Alliant Power’s Jaime Goncalves and Paul Blasko with Dipaco DTech kicked off the session by discussing the ultra-low sulfur diesel now being used in the transportation industry. Blasko says lower sulfur fuel was first introduced after 1990 Clean Air Act, with ultra-low sulfur diesel following in 2006 when the Act further reduced the allowable sulfur levels in fuel to 15 parts per million. The duo says ultra-low sulfur diesel has its benefits (lower emissions) and drawbacks.
Regarding the latter, Goncalves says ultra-low sulfur diesel has a significantly shorter shelf life than prior fuel iterations, in some cases lasting just six months before moisture and contaminants weaken the fuel. This is one area where fuel additives are useful, the duo says. Some additives are specially formulated to reduce moisture in ultra-low sulfur diesel and extended its usefulness. Additives also help protect against algae and contaminants that can thrive in ultra-low sulfur diesel.
Additives also provide protection when using biodiesel fuels, says Mark Dickman with Parker Hannifin. Dickman says blended biodiesel fuels can break down in fuel tanks over time, separating in a manner that clogs fuel components and filtration systems and reduces fuel economy. He says specially formulated additives work to counteract this degradation and extend the performance of the fuel.
Goncalves agrees, noting most fuel additives don’t increase fuel economy or engine performance so much as they bring the engines back in line with the performance levels shown when new. And on that note, Dickman says it’s important to remember any product added to a fuel system must be formulated using the correct ratio. “You can spike a system with too much additive,” he says.
