A diesel engine uses only some of the fuel it pulls from the tank. All of that fuel goes to the high-pressure fuel pump, AKA injection pump, and then to the injectors operating under enormous pressure and high temperatures. Part of the purpose of this recirculating method of diesel engines is to provide a cooling affect from the cooler fuel moving through the injection circuit.
The surplus fuel the engine is not using goes back to the tank. This fuel is continuously re-circulated and exposed to extreme pressure and heat, which results in the agglomeration of asphaltenes, high carbon content, and heavy end fuel molecules. This then leads to the formation of larger and larger clusters of solids, which are very difficult to completely combust. These solids may grow so large that they will not pass through the filter element and become part of the polymer and sludge build up plugging the filter.
In addition, the hot fuel coming back to the tank will raise the fuel temperature in the tank, cause condensation and contribute to microbial contamination, fuel break down, bio fouling and the build up of sludge and acid.
Large fuel droplets and high asphaltene concentrations require more time, more energy and higher temperatures to combust than is available in engines during the combustion cycle and before the exhaust valve opens.
Any device in the fuel system exposing the fuel to stress (heat and pressure) such as pumps, heaters, or centrifuges will increase the formation of asphaltenes and negatively impact combustion.
So the next time you are running your engine think about how the stresses affect your fuel quality and how these stresses shorten the life cycle of the fuel. Then call us for a solution....you'll be glad you did.
Clean fuel.....it's what we do!
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