How good quality fuel indicators can optimise your fleet performance

Two key parts of a diesel engine are a fixed cylinder and a moving piston. The engine works beginning with air compression in the cylinder. The vehicle’s computer sends a signal for the air to be sprayed with fuel at a measured rate, the piston compresses the mixture and the mixture ignites. This burning – or internal combustion – is a chemical process that releases energy from a combination of fuel and air. The expanding gases from combustion push the piston, which then drives the powertrain that in turn moves the vehicle’s wheels.

Variation on that basic process is what can make a difference in the optimisation of an engine. You may witness this difference on a long drive. A fuel with higher density can provide an improvement in fuel economy due to the higher energy content per litre of fuel.

But a dense fuel does not always mean a better ride: an overly dense fuel could potentially result in a lower cetane number, which can impact cold start ability of the engine.

This is just one example of a fuel quality that can affect engine performance. A high-quality fuel balances fuel density in relation to other fuel dimensions for optimised combustion and vehicle operation.

In countries with seasonal cold temperatures or altitude differences, where the temperature at sea level and at higher elevations may differ, cloud point in a fuel will become important. Cloud point is the temperature at which wax crystals begin to form in the fuel.  These crystals can be caught by the fuel filter and cause major operability problems in a vehicle amidst cold temperatures. Cold Filter Plugging Point (CFPP) additives can be blended into the fuel to enhance low temperature fuel filterability. CFPP additives work by changing the shape of the wax formed, allowing improved flow through the filter.   

Factors affecting fuel performance may also occur from issues that arise between fuel production and delivery. For example, improper storage along the supply chain may lead to increased water in the tanks from condensation or environmental conditions like rain, which can contribute to microbiological growth at the fuel-water interface. These microbes may produce acids which make the fuel corrosive to an engine or other parts of a fuel system. In addition, microbiological growth can lead to filter plugging. Over time, this can hurt performance and result in more instances of vehicle maintenance.

Proper storage and maintenance procedures are critical to reducing water contamination and propensity for microbiological growth.

There are multiple ways to gain an indication of how a fuel can deliver at scale and in the long run for your particular set of needs. To meet buy-sell agreements or any existing government regulations, the quality of fuels are typically tested and reported in a Certificate of Quality (COQ), which reflects the acceptable range for the agreements or government standards for that particular fuel. The COQ may contain information about the fuel’s makeup, including water content, fuel density and CFPP.

However, the COQ only covers the fuel at the time of production. The reality is more complex. A lot can happen during the long process between production and delivery, which is why it’s important to ensure that your vehicles are receiving fuel from a high quality fuel supplier, with reputable experience in supply chain management.

Mobil Australia’s approach to ensuring the quality of its fuel and its characteristics is based on the knowledge and feedback of customers within its global network. This works in tandem with a manufacturing and testing process honed by experience and expertise, which helps to keep quality consistently high. 

Raw materials and operating conditions that produce a fuel may differ, but a good supplier keeps fuel output consistent. An investment in high quality fuel is an investment in your fleet – it ultimately can help increase your bottom line, decrease downtime, protect your engine, and keep business running smoothly.