| Diesel engine designs striving to increase engine | | | | dates. There is no telling how long that fuel has been in |
| performance have made great advancements in | | | | the distribution network and how many times it has |
| engine fuel delivery to the combustion chamber. | | | | been transferred. Seldom do these distributors filter the |
| Today's diesel engine is quieter, smoother, and more | | | | fuel as they transfer it. |
| powerful. But today's diesel engine owners are | | | | The solution: Multifunctional diesel additive packages |
| overlooking one important factor. The quality of today's | | | | and hardware. |
| diesel fuel has not advanced at the same rate as the | | | | For your single vehicle or fleet the improvement of fuel |
| engine improvements. | | | | quality by the use of additives and current technology |
| Diesel fuel begins to deteriorate as soon as it is | | | | is always a good choice. |
| produced. Within 30 days of refining, all diesel fuel | | | | Many diesel fuel additive packages address the key |
| regardless of brand, goes through a natural process | | | | issues with respect to fuel performance; some |
| called re-polymerization and oxidation. This process | | | | improve fuel economy, increase lubricity, improving cold |
| forms varnishes and insoluble gums in the fuel by | | | | flow, and improve cetane number. And some only |
| causing the molecules of the fuel to lengthen and bond | | | | address the issue of rust and corrosion, but all should |
| together. These components now drop to the bottom | | | | be considered. |
| of the fuel tank and form asphaltene also known as | | | | Most diesel fuel additives contain combustion |
| diesel sludge. The fuel begins to turn dark in color, smell | | | | improvers that release oxygen during the compression |
| bad, and in most cases causes engines to smoke. The | | | | stroke. This allows combustion to start sooner, |
| engines smoke because some of these clusters in the | | | | providing for a more complete fuel burn. A more |
| early stages are small enough in size to pass through | | | | complete burn provides all the power your fuel and |
| the engine filtration and into the combustion chamber. | | | | engine is capable of producing. As combustion |
| As these clusters increase in size, only part of the | | | | improvers and you get a smoother running engine, an |
| molecule gets burned. The rest goes out the exhaust | | | | increase in horsepower that improves fuel economy |
| as unburned fuel and smoke. With increases in cluster | | | | and the reduction in black smoke emissions. |
| size they begin to reduce the flow of fuel by clogging | | | | Cetane is a performance rating of a diesel fuel, a |
| filters. The filters only address the symptom and not | | | | higher cetane number or cetane rating indicates |
| the cause. | | | | greater fuel efficiency. The fuel's cetane influences, |
| It is estimated that eight out of every ten diesel engine | | | | duration of white smoking after start-up, drivability |
| failures have been directly related to poor quality and | | | | before warm-up, and intensity of diesel knock at idle. |
| contaminated fuel. The build-up of contaminates in the | | | | Increase the cetane number of a fuel and you have |
| fuel systems and storage tanks can quickly clog filters, | | | | improved performance. |
| thus resulting in engine shut down, fuel pump wear, and | | | | In diesel fuel systems, the fuel provides lubrication for |
| diesel engine damage. | | | | the fuel pump and injectors. A fuel with poor lubricity |
| Understand that most fuel has some amount of water | | | | can cause excessive wear and premature failure of |
| in it from either condensation or vents. This threat | | | | these components. Improve lubricity and extend engine |
| requires that we realize the added burden placed upon | | | | life. |
| diesel fuel as opposed to gasoline. Gasoline acts as a | | | | Diesel fuels have pour points (the lowest temperature |
| fuel only. Diesel fuel, on the other hand, also must cool | | | | at which an oil or other liquid will pour under given |
| and lubricate injection system parts. These parts are | | | | conditions) within the range of normal winter |
| engineered to very close tolerances - up to 0.0002 of | | | | temperatures. As a fuel approaches its pour point, |
| an inch - and any contamination means rapid part | | | | paraffin in the fuel form wax crystals that prevent it |
| wear. Water displaces the diesel fuel. When the fuel is | | | | from flowing. Flow-improver additives modify the wax |
| displaced wear occur because lubrication is now | | | | crystals, lowering the pour point of the fuel and give |
| absent. | | | | better cold weather performance. |
| Water that enters the combustion chamber results in | | | | For on-sight storage tanks other issues must be |
| even more serious damage. When it comes in contact | | | | looked at. On-sight storage tanks always have a small |
| with the heat of the combustion chamber (in excess | | | | amount of the first gallon of fuel ever put in them, |
| of 2000 degrees F), it immediately turns to steam and | | | | unless it is drained 100% and cleaned. So adding new, |
| often explodes the tip of the injector. Water causes | | | | fresh fuel always has a bit of the bad added to it |
| corrosion of tanks, lines, injectors, and greatly reduces | | | | every time fuel is purchased. Diluting the bad with good |
| combustibility. | | | | over time is a loosing battle. The fuel will always be |
| Other areas of concern include the producing more | | | | bad fuel until the core problem is addressed |
| exhaust emissions and effecting EPA standards. | | | | The order of treatment for fuel related problems |
| Bacteria also present a serious problem. Bacteria feed | | | | should always begin with a determination of whether |
| on nitrogen, sulfur, and iron that may be present in the | | | | there is water in the fuel and if the fuel has microbes |
| fuel or tank. | | | | (fuel bugs) in it. Water Paste and Fuel Test Kits can be |
| Then there are algae. There are absolutely no algae in | | | | used for this stage of maintenance. If microbes are |
| diesel fuel. You may have fungus and microbial | | | | detected, then the use of biocides is needed. Biocides |
| contamination but no algae. This is a misnomer for | | | | have no effect on and will not eliminate the sludge |
| diesel sludge. So if you have a diagnosis of ALGAE | | | | problem. Biocides kill bacteria, that's all! |
| and add a biocide, you have done two things, 1) found | | | | The water issue should always be remedied first by |
| a mechanic that is wrong and 2) done nothing to fix | | | | the use of fuel water separators on the tank or on the |
| the problem. | | | | equipment. Next a multifunctional chemical additive |
| Why is there so much bad fuel? | | | | should be added to improve fuel performance and |
| The number one reason is due to the increased | | | | then if needed a problem specific additive to dissolve |
| popularity of diesel power and the accompanying | | | | diesel sludge and or a rust inhibitor to protect steel |
| increased demand for more diesel fuel. There was a | | | | tanks. For long-term prevention, the use of magnet fuel |
| time when diesel fuel remained in the refinery storage | | | | conditioners is recommended. These devices |
| tanks long enough to naturally separate and settle, | | | | continually reverse the re-polymerization of the fuel |
| allowing the clean fuel to be drawn off. Now with | | | | during circulation and reduce the need for ongoing |
| increased demand, diesel fuel never remains stationary | | | | additive use. All the needed cures are available from |
| long enough for settling, and the suspended water and | | | | Dieselcraft Fluid Engineering at |
| solids are passed on to you, the user. | | | | Conclusion |
| The change in refinery techniques is another problem. | | | | There is no good time to find out that your engine |
| In order to get more products per dollar; diesel fuel is | | | | won't operate or that half its life span is gone |
| now being refined from more marginal portions of the | | | | prematurely because of contaminated or poor quality |
| crude oil barrel. This results in a lower-grade product | | | | diesel fuel. Since no one can predict a breakdown, the |
| that is inherently thicker and contains more | | | | only safe method is prevention. |
| contamination. | | | | Realize now that you do have a problem, and manage |
| Thirdly, current fuel distribution methods also have a | | | | it now, or deal with the unexpected catastrophe and |
| negative impact on the condition of the fuel at the time | | | | reduced equipment life that comes at the absolutely |
| of delivery. In many cases, brokers control fuel sales to | | | | wrong time and is not in the budget! |
| major distribution terminals and determine delivery | | | | |