Fuel Quality is Crucial

Engine manufacturers require cleaner fuel than ever, as such, filtration to remove fuel contaminants has never been more important than it is today.  Low Sulfur diesel, combined with water, microbiology growth and the breakdown of refined petroleum significantly impact today’s high performance low NOx Tier 3 and Tier 4 engines. Onboard engine filters are the last line of defense and have a single pass to remove contaminants and achieve the proper cleanliness.   In addition, if clogged, the engine will begin to lose power until it stops running all together.   Fuel quality will impact fuel economy, power output, NOx emissions and maintenance cost.  Please keep in mind that fuel maintenance should be a two-step process: 1) filtration for solids and water removal and 2) stabilization for long term storage because oil companies refine for short term use and do not stabilize the fuel.

Filtration

High performance HPCR engine injection systems operate at 40,000 PSI, consequently they require extremely clean fuel.  It is estimated that 50% of the diesel delivered around the world does not meet minimum ISO 41406 contamination standards for fuel cleanliness.  The target cleanliness for diesel fuel before reaching the engine filters is ISO 14/13/11.   In short terms, these criteria remove contaminants down to 4 micron (at a high efficiency) so the engine filters can effectively handle the final stage of particulate removal.   Keep in mind that fuel may appear “clean”, however, the human eye can only see to about 40 micron and the target levels are smaller than a red blood cell.  There are millions of dollars spent on back-up generators, switch gear and related emergency power distribution in buildings, protect this investment and keep it running with clean fuel.

Treatment

Refined fuels start breaking down after productions, thus stabilizers should be added to the fuel for long term storage.  Fuel is expensive and so are generators, protect this investment by conditioning the fuel upon initial delivery and annually to maintain the fuel quality.  It’s less expensive to treat the fuel than it is to clean up and fix later both in the tank and on the engine.