Diesel Fuel News by Jack Peckham
The world's biggest diesel fuel injector equipment (FIE) makers -- Bosch, Delphi (formerly Lucas), Denso, and Stanadyne -- just unveiled new "common position statements" warning of denials of warranty claims if fuels fail to meet certain quality standards.
One of the statements continues to warn against using over 5% biodiesel blends, in contradiction to the push for 20% blends ("B20") by the biodiesel lobby. Only engines specially designed for blends above 5%, or else 100% "neat" biodiesel, should use such fuels, the FIE makers say. “Users should be aware that the vehicles, engines and equipment were not designed to run on them and are recommended to refer to the equipment manufacturers 'Limitations of Use' documents for guidance prior to using such fuels."
As currently manufactured, these fuels are less stable than mineral oil derived fuels. Tests have shown that fuel degradation can take place in the fuel supply chain and in the vehicle fuel system; it is accelerated by the presence of oxygen, water, heat and impurities.
"The products of bio-degradation have been shown to be corrosive (e.g. formic, acetic and organic acids, water and methanol) and polymerization products drop out within mixes with mineral fuels."
These corrosive products can corrode fuel injectors, cause elastomer seal failures, lead to fuel system blockage, cause pump seizures, cause fuel injector spray hole blockage and increase injection pressure.
