A verifiable and motivating glimpse into why the quality of our fuel needs our full attention in order to reduce both unavoidable fuel and astronomical vehicle maintenance costs!
The following extraction below, according to papers written by Dr AJ von Wielligh PrEng. BSCEng (Mech).March 2009 – ENGINE PROBLEMS DUE TO POOR QUALITY OF DIESEL FUEL as well as DIESEL INJECTOR FAILURES AND CONSEQUENCES – CAUSED BY FUEL QUALITY 24 March 2004:
• Due to environmental issues the sulphur content of diesel fuel was reduced to 0,05% and the ultra-low sulphur fuel to 0,005% sulphur
• The process of removing the sulphur from the diesel fuel, however had a side effect. The compounds which provide lubricity were also removed, which result in low sulphur fuel content, not having inherent lubricity.
• To function properly, an additive package is nowadays added to diesel fuel to provide amongst other, detergent and lubricity properties to the fuel. Due to the fact that this additive package cost money, only the required amount of additives are added to the diesel fuel to provide good quality diesel fuel for engines. The fuel therefore has no reserve capacity of lubricity compounds.
• In the case of synthetically produced diesel and other fuels like kerosene, the sulphur content is very low and these fuels do not have inherent lubricity properties. It is therefore necessary to add additives to the fuel to render the fuel acceptable in a diesel engine. The purpose of these additives is to provide lubricity properties as well as some cleaning and detergent properties to the fuel nozzle.
• Fuels with a higher volatile content than diesel, such as illuminating paraffin etc. does not have any inherent lubricity.
• There is a substantial price difference between illuminating paraffin and diesel fuel. There is therefore an incentive for operators to illegally blend paraffin with diesel fuel, in order to save money.
• The resultant lubricity of the mixture is usually below the required minimum. The result of fuel with poor lubricity is that the needles of the injectors start getting sticky and scuffing occurs between the needle and the passage in the injector tip.
• Under normal circumstances, the high pressure of the fuel to be injected into the cylinder, lifts the needle against the preset spring force. The spring force is however limited in its capacity and therefore whenever the needle gets sticky and jams, the needle can’t close fast enough and properly under the available spring force.
• As a result of poor sealing of the needle on its seat, hot gasses burn back into the needle tip chamber and overheating and discoloration of the needle tip occurs.
• The above situation results in a poor spray pattern which normally causes poor combustion. Washing away of the lubricant film on the cylinder liners occur. The engine would also suffer loss of power.
• In the degree of washing away of the lubricant on the cylinder liners above a certain limit, the action leads to piston seizure.
• The root cause of these failures could be traced back to combustion related problems, which in turn was caused by injector failures. The injector failures in turn, were caused by poor quality fuels.
WATER
• It must be noted that diesel is hygroscopic and therefore always absorbs a small amount of water from atmospheric moisture. The substance we know as water, does not have any lubricity or lubricating properties.
• Whenever micro droplets of water enter the injection system, scuffing of the needle or the injector pump plunger usually occur almost immediately. The scuffing and seizure of the needle or injection pump plunger is very similar to that of diesel fuel without enough lubricity.
• Another aspect apart from the lack of lubricity of water is the fact that algae can grow on the interface between water and diesel fuel. This algae will then plug filters and will cause fuel starvation to the engine.
• Another consequence of water in the diesel fuel, is that when the droplets of water enter the high pressure area on the needle tip, the water can flash off. Very often the injector tip explodes under the influence of the expanding water.
• It is very often found that small cavities appear on the sealing surface of the needle due to an action similar to cavitation’s in centrifugal pumps and on cylinder liners.
• It is therefore of the utmost importance that diesel fuel should be kept free from free water.
Based on the above overview of how today’s fuel is affecting both your fuel and maintenance costs, let me explain how our product – FA25 in conjunction with ordinary diesel, can reduce those costs immensely.
Introduction to FESSA -Fuel Enhancing Solutions South Africa
About Our Product!
FA25 is a technologically advanced product which was developed and manufactured in South Africa in 2002. It was specifically developed with South African petrol and diesel in mind. The name FA25 is derived from the Manufacturer approved combination of – FA25 = 0.25% to be used, per volume of fuel. For example a 50 litre tank of fuel would require a 125ml bottle of FA25 in order to effect a marked improvement. It is recommended that you use FA25 each time you fill up your vehicle to obtain maximum results.
FA25 will begin to work as soon as the engine is started!
As the enhanced fuel passes through the engine, FA25 immediately starts to clean the vehicles fuel system inclusive of the carburetor or fuel injectors. Standard fuel, either Petrol or Diesel (FA25 may be used in both Petrol or Diesel engines) ordinarily deposits small amounts of varnish throughout the fuel system/engine of the vehicle, this causes build up which FA25 will remove, thus cleaning your carburetor or injectors, ensuring ongoing improved performance.
It should also be noted that with Diesel engines – FA25 will further reduce the maintenance costs of your engine and improve the quality of your diesel by removing water from the diesel, killing any bacteria and preventing the growth of algae, as well as improving the lubricity of your fuel. Oxidation stability will therefore also be improved. The result will be a noticeable reduction in the engine operating temperature.
FA25 will safeguard your vehicle, whilst providing improved combustion, greater performance and better fuel economy with reduced emissions. The use of this product has been tried and tested and is proven to reduce fuel consumption be not less than 10%. You will benefit with a definite cost saving, directly related to this Fuel System Maintenance.
Over the last two years our focus as a Company has been on providing assistance and improved performance within the Taxi Industry, whereby thousands of drivers currently experience the benefits of this product on a daily basis.
We are confident in our assurance that no damage whatsoever can or will be caused, or has ever been reported to any vehicle as a result of using FA25.