Diesel engine designs striving to increase engine performance have made great advancements in engine fuel delivery to the combustion chamber. Today s diesel engine is quieter, smoother, and more powerful. But today s diesel engine owners are overlooking one important factor. The quality of today s diesel fuel has not advanced at the same rate as the engine improvements.

Diesel fuel begins to deteriorate as soon as it is produced. Within 30 days of refining, all diesel fuel regardless of brand, goes through a natural process called re-polymerization and oxidation. This process forms varnishes and insoluble gums in the fuel by causing the molecules of the fuel to lengthen and bond together. These components now drop to the bottom of the fuel tank and form asphaltene also known as diesel sludge. The fuel begins to turn dark in color, smell bad, and in most cases causes engines to smoke. The engines smoke because some of these clusters in the early stages are small enough in size to pass through the engine filtration and into the combustion chamber. As these clusters increase in size, only part of the molecule gets burned. The rest goes out the exhaust as unburned fuel and smoke. With increases in cluster size they begin to reduce the flow of fuel by clogging filters. The filters only address the symptom and not the cause.

It is estimated that eight out of every ten diesel engine failures have been directly related to poor quality and contaminated fuel. The build-up of contaminates in the fuel systems and storage tanks can quickly clog filters, thus resulting in engine shut down, fuel pump wear, and diesel engine damage.

Understand that most fuel has some amount of water in it from either condensation or vents. This threat requires that we realize the added burden placed upon diesel fuel as opposed to gasoline. Gasoline acts as a fuel only. Diesel fuel, on the other hand, also must cool and lubricate injection system parts. These parts are engineered to very close tolerances - up to 0.0002 of an inch - and any contamination means rapid part wear. Water displaces the diesel fuel. When the fuel is displaced wear occur because lubrication is now absent.

Water that enters the combustion chamber results in even more serious damage. When it comes in contact with the heat of the combustion chamber (in excess of 2000 degrees F), it immediately turns to steam and often explodes the tip of the injector. Water causes corrosion of tanks, lines, injectors, and greatly reduces combustibility.

Other areas of concern include the producing more exhaust emissions and effecting EPA standards.

Bacteria also present a serious problem. Bacteria feed on nitrogen, sulfur, and iron that may be present in the fuel or tank.

Then there are algae. There are absolutely no algae in diesel fuel. You may have fungus and microbial contamination but no algae. This is a misnomer for diesel sludge. So if you have a diagnosis of ALGAE and add a biocide, you have done two things, 1) found a mechanic that is wrong and 2) done nothing to fix the problem.

Why is there so much bad fuel?

The number one reason is due to the increased popularity of diesel power and the accompanying increased demand for more diesel fuel. There was a time when diesel fuel remained in the refinery storage tanks long enough to naturally separate and settle, allowing the clean fuel to be drawn off. Now with increased demand, diesel fuel never remains stationary long enough for settling, and the suspended water and solids are passed on to you, the user.

The change in refinery techniques is another problem. In order to get more products per dollar; diesel fuel is now being refined from more marginal portions of the crude oil barrel. This results in a lower-grade product that is inherently thicker and contains more contamination.

Thirdly, current fuel distribution methods also have a negative impact on the condition of the fuel at the time of delivery. In many cases, brokers control fuel sales to major distribution terminals and determine delivery dates. There is no telling how long that fuel has been in the distribution network and how many times it has been transferred. Seldom do these distributors filter the fuel as they transfer it.

The solution: Multifunctional diesel additive packages and hardware.

For your single vehicle or fleet the improvement of fuel quality by the use of additives and current technology is always a good choice.

Many diesel fuel additive packages address the key issues with respect to fuel performance; some improve fuel economy, increase lubricity, improving cold flow, and improve cetane number. And some only address the issue of rust and corrosion, but all should be considered.

Most diesel fuel additives contain combustion improvers that release oxygen during the compression stroke. This allows combustion to start sooner, providing for a more complete fuel burn. A more complete burn provides all the power your fuel and engine is capable of producing. As combustion improvers and you get a smoother running engine, an increase in horsepower that improves fuel economy and the reduction in black smoke emissions.

Cetane is a performance rating of a diesel fuel, a higher cetane number or cetane rating indicates greater fuel efficiency. The fuel s cetane influences, duration of white smoking after start-up, drivability before warm-up, and intensity of diesel knock at idle. Increase the cetane number of a fuel and you have improved performance.

In diesel fuel systems, the fuel provides lubrication for the fuel pump and injectors. A fuel with poor lubricity can cause excessive wear and premature failure of these components. Improve lubricity and extend engine life.

Diesel fuels have pour points (the lowest temperature at which an oil or other liquid will pour under given conditions) within the range of normal winter temperatures. As a fuel approaches its pour point, paraffin in the fuel form wax crystals that prevent it from flowing. Flow-improver additives modify the wax crystals, lowering the pour point of the fuel and give better cold weather performance.

For on-sight storage tanks other issues must be looked at. On-sight storage tanks always have a small amount of the first gallon of fuel ever put in them, unless it is drained 100% and cleaned. So adding new, fresh fuel always has a bit of the bad added to it every time fuel is purchased. Diluting the bad with good over time is a loosing battle. The fuel will always be bad fuel until the core problem is addressed

The order of treatment for fuel related problems should always begin with a determination of whether there is water in the fuel and if the fuel has microbes (fuel bugs) in it. Water Paste and Fuel Test Kits can be used for this stage of maintenance. If microbes are detected, then the use of biocides is needed. Biocides have no effect on and will not eliminate the sludge problem. Biocides kill bacteria, that s all!

The water issue should always be remedied first by the use of fuel water separators on the tank or on the equipment. Next a multifunctional chemical additive should be added to improve fuel performance and then if needed a problem specific additive to dissolve diesel sludge and or a rust inhibitor to protect steel tanks. For long-term prevention, the use of magnet fuel conditioners is recommended. These devices continually reverse the re-polymerization of the fuel during circulation and reduce the need for ongoing additive use. All the needed cures are available from Dieselcraft Fluid Engineering at www.dieselcraft.com.

Conclusion

There is no good time to find out that your engine won’t operate or that half its life span is gone prematurely because of contaminated or poor quality diesel fuel. Since no one can predict a breakdown, the only safe method is prevention.

Realize now that you do have a problem, and manage it now, or deal with the unexpected catastrophe and reduced equipment life that comes at the absolutely wrong time and is not in the budget!

About The Author

Written by John T. Nightingale President of Dieselcraft Fluid Engineering, Auburn CA 95604, manufactures of diesel fuel purification systems. www.dieselcraft.com

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If you’re sober, then you’ve got nothing to worry about, right? Not necessarily. The problem with being singled out of traffic as a possible DUI is that the officer has already formed certain expectations: He is psychologically predisposed to “see” what he expects to see — and he expects to see an inebriated person behind the wheel. So reddish eyes from fatigue, alcohol on the breath from a single drink, and nervous fumbling with your wallet trying to get your driver’s license will be seen as corraborating these suspicions. And then your future is going to depend upon performing well on field sobriety tests — tests which are notoriously difficult for anyone to pass.

So how do you avoid being pulled over in the first place? Well, it helps to know exactly what the police are looking for. Most of them have been taught what driving symptoms indicate the relative probability that the driver is intoxicated. This training is usually based upon research conducted by the federal National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and reproduced in a booklet intended primarily for law enforcement, “Guide for Detecting Drunk Drivers at Night”. The booklet contains a “DUI Detection Guide”, which identifies the 19 most common and reliable initial indicators of drunk driving - along with the percentage probability that the driver exhibiting the symptom is, in fact, under the influence. The following is a list of the symptoms and the probability of intoxication. Thus, for example, the research indicates that “the chances are 65 out of 100″ that a driver who is making a wide turn or straddling a lane line has a blood-alcohol concentration above the legal limit.

- Turning with Wide Radius 65
- Straddling Center or Lane Marker 65
- Appearing to be Drunk 60
- Almost Striking Object or Vehicle 60
- Weaving 60
- Driving on Other Than Designated Roadway 55
- Swerving 55
- Slow Speed (more than 10 miles per hour below limit) 50
- Stopping (without cause) in Traffic Lane 50
- Drifting 50
- Following too closely 45
- Tires on Center or Lane Marker 45
- Braking Erratically 45
- Driving Into Opposing or Crossing Traffic 45
- Signaling Inconsistent with Driving Actions 40
- Stopping Inappropriately (other than in lane) 35
- Turning Abruptly or Illegally 35
- Accelerating or Decelerating Rapidly 30
- Headlights Off 30

The NHTSA research indicates that symptoms are rarely seen in isolation; officers usually see a number of driving symptoms before pulling the suspect over. And the chances of a driver being intoxicated when multiple symptoms are observed can also be calculated: “When two or more cues are seen, add 10 to the highest value among the cues observed.” For example, if the subject is observed to be weaving (60) and following too closely (45), there are 70 chances out of 100 that his blood-alcohol is above the legal limit.

Speeding, incidentally, is not a symptom of DUI. Because of the need for quicker judgment and reflexes, it may actually indicate sobriety. You may get stopped for speeding, but at least you won’t have the officer approaching your car expecting to make a DUI arrest.

So if you’re driving home late some night, keep in mind what the police are looking for — and drive accordingly.

About the Author: Lawrence Taylor is a former prosecutor, law professor and author of “Drunk Driving Defense, 5th edition”. You can visit http://www.orangecountyduilaw.com/ to get more information about his law firm with offices in Orange County, California.

Source: www.isnare.com

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(ARA) - Whether you re expanding your deck, improving the landscaping in your yard or finally adding on a new screen porch, you probably are hauling a lot of cargo around at this time of year. Home improvement projects often require large, bulky items that don t fit easily into a family vehicle. Make sure that safety is your first consideration when you load up your truck or car.

The following are some tips for safely transporting outsized cargo around town:

* Do not tie items to the roof or allow lumber or other long objects to protrude from a window.

* Cover up precious cargo in a pickup bed. Invest in a bed cover such as the new Genesis Seal and Peel Tonneau cover from Lund Industries. One of the easiest to install on the market, the cover has a double-channeled sealing system that allows the user to open and close it in seconds, and it will not damage the pickup bed. Designed for extreme climates, the durable cover protects cargo from the elements and prevents anything from flying out of the truck bed. Lund also makes a Hinged Tonneau Cover that provides quick, easy access to the truck bed and has a convenient Slam-N-Scram latch that secures itself instantly when the cover is closed.

* Measure the dimensions of the item you want to move in advance, and the dimensions of your truck bed, or your car s trunk and door openings to make sure that the item will fit.

* Wrap items that could be scratched easily with a thick blanket or large piece of bubble wrap.

* Avoid busy interstates and highways. If possible, find a secondary route on residential roads where traffic is moving at slower speeds.

* Provide a padded surface such as foam, pillows or blankets on which the item will sit to prevent scratches.

* If an item is so long that it extends three or more feet past the end of the car s trunk or pickup truck s bed, tie a red flag or bandana to the end to alert other drivers.

* It is illegal in some states to carry items that protrude out of the vehicle. Regulations can vary, check with the local police about hauling items that hang out of the trunk.

With some simple precautions, you can ensure that you, your vehicle and your cargo will arrive at your destination safely. For more information on Lund Industries vehicle accessories visit www.lundinternational.com or call (800) 377-5863.

Courtesy of ARA Content

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Courtesy of ARA Content

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