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Exywarrior Profile
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Date Registered: 10-2011
Location: Darwin, NT
TOTAL POSTS: 325
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Diesel Fuel Quality - Important stuff


I thought I'd spend a few minutes providing fellow Exy enthusiasts with a bit of a spiel on diesel fuel quality.

Diesel fuel is a very complex mixture of thousands of individual compounds with carbon numbers between 9 and 23 (the number of carbon atoms per hydrocarbon molecule). Most of these compounds are members of the paraffinic, napthenic or aromatic classes of hydrocarbons (HC).

These three classes have different chemical and physical properties. The different relative proportion of these three classes is one of the factors that make one diesel fuel different from another. It influences fuel properties and affects its performance.

Up until 35 years ago, refineries used only about 50% of a barrel of crude oil to make distillates such as gasoline, jet fuel and diesel. The remainder of the barrel of crude oil went to “residual oil”. Today, as a result of different refining techniques and additive packages, the refinery uses 90% or more of the same barrel of crude, which clearly has consequences for fuel stability.

More than 90% of the debris on filter elements and the sludge in your fuel tank is organic material, fuel and oil breakdown residue. In most cases, this debris is acidic and not good for your engine. It causes corrosion in injectors, pumps and storage tanks.

From 1 January 2009, all diesel fuel sold in Europe and Australia must have a sulphur content of less than 10 ppm. Some manufacturers like BP introduced it way before the deadline, whilst others like Caltex were granted an extension for a period of 6 months IIRC.

From 1 December 2010, all diesel fuel sold in the U.S. must have a sulphur content of less than 15 ppm.

Minimum cetane index is 46 for EU and AUS, though according to Caltex, the average cetane index for diesel fuel in AUS is well above the national standard. Probably likewise in the EU.

BP states its diesel has a typical CI of 51, and a typical CI of 52 for BP Ultimate Diesel.

Minimum cetane index is 40 for the U.S. (!) which doesn't bode well for them and their (imported) vehicles.

Diesel fuel ranges from colorless, to amber or light brown color, depending on the crude oil and the refinery process used to produce it. In addition, dyes may be added to change the fuel color for tax identification purposes.

Importantly for X-Trail owners, 10 ppm diesel indirectly contributes to fuel savings, mainly because the DPF (if fitted) needs to regenerate less often compared to 50 ppm diesel, and less to do with the fuel itself. This is why it is better for M9R-fitted X-trail owners to seek BP Ultimate or Caltex Vortex diesel whenever they can.

We all know that most engine failures start in the fuel tank. When all the mechanical parts are in good operating condition, the cooling and lube systems are working, the lube oil clean and there is a sufficient supply of clean air getting to the combustion chamber; a diesel engine could run almost forever. The only limiting factor is fuel quality. Dark fuel is symptomatic of poor quality and even though, in most cases it can be used, fuel in this condition will provide poor combustion and filtration problems.

"Dark" fuel is in general indicative of oxidation and the process of fuel degradation is in a far advanced stage.

"Hazy" fuel (eg something that looks like salad dressing) is indicative of water emulsified in the fuel. Water in your fuel can have serious implications on system corrosion in Common Rail Diesel engines. Because the fuel in the system is pressurised to thousands of pounds per square inch, the corrosive effect of water on bare metal pumps, pipes and injectors is considerably amplified. This can lead to serious fuel system problems if left unchecked.

 The greatest enemy of diesel fuel injection components is water. Once water enters the fuel system, it will rapidly wear and oxidize steel components and lead to:

• Rusting and corrosion of components
• Governor/metering component failure
• Sticky metering components (both pump and nozzle)
• Injection component wear and seizure

Water contamination can exist in diesel fuel in three forms:

1) Emulsified water, where the water is suspended in the fuel like oil and vinegar in salad dressing.

2) Free water, where the water is separated from the fuel and usually is found on the bottom of fuel/storage tanks.

3) Dissolved water, where the water has been chemically dissolved in the fuel, like sugar in coffee. The warmer the fuel, the more water will be dissolved, but as temperatures drop, the water will come out of the solution in the form of free water.

Be wary of certain additives which claim to "remove water." In fact, they dissolve the water, which eventually will pass through the filter and attack the injection components.

In time, stored fuel will darken due to oxidation, repolymerization and agglomeration of certain components. The darkening is accompanied by a formation of sediment that clogs filters and causes poor combustion. Fuel and oil distributors suggest that if diesel fuel is stored for emergency use, it should be replaced with fresh fuel within a year, unless fuel conditioning is used.

In summary, diesel fuel quality is something you have to be interested in if you want to prolong the life of your engine. Be frugal about where you source your fuel from and how long you store it in jerrycans. If in any doubt about the station you are pumping from, put a small sample in a jar before putting it in your car. Put on the lid and give the jar a shake. Look for the "clear and bright" fuel with no emulsified water. If you watch your fuel quality, it will pay dividends in the longrun.

A long story guys, but I hope some of you find it useful.



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Mark T
2011 Series 4 T31 TL Auto - Twilight, factory towbar, factory mats, tinting, Cooper CS5s, cathodic protection, paint protection, yada yada...and no Provent
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3/Dec/2012, 9:24 pm Link to this post Send Email PM   Send Private Message Blog
 
DogTrail Profile
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Date Registered: 05-2012
Location: Sunshine Coast
TOTAL POSTS: 481
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Re: Diesel Fuel Quality - Important stuff


Outstanding!

My Xy is petrol, but I have an old 1960, 190-D Mercedes diesel sedan which has been sitting in a shed for 20 years (for no good reason except I ran out of interest and money at 85% restoration), so I'll drain the tank before attempting to fire her up after such an extended period.

Thank you.

Interesting, informative and useful as well as being understandable even at my level of almost (make that totally) complete ignorance.

Last edited by DogTrail, 3/Dec/2012, 10:33 pm


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2011/12 Australia:- 2.5 litre petrol 4WD, Series IV ST, CVT with Nissan bonnet & headlight protectors, mats + after-market HD towbar with added step for old dogs. ;) Garmin GPS, K&N air filter, DashMate, Black Pearl Tint , Dirt. X-2429(c).
3/Dec/2012, 10:18 pm Link to this post Send Email PM   Send Private Message
 
Exywarrior Profile
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Date Registered: 10-2011
Location: Darwin, NT
TOTAL POSTS: 325
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Re:


Here's a bit of an update.

Given that all diesel in Australia had to be less than 10PPM Sulphur after 1 Jan 2009, regular diesel is also suitable for X-Trails; however you won't get the anti-corrosion protection qualities that can be found in BP Ultimate Diesel and Caltex Vortex. Visit the Caltex and BP websites to get more information on Vortex and Ultimate. The difference is worth the few extra cents per litre.

The main thing is that you must avoid any trace of water in the fuel. It's also a good idea to avoid stations that have a tanker parked refuelling the station. Whilst this is occurring the tanker will be potentially stirring up any crud or water that might be at the bottom of the storage tank and this will possibly end up in your car, regardless of any filtration systems at the station. This should apply to petrol car owners too - you are far more likely to ingest water into your fuel system if you visit a station that is being filled up at the time by a road tanker.

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Mark T
2011 Series 4 T31 TL Auto - Twilight, factory towbar, factory mats, tinting, Cooper CS5s, cathodic protection, paint protection, yada yada...and no Provent
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3/Dec/2012, 10:42 pm Link to this post Send Email PM   Send Private Message Blog
 
Charlie250 Profile
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Date Registered: 08-2012
TOTAL POSTS: 193
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Re:


I've already noticed that when using regular diesel the fuel economy suffers. I get noticeably better economy using Caltex Vortex.

  

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X-2634 2012 Series IV TS Man, Kings Springs, Bridgestone D697's, High Tech Exhaust, Turbo Timer, DBA Slotted Rotors, QFM HPX Pads, Tow Bar, Cargo Barrier, UHF, HID Dr Lights, LED Light Bar, K&N Filter, Bonnet Struts, & Premium Tint
4/Feb/2013, 9:22 pm Link to this post Send Email PM   Send Private Message Blog
 
AugustusXTrail Profile
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Date Registered: 07-2013
Location: Cowes Phillip Island Victoria
TOTAL POSTS: 123
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Re: Diesel Fuel Quality - Important stuff


Hi Augustus the X Trail here, I'm always run on Caltex Vortex Premium Diesel. Dad wont put anything else in my tank unless desperate, and then he puts some injector cleaner in first and only gives me enough of the BAD stuff to get me to my next good drink!

I get much better economy, and heaps more grunt out of the premium Vortex, it also helps me when I'm off road as well.

Have a great day all my fellow X Trails and don't let your owner use dodgy diesel. I'm off to get Muddy, Augustus the X Trail.
 emoticon

Last edited by AugustusXTrail, 2/Aug/2013, 10:38 pm
2/Aug/2013, 10:37 pm Link to this post Send Email PM   Send Private Message Blog
 


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