for Jet Fuel & Oil

Kerosene & diesel can be purchased anywhere; you can purchase the jet oil from any aviation facility that services turbine engines/turbine aircraft and Jet-A fuel from most airports or heliports.

Heliports seem to be more accommodating for this Jet-A fuel service since they are used to refueling in smaller amounts and have the proper equipment for it. I just take a couple 20L kerosene specific jerrycans (the blue ones) and a large funnel to our local heliport and they have no problems with pumping out small quantities like that.

It doesn't hurt to take your model the first time you befriend your local heliport or airport to explain exactly why you want a smaller quantity of Jet-A/A1 (they will ask and want to know what it's being used for). Chances are they will be very interested in the model and want to know more about the hobby in general. It's a great opportunity to promote our hobby in a fun and positive way.

With the basics out of the way - now let's find out how model jet engines actually work and function.

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