Technical Paper
Impact of Fuel Additives on Diesel Injector Deposits
2004-10-25
2004-01-2935
Continued legislative pressure to reduce diesel emissions has resulted in the development of engines with advanced fuel injection equipment (FIE). These injection systems produce temperatures and pressures at the injector tips that are considerably higher than those seen in previous technologies. This environment is initiating deposit formation at and around the injector tip which is leading to significant power loss and increased smoke generation. Investigations have been carried out to understand this phenomenon. Cyclic bench engine testing has generated high levels of deposits when minimal amounts of a fuel soluble zinc salt are doped into clear fuels. The deposits are found both in and around the nozzle tips. Analysis of the deposit shows the presence of zinc. These deposits are proving to be more challenging than those previously seen with older FIE technology. Detergents that have historically been effective in resolving injector deposits are proving less effective.