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| Dieselcure - Aftermarket Additives |
Given the many factors that determine the quality of diesel fuel, the requirement for “additives” has become an important part in balancing the quality of diesel fuel to meet specifications. Refiners have a legal requirement to supply products that meet specifications. Beyond that, reputable refiners ensure that non-specification properties, such as stability, lubricity, and low temperature operability are suitable for the intended use. The balance between refining actions and additive use is driven by economics. Since there are no legal requirements that diesel fuel contain additives some refiners may use no additives at all and still provide a high quality fuel. Diesel fuel additives are used for a wide variety of purposes and can be grouped into four major categories: |
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- Engine performance
- Fuel handling
- Fuel stability
- Contaminant control
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| Additives may be added to diesel fuel at the refinery, during distribution, or by the end user. The American Refiners Association states that, “It would be convenient for the user if a finished diesel fuel could satisfy all his or her requirements without the use of supplemental additives. Some users feel that they need a higher quality diesel than regular diesel, and others regard the cost of an effective additive as cheap insurance for their big investment i equipment.” Since fuel is the single largest operating expense for a diesel truck or marine fleet, many users make their purchase decisions based on price alone. |
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| A large number of aftermarket additive products are available to meet these real or perceived needs. The majority of available aftermarket additives contain petroleum-based chemicals and promote aspects regarding fungicidal and emulsifier solutions. Petroleum-based additives are inherently detrimental as they alter the properties of the fuel particularly in terms of viscosity (injection system lubrication), flash point (ignition) and cetane number (combustion), with negative effects on equipment. The only additives claiming relief from the effects of water in diesel fuel, use emulsifiers that break down the diesel to become water-soluble without affecting the water. Emulsification is a degreasing process, used in all water-based engine-cleaners. Oils are broken down to dissolve in water. Mixing water and diesel in this way, and pumping it through the engine, increases the formation of corrosive acids. Diesel equipment operators know that mixing products such as paraffin, lubricating oil or petrol with diesel fuel results in long-term engine damage. Products containing these ingredients will lead to premature engine failure. |
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| It is the object of DIESELCURE, to provide a fuel decontaminant which ameliorates the above-mentioned problems associated with diesel fuel and the use thereof. |
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