The Impact of Clean Fuel: Enhancing Diesel Engine Longevity

Getting the most out of your heavy-duty diesel engine requires keeping your fuel as clean as possible before it reaches your engine. Today’s diesel engines are built to high tolerances—a remarkable achievement by engineering standards, delivering better performance than many would have thought possible a few decades ago. But those tolerances are not well-suited to contaminated fuel. Hence the importance of cutting-edge filtration systems like AirDog®.

Diesel fuel used to contain significantly more sulfur, along with a range of other components for lubricity. Today’s diesel fuel is much cleaner—as it leaves the refinery—but there are still many opportunities for contaminants to enter the fuel before it reaches your fuel tank.

Understanding Diesel Fuel Changes

Sulfur is an element that occurs naturally in fuels derived from oil, including diesel. When the sulfur is burned, it releases particulates into the air which contributes to air pollution. It also creates sulfuric acid, which can corrode engine components.

Starting in the 1990s, the European Union started requiring oil refineries to significantly reduce the amount of sulfur in diesel fuel to lower the negative environmental impacts of diesel fuel use. The EU pushed for the steady reduction of sulfur over the years, and the United States hopped on board in 2006 with the requirement for the near-universal use of Ultra Low Sulfur Diesel (ULSD). By 2010, almost all the diesel used in the EU and the US was ULSD.

Today, diesel engines produce about 10% less carbon dioxide than gas engines in the same category, which is quite an achievement for diesel in general. According to the US Energy Information Association, “Using ULSD fuel and advanced exhaust emission control systems can reduce vehicle particulate emissions by up to 90% and emissions of nitrogen compounds (NOx) by 25% to 50%. ULSD fuel helps reduce emissions in older engines as well.”

The Effects of Low Lubricity in Modern Diesel Fuels

Diesel fuel lubricity is a term that refers to a fuel’s lubrication abilities. With diesel fuel, the expectation is that the fuel will have a basic level of lubrication that will prevent damage to an engine’s parts while in use. Sufficient lubricity should keep an engine’s parts lubricated so that the potential damage of friction between parts is avoided.

Unfortunately, the process of removing sulfur from diesel fuel also lowers the lubricity of the fuel. This can cause additional wear and tear on engine components. For older engines not designed to run on ULSD, lack of lubricity can cause additional wear that can damage the engine. For new engines with ultra-tight tolerances, the lack of lubricity can make any additional contaminants extra hazardous for the engine.

When there isn’t enough lubrication, fuel injectors, fuel pumps, and other components can wind up rubbing metal against metal and therefore wear out more quickly. The additional friction can also reduce engine performance.

High-quality diesel fuel accounts for the removal of lubrication inherent in ULSD by adding additional lubricants—one of the reasons why it’s so important to opt for high-quality fuel. It’s also possible to add lubricants to diesel fuel using various products available in auto part stores.

The Increased Sensitivity of Modern Diesel Engines to Contaminants

Modern diesel engines are marvels of innovation. They produce more power, use less fuel, and generate much lower levels of air pollution. They can also last for decades, making them an excellent investment for trucking businesses and individual drivers. However, they do require more care in certain ways due to their excellent engineering.

Today’s engines are built to high tolerances, with parts fitting together perfectly to maximize compression and produce optimal performance from clean diesel technology. Such high tolerances are quite a bit more sensitive to contaminants, though, which is something that must be accounted for when choosing fuel and filtration systems.

Less lubricative fuels are also an issue when it comes to contaminants. More lubricity means better lubrication performance, which can smooth over the potential damage caused by contamination. But if the fuel offers low lubricity, it’s not going to be sufficient to address the introduction of contaminants into the fuel system.

The Importance of Clean Fuel in Modern Diesel Engines

Clean fuel is one of the most important factors in maintaining diesel engine longevity. Ideally, fuel is the only substance that enters your valuable engine. As long as you keep that fuel clean and ensure it’s an optimal mixture that includes sufficient lubrication, you should be able to maximize the life of the engine.

There are multiple ways that clean fuel can help keep modern diesel engines going strong, including:

• Reduce wear and tear. Friction is inevitable, but clean fuel is one way you can prevent excessive friction, fuel contaminants and engine damage. The fewer contaminants in the fuel that flows through your engine, the less likely you will see unnecessary wear and tear on engine components due to friction.
• Improved performance of fuel injection system. The fuel injection system, including your fuel injectors, is designed to perform at its best when using clean diesel fuel with adequate lubrication. Remember, fuel injectors don’t provide their own lubrication. Without clean, properly lubricated fuel, when they operate they will be rubbing metal against metal.
• Enhance longevity. A good diesel engine can continue to run for three decades or more, but that’s assuming the fuel system is well-maintained which includes using clean, high-quality diesel fuel.
• Better diesel engine performance. One of the main reasons modern diesel engines are built with such high tolerances is to generate maximum power per unit of fuel consumed. When the fuel has contaminants in it, the performance can suffer.
• Increased diesel fuel efficiency. The cleaner the fuel, the better the engine will operate. This ensures you get optimal fuel efficiency so you can enjoy the full cost savings of diesel fuel.

Economic Benefits of Using High-Quality Diesel

Using high-quality diesel costs more than using budget fuel—a fact that every trucker and trucking company understands well. It can be tempting to reach for the cheap stuff when you are trying to keep costs down. However, it’s worth noting that there are economic benefits to using quality fuel that add up over time.

These economic benefits include:

• More power. Premium diesel fuel can increase the power generated by your engine, which adds up to better performance, more responsiveness, and a more enjoyable driving experience. Studies with premium diesel have demonstrated that high-quality fuel can provide around 4.5% more power than lower-quality fuels.
• Better fuel efficiency. Tests with high-quality diesel fuel have shown that engines achieve around 5% better fuel efficiency compared to using lower-quality fuels. While 5% is not a jaw-dropping figure, it is easy to see how that level of improvement could add up over the months and years, particularly for a commercial operation.
• Less diesel engine maintenance. Mechanical work on commercial engines is expensive. Using better fuel can help reduce the need for trips to the shop and the cost that comes along with those trips.

Conclusion

The impact of clean fuel can’t be overstated. When you use clean, high-quality diesel fuel, you protect your engine and ensure it performs at its best. The negative impacts of dirty fuel can be significant, especially with modern engines and their tight tolerances. Choosing clean fuel is an investment in your engine and your business.

Consider your fuel choices carefully and remember the long-term benefits that come from using clean, high-quality diesel fuel. Contact us if you have questions. We’re here to help. 

Diesel FAQs

• Why is clean fuel important for modern diesel engines? Clean fuel is crucial for modern diesel engines due to their high tolerances and the precision with which they are built. Clean fuel reduces wear and tear on engine components, improves performance, and enhances fuel efficiency. It also helps in maintaining the longevity of the engine.
• How has diesel fuel changed over the years? Diesel fuel has undergone significant changes, particularly in terms of sulfur content. Regulations started in the 1990s in the EU and later in the US have led to the widespread use of Ultra Low Sulfur Diesel (ULSD), which contains far less sulfur than traditional diesel. This change helps reduce environmental pollution but also decreases the fuel’s lubricity.
• What are the effects of low lubricity in diesel fuel? Low lubricity in diesel fuel can lead to increased wear and tear on engine components, particularly in older engines not designed for ULSD. This can cause components like fuel injectors and pumps to suffer from increased friction, potentially leading to quicker degradation and reduced performance.