Professional paper
THE ROLE OF DIESEL FUEL ADDITIVES IN IMPROVING AND MAINTAINING VEHICLE PERFORMANCE STANDARDS
Simon Mulqueen
; Innospec Fuels Specialties, UK
Abstract
In order to satisfy the requirements of modern vehicle emissions standards, improvements in fuel quality have been necessary. This has led to the incremental development of improved fuel specifications, matching the requirements of new vehicle technology. For example, as European emissions standards, e.g. Euro 5 or Euro 6 have been introduced significant refinery investment has also been necessary to comply with proposed fuel specifications. These changes in fundamental fuel properties, composition and concurrent changes in engine technology have led to changing additive requirements, necessitating the need for novel additive introduction and changes in existing additive chemistry.
More recent advances in engine technology such as the introduction of the common rail diesel engine not only offer improvement in emissions, but are also are more efficient than their predecessors. Within these high pressure common rail fuel systems the formation of internal injector deposits (IDID – Internal Diesel Injector Deposits) is however also being noted. Understanding the nature of IDID, and their potential origins can be critical in order to provide optimal protection against their formation. Fuel additives provide benefits to the existing vehicle population and any future additives must cater for both these and new diesel engine technologies.
Diesel engines have been shown to particularly benefit from operation with higher quality fuels containing deposit control additives. Benefits typically result from fuel system cleanliness and if injector fouling in both light duty and heavy duty diesel engines is reduced, then improved air flow and fuel spray patterns will restore lost power and fuel economy.
Tests carried out in both light duty and heavy duty vehicles have shown benefits from additive treated diesel. Both industry standard engine tests and long term vehicle testing have been used to highlight the importance of deposit control.
The paper reviews the role of fuel additives in diesel fuel system cleanliness and the performance benefits.
Keywords
diesel fuels; additives; performance; deposit control; fuel economy
Hrčak ID:
182961
URI
Publication date:
15.5.2017.
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