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Clean Engine Run Best on Clean Diesel
ISO 4406 is a world-recognized standard to measure particulate levels in fuel and other liquids. The classification breaks the fuel into particle sizes of greater than 4 micron, 6 micron, and 14 micron particles. ISO4406:1999 Codes provides a range code for the predicted number of particles per milliliter in a range code. For example, see the following range codes: 18= 1300 to 2500 (>4 um) 16= 320 to 640 (>6 um) 13 = 40 to 80 (> 14um) If fuel around the world, was supplied to this standard in all cases, bringing fuel to cleanliness levels needed for today’s Tier 4 engines and for gas turbine use would not be as ominous a task even when considering that the fuel for these sophisticated engines might need a fuel cleanliness of 12/10/7 (20 to 40, 5 to 10, and 0.64 to 1.3 particles) But this is hardly the case when looking at fuels worldwide and preparing for the mobilization of fuel. It is not uncommon, at all, to see fuels in some countries where transport systems are unsophisticated or simply subject to the numerous contamination points having ISO4406 codes of 24/20/12 or 22/20/18. When looking at these fuels in comparison to the above referenced example, please compare: 24= 80000 to 160000 (> 4 um) 20 = 5000 to 10000 (> 6 um) 12= 20 to 40 (> 14 um)
The often repeated practices of purification of fuels when supplied in the 18/16/13 class that are now subjected to the 24/20/12 fuel class are just not suitable to handle the significant increased dirt load. Cases can be cited where such short-sighted looks at fuel have caused an inability to start the equipment, inability to run the equipment reliably and continuously, increased engine maintenance, increase filter element change outs, and most importantly loss of confidence by the ultimate customer in the supplier of the power equipment. A simple recommendation is “know your fuel” and absolutely do not consider that all diesel fuel is the same. The customer experience moving to commercial acceptance will be greatly enhanced by attending to this issue in advance.
When taking into account all of the fuel purification actions discussed herein, fuel success can be achieved in even the most undesirable of situations. Success is startup, continuity of run, and reduction in fuel related maintenance. Success is also defined here in the ability to engage the purification process with the simplest of integration and in the shortest time cycle.
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