Issue link: https://read.dmtmag.com/i/331982
Fuel Factoid By Tom Kelley 32 // OWNER OPERATOR // JULY 2014 Keep It Clean Part 3 Maintaining Diesel Fuel Quality For Top Performance A lthough diesel fuel is by far the most prac- tical motor fuel cur- rently in use, it's not without its share of concerns. With the possi- ble exception of price, the biggest concern with diesel is the cleanli- ness of the fuel when it reached the engine. Filtration has always been important, but today's en- gines and emission regulations PDNHSURSHU¿OWUDWLRQPRUHLP- portant than ever. The Fleetguard division of Cum- mins, long a leader in diesel fuel ¿OWUDWLRQV\VWHPVH[SODLQVKRZFROGZHDWKHU FDQDIIHFWGLHVHOIXHODQG¿OWUDWLRQV\VWHPV Cold Weather Operation Diesel fuel has several components which FDQEHVLJQL¿FDQWO\DIIHFWHGE\FROGZHDWKHU Two of the most impacted components are ZDWHUDQGSDUDI¿Q:DWHUFRQWULEXWHVWRIXHO line freezing. Additionally, there are two spe- FL¿FSRLQWVWKDWDUHYHU\LPSRUWDQWWR¿OWHUOLIH and cold weather performance. These points are Cloud Point and Cold Filter Plug Point (CFPP). Cloud Point is the point at which par- DI¿QFU\VWDOVSUHFLSLWDWH&)33LVWKHKLJKHVW temperature at which a certain fuel will cause ¿OWHUSOXJJLQJ Depending upon the quality of the fuel, the SRLQWDWZKLFKPRVWGLHVHOIXHOVIRUPSDUDI¿Q (wax) crystals may be from 0 °F to 45 °F. The CFPP for fuels can vary from -10 °F to 15 °F, depending upon fuel quality. 7KHVHSDUDI¿QFU\VWDOVTXLFNO\FRDW¿OWHUVDQG SUHYHQWIXHOÀRZDVZHOODVSOXJIXHOOLQHV In addition, water contamination in the form of icy slush compounds the problem, slowing IXHOÀRZHYHQPRUHTXLFNO\,WLVWKHUHIRUHGH- VLUDEOHWRKHDWGLHVHOIXHODVFORVHWRWKH¿OWHU element as possible, to re-liquefy wax and ice crystals. OO