Importance of Clean Fuel Systems

A clean fuel system is the foundation of longevity and performance. Performing correct maintenance on the system has many benefits, including increased mileage, better acceleration and clean idling. Not to mention, with correct maintenance you reduce the need for replacements – symptoms of clogged or dirty fuel systems are hard to notice from use. When it becomes noticeable, it is usually time to replace them. Proper maintenance can extend the lifetime of fuel systems, reducing cost.

How does a fuel system work?
The fuel system delivers fuel from the storage tank to the engine. There are two types of fuel pump systems available on the market – electric and mechanical. For our purposes today, I’ll be focusing on the basic structure of the mechanical fuel pump system. Diesel fuel injections systems inject the fuel directly into the cylinders. It is the most complex part of the entire fuel system. The goal of the fuel injection system is to distribute the fuel as evenly as possible throughout the cylinders. The more even the distribution, the better the efficiency and the more power. The system increases distribution by converting the fuel into a fine mist in a process called atomization.

Let’s go into more detail about the specific parts of a diesel fuel system:
Fuel tank: Most fuel tanks are designed for side mounting in the trucking industry. This allows for more fuel capacity. The three most common shapes for fuel tanks are rectangular, cylindrical, and “D-tanks”, a combination of the two. The majority of diesel truck fuel tanks today are made with steel. A rust resistant or epoxy coating is also applied to help block contaminants.

Fuel transfer pump: The role of the fuel transfer pump is to transfer fuel from the fuel tank into the nozzle so it can then be dispensed. This supplies all the fuel that’s required for combustion. It also controls the amount of fuel fed into the nozzle, facilitating correct combustion and maintaining fuel efficiency.

Fuel filter: The reliable function of a fuel system is only possible with filtered diesel fuel. The fuel filter helps reduce damage from contaminants and also helps to reduce wear. Certain fuel filters can also help to separate water from the fuel, increasing performance and reducing wear.

Fuel injector: The fuel injector is a very important aspect of the entire system. It takes the fuel received from the fuel pump and atomizes it for combustion. The higher efficiency of the atomization allows for the maximum amount of fuel droplets to be converted into energy. Any droplets that do not convert to combustion equals wasted fuel.

Proper maintenance of your fuel system
The first step is to get your fuel from a reliable source. The quality of diesel fuel degrades over time, so it’s important to get fuel from a source you know replenishes their fuel regularly. As diesel fuel degrades, the presence of organic materials increases. This clogs fuel filters and hurts performance.

Change the fuel filters. You should always change fuel filters either at or before the manufacturer’s recommended timetable.

Check the fuel lines for any defects. If there is any air or fuel leaking out, it’s reasonable to assume that contaminants are entering the system as well. Any contaminants, no matter the size, can hurt the performance and cause degradation in the fuel system.

And finally, use fuel additives. While some of the problems with low quality fuel and clogging in the fuel system are helped with regular maintenance, the use of fuel additives is a continuous solution to performance and cleanliness. It will reduce the need to replace fuel filters and help maintain the performance of your fuel injector, one of the most important and expensive parts of your fuel system. As the complexity of these systems have increased, they now make up an estimated 30% of the cost of the entire engine. Why not do all you can to maintain something so valuable? Fuel Ox® with Combustion Catalyst uses a multi-faceted approach to maintain and optimize your fuel system. With a formula used by the US military, Fuel Ox® with Combustion Catalyst cleans and removes sludge and also helps to lubricate the entire system. It protects against corrosion and remove water. These functions of Fuel Ox® with Combustion Catalyst fuel additive increase fuel efficiency by an impressive 5-10%. It also reduces emissions and DPF regenerations by up to 50%, another added benefit.

Fuel additives are an important step to the maintenance and performance of your diesel fuel system and without a doubt, the industry tested benefits of Fuel Ox® with Combustion Catalyst are something worth investing in.