Most modern tanks use diesel fuel, but the US M1 Abrams runs on JP-8 jet fuel as its primary fuel, thanks to a multifuel gas turbine engine that can burn everything from gasoline to kerosene.
For the full breakdown, see our best Fuel Tank guide.
The simple answer — “diesel” — holds true for the German Leopard 2, the British Challenger 2, and most Russian T-series tanks. It is false for America’s main battle tank. The M1 Abrams uses a 1,500-horsepower Honeywell AGT1500 gas turbine that was designed from the start to burn whatever flammable liquid the Army could get to the front line. Its primary fuel today is JP-8, the same kerosene-based jet fuel that powers helicopters and jets, chosen to simplify the supply chain. Here is what every major tank burns and why the difference matters.
The US M1 Abrams: Jet Fuel By Design
The M1 Abrams runs on JP-8 (NATO F-34), a kerosene-based jet fuel with military-grade additives. The Army standardized on JP-8 for all tactical vehicles in 1989, eliminating the need for separate gasoline and diesel supply lines for ground forces and aviation units. The AGT1500 turbine engine was specifically designed for this single-fuel strategy. It also burns diesel, gasoline, marine diesel, JP-4, JP-5, kerosene, and alcohol, though using anything other than JP-8 trades performance for availability. Jet fuel delivers poorer fuel economy than diesel in the AGT1500, so range drops when the tank burns anything else.
What Other Main Battle Tanks Burn
Nearly every other modern tank uses a conventional diesel engine. The table below shows the fuel and engine type for major battle tanks in active service.
| Tank (Country) | Primary Fuel | Engine Type |
|---|---|---|
| M1 Abrams (USA) | JP-8 jet fuel | AGT1500 gas turbine |
| Leopard 2 (Germany) | Diesel | Diesel engine |
| Challenger 2 (UK) | Diesel | Diesel engine |
| T-72 / T-80 / T-90 (Russia) | Diesel (multifuel capable) | Diesel engine |
| Indian Army Tanks | High-performance multi-fuel diesel | Diesel engine |
| Sherman (WWII, historical) | Gasoline (80 octane) | Gasoline engine |
Why Diesel Dominates Outside The US
Diesel is the global standard for tanks because it offers higher energy density, better fuel economy, and reduced fire risk compared to gasoline. A diesel engine in a Leopard 2 or Challenger 2 goes significantly farther per gallon than the Abrams’ turbine does on JP-8. The US chose the turbine for its power-to-weight ratio, instant torque, reduced noise signature, and multifuel flexibility, trading fuel economy for tactical advantages.
The tradeoff is stark. In cross-country movement, an Abrams burns roughly 60 gallons an hour — around 0.6 miles per gallon. Idling consumes 10 gallons per hour. A diesel-powered tank like the Leopard 2 roughly doubles that range on the same volume of fuel. The US Army accepts that as the cost of the turbine’s battlefield performance.
JP-8 Safety And The Single-Fuel Strategy
JP-8 is less volatile than gasoline but still more flammable than diesel. The military chose it because one fuel for everything — helicopters, jets, tanks, generators, and Humvees — drastically cut logistics complexity. That decision is outlined in the Army Petroleum Center’s documentation of fuel standardization. Diesel remains the safer option overall: it is less flammable and less explosive in a hit or spill, which is why it dominates outside the US.
Common Misconceptions About Tank Fuel
Four myths cause the most confusion. “All tanks use diesel” is wrong because the M1 Abrams uses JP-8. “The Abrams cannot run on diesel” is false — it can, but range drops because the turbine is optimized for jet fuel. “Jet fuel is efficient for tanks” is misleading; it works well in the turbine under combat power demands but delivers worse fuel economy than diesel. And “all NATO tanks use the same fuel” ignores the difference between US and allied logistics. Modern diesel-powered NATO tanks like the Leopard 2 and Challenger 2 use standard diesel fuel, while US vehicles run on JP-8.
The military spec for JP-8 is MIL-DTL-83133, a strict standard that ensures consistent quality across all branches.
FAQs
Can an Abrams tank run on regular diesel from a gas station?
Yes. The AGT1500 multifuel turbine can burn standard diesel fuel without mechanical modification, though its range will be shorter than when running on JP-8, and the engine controls may need a fuel-type selector switch to optimize performance.
Why did the US switch from diesel to jet fuel for tanks?
The decision came in 1989, driven entirely by logistics. Supplying one fuel — JP-8 — to all tactical vehicles and aviation assets simplified the supply chain, reduced storage requirements, and eliminated the risk of delivering the wrong fuel to the wrong vehicle in combat.
Is JP-8 the same as the jet fuel commercial airlines use?
JP-8 is very similar to commercial Jet A-1, with the addition of a military-spec additive package that includes corrosion inhibitors, fuel-system icing preventers, and static dissipaters. Commercial jet fuel lacks those additives but can be used in an Abrams in an emergency.
References & Sources
- Army.mil. “Army Petroleum Center Fuels Critical Army Functions” Documents the US military’s standardization on JP-8 fuel for all ground and aviation assets.
- Wikipedia. “M1 Abrams” Specifications for the AGT1500 turbine, fuel capacity, consumption rates, and multifuel capabilities.
- Wikipedia. “Tank” Historical context on fuel types used in main battle tanks from WWII through modern designs.