Diesel fuel has paraffin wax added in order to stabilize the fuel mixture and keep the fuel from separating into various fuel elements. Diesel fuel blends change from summer to winter. During winter time kerosene also known as “jet fuel” is added to the mixture in order to lower the temperature in which the diesel fuel will gelatinize.
For summer diesel the gelanitzation point is usually around 30 degrees Fahrenheit. For winter diesel the gelanitzation point usually occurs around -4 to -10 degrees Fahrenheit. Diesel engines that are working in extremely low temperatures have fuel heaters that are designed to keep all critical fuel components including fuel lines heated, through the use of plug in heaters. If you have a diesel engine that is not used very often you many want to consider adding a fuel additive to the mixture to stabilize the fuel to prevent the fuel from gelatinizing.
Diesel Fuel Additives can greatly reduce the wear and tear on a diesel injection pump especially in winter or colder environments. This is because the gelling of diesel fuel greatly increases the wear and tear on injection pumps and any gelling will cause the fuel system to not function properly. Other fuel supplements like injector cleaners are important to increase the life span of the fuel injectors.
We do not recommend adding diesel fuel additives for increased fuel economy because usually the increased cost of the fuel additive does not overcome the savings in diesel fuel. |
|