Additives for diesel fuel: reviews. Fuel additive: prices, specifications

2024 Author: Erin Ralphs | [email protected]. Last modified: 2024-02-19 11:42

Unfortunately, not all gas stations sell us quality fuel. Sometimes you have to take them, as they say, "at their word." Yes, and you can check the real content of fuel only in laboratory conditions. Therefore, in order to protect the engine from the influence of sulfur and various deposits, motorists use special additives. Reviews show that high-quality additives can really protect the engine and fuel system from low-quality diesel fuel. The main thing is to choose a conscientious manufacturer. In today's article, we will consider all types and varieties of these petrochemicals, as well as test diesel fuel additives.

Characteristic

The substances that will be discussed today are a common petrochemical product, the task of which is to improve certain operationalfuel properties in accordance with modern requirements.

Signs of poor-quality fuel

It is very simple to determine that bad diesel fuel has got into the engine. This will tell you black smoke from the exhaust pipe. Also, with low-quality fuel, difficult starting of the engine is possible. But all these problems do not appear immediately, as the car will run on the remnants of the previous fuel. As soon as normal diesel fuel runs out, and liquid with various deposits gets into the combustion chamber, expect trouble.

What to do

If dirt gets into the engine cylinders, remove it immediately. True, it is very difficult to do this. The most effective way is to completely clean the motor. However, it is performed only at the service station, after a preliminary diagnosis of all mechanisms. But a diesel engine can be saved with the help of additives. The main thing is to know which type to choose.

Varieties

Today, it is customary to distinguish between single-component and complex additives. Among them, the main types are:

1. Cetane booster.
2. Depressant-dispersant.

Each of these types of additives has a different composition and performs its own function. Below we will consider the features of each type of this petrochemistry.

Cetane booster additives for diesel fuel

Reviews indicate that this is the most popular type of additive in Russia. It is designed to increase the cetane number of fuel. Octane-boosting agents can be considered their analogues (although theydesigned to change the composition of gasoline). Getting into the tank, this liquid changes the composition of the fuel, reducing the time for its ignition and increasing the completeness of combustion of the mixture in the internal combustion engine. Thanks to this, the softness of the engine is ensured, its efficiency and power indicators are improved. In winter, cetane-boosting substances make it easier to start the engine “cold”. The dosage of this type of oil products is the same for all diesel vehicles: 1 kilogram per 1 ton of fuel. They are mainly contained in plastic or metal bottles of 200-500 milliliters.

Depressant-dispersant additives for diesel fuel

Reviews of drivers note that this type of additive is indispensable for those who often operate the car at low temperatures. Due to their composition, these substances prevent the fuel from freezing in winter. Often such additives are added at gas stations. But, as practice has shown, such diesel fuel thickens already at -7-10 degrees. Additive manufacturers claim that their products are able to lower the freezing range of fuel to -20o C. True, such a result can be obtained only with the correct dosage of the substance. But more on that later.

It is worth noting that this type of petrochemistry is a combination of two separate additives - dispersant and depressant. The latter type, as we have already said, prevents the fuel from freezing at low temperatures. But dispersants serve to prevent paraffin precipitation. But such a phenomenon can cost expensive repairs to the fuel system.

Also, dispersants prevent segregation of diesel fuel fractions of different density, which significantly increases the shelf life of the liquid in a tank or tank. Together, these two additives are an excellent tool for improving the fluidity of the fuel and its resistance to freezing temperatures.

How it works

When the air temperature drops, the density of the fuel drops significantly. Moreover, this phenomenon occurs in several stages:

1. Fuel gets cloudy at first. At this time, the beginning of paraffin crystallization occurs. The fluidity level of diesel fuel does not change. The crystals themselves can easily pass through the filter.
2. When the boundary temperature is reached, the paraffins increase to such a size that they do not pass through the pores of the filters. Fuel flow deteriorates. The fuel itself is not pumped through the filter.
3. After reaching the pour point, the crystal lattice grows and becomes denser. Such fuel becomes less fluid and unusable.

After that, the action of the additive begins. Its depressant molecules absorb paraffin crystals, thereby increasing the fluidity of the fuel. The paraffin residues settle on the bottom of the tank, where the probability of their getting into the engine during start-up is the smallest. What is most interesting, the work of this additive is not aimed at removing paraffin crystals, but preventing their growth. That is, it should be added before the fuel begins to cloudy.

Adding Rules

As for dosage,this type of petrochemistry should be added in an amount of 20 to 100 milliliters per 100 liters of diesel fuel. Do not forget that such additives are only seasonal, and should be used only in winter. If you follow the correct addition technology, you can reduce the freezing point of the fuel from the previous -5 to -20 degrees Celsius. The best depressant-dispersant type diesel additives are made by Dodiflow and HiTech.

When pouring the additive into the tank, it is important to monitor the ambient temperature. The temperature at which the liquid is added must be positive (at least not lower than -10 degrees Celsius). If this rule is not observed, the agent will not dissolve in the fuel, but will form separate paraffin globules. The latter, before entering the engine, greatly clog the fuel system. As a result, the car does not drive well and consumes 10-20 percent more diesel fuel.

Other types of funds

Besides cetane and depressant additives, there are other additives for diesel fuel. Reviews of drivers say that detergents are in the first place in terms of applicability after these types of products. Such additives are made from low molecular weight polyisobutylene succinimide. According to their properties, they perfectly clean the insides of the fuel system and internal combustion engines from dirt and soot. Also, detergent additives perfectly wash away dirt from nozzle sprayers. After the use of these agents in the fuel system, a uniform injection of fuel is ensured, which significantly reduces fuel consumption and the level of CO emissions into the environment. The operation of the enginebecomes more smooth and measured.

There are also anti-corrosion additives for diesel fuel. Drivers' reviews say that such products perfectly displace excess moisture from the fuel and form a thin protective film on the surface of metal ICE mechanisms.

Anti-foam additives are used to prevent the formation of foam when fuel is transferred from one container to another (for example, from a tank to a car tank). They are added at the stage of fuel production, therefore it is almost impossible to find them on the market, and it makes no sense. Note also that excessive foaming may result in fuel spillage and slow refueling.

And finally, about demulsifying additives. The word itself says that these substances are designed to reduce the formation of emulsions. The essence of their work is to reduce interfacial tension at the border of the fuel line.

Why are there so many additives for diesel cars

To answer this question, you need to consider the features of the operation of such engines. Studies have shown that diesel cars are more sensitive to fuel composition than their gasoline counterparts. The fact is that a minimum of time is allotted for injection, combustion and withdrawal of the combustible mixture in such engines. If the quality of the fuel is not up to standard, this will lead to clogging of the injectors and filters, which will make the operation of the internal combustion engine even more unstable and unstable. Therefore, it is so important to maintain cleanliness in diesel engines, for which they came up with everythingthese types of additives. Also, cetane boosters increase the distillation temperature of the fuel, which makes it easier and faster to ignite. And depressant-dispersant ones allow you to quickly start the engine at a negative temperature, which is a frequent "sore" for almost all modern diesel engines.

Testing additives from different manufacturing companies

Well, we have already talked about the features and purpose of these substances. Now let's look at which manufacturer makes the best quality additives.

The first in our review will be the German manufacturer Liquid Moli. This company has been making additives for diesel engines for a long time, therefore, its reputation is spotless. The test results showed a positive result. Power and economy figures have improved significantly, but the engine noise has not diminished. Lubricity was seen to a lesser extent. It can be said that the Liquid Moli fuel additive is aimed only at increasing the cetane number and reducing fuel consumption. However, it is these two qualities that are most valued by drivers.

Judging by the reviews, the German fuel additive has practically no drawbacks. Perhaps its only drawback is its high cost. One 250 ml bottle costs about 290 rubles. This amount is only enough for 75 liters of fuel, that is, for 1-2 full refueling. As a result, the cost of 1 liter of diesel fuel increases by 3.9 rubles.

Castrol additives for diesel fuel also did a great jobwith their tasks - increasing the cetane number and providing lubricity. At the same time, the efficiency indicators correspond to the values declared by the manufacturer. A test of additives in diesel fuel showed that a car after filling in such a liquid spends 10-15 percent less fuel.

As for the cost, it is not much different from the previous version. For 250 milliliters of liquid they ask for about 350 rubles. But the most important difference between the British "Castrol" and the German "Liquid Moli" is the dosage. One bottle of Castrol is enough for as much as 250 liters. fuel. At the same time, the cost of fuel increases by only 1 ruble. Moreover, the fuel remains in the same purity as after the use of the Liquid Moli additive. As the reviews have shown, the Castrol additive has no significant drawbacks.

Now about the properties of the domestic additive "Suprotek". Judging by the test results, she remains the only one on the list that has distinguished herself with such good lubricity. The tests were carried out as follows. First, all the oil was drained from the car, then this liquid was added, and the car continued to move virtually without a drop of lubricant. As a result, the additive "Suprotek" provided an hour of coordinated work for the engine at medium and high loads. If not for her, the motor would have "wound up" already in the first seconds of operation.

Well, the Suprotec additive showed the best result in protecting the internal combustion engine in the event of an accident in the lubrication system. But she also has her shortcomings. The fact is that the manufacturer requires a 2-foldprocessing with an oil change, and this is very troublesome and painful for the car owner. Well, and, of course, the price. For 100 milliliters of liquid you need to pay 1200 rubles. Since it is poured into the engine twice, the price of 2400 rubles for the additive remains clearly overpriced compared to its other competitors.

Also, our review touched on the American cetane corrector brand SMT2. On the Russian market, it costs about 600 rubles (the volume of the bottle itself is 240 milliliters). After using this additive, the car began to behave better in terms of dynamics. At the same time, a small lubricity was noticed in the cetane corrector. The efficiency indicators did not fall much, so we cannot award the leadership to SMT2. Yes, and the cost of it is too high.

What to choose

According to the results of the tests, the best additive for diesel fuel is from Castrol. It is she who has the most optimal ratio of price to quality. Of course, the Suprotec additive is also of high quality. However, for our motorists, its cost is too high, so we cannot award it the leadership.

About fakes

With the expansion of the product range, the risks of becoming a victim of fraud have become very high. The fact is that some additives in diesel fuel (including Castrol) are pure fake and are spilled not somewhere in Britain, but in the nearest basement or garage. Therefore, in order to buy a truly original product, you should pay attention not only to the label, where you should clearlybe company details, but also on the cost. Of course, in different stores it may differ from the one we named in today's article. However, if the price difference is more than 30-40 percent (down), and the seller refuses to provide quality certificates, such an additive is clearly not real.

We use strictly according to the instructions

No matter how strange it may seem, but the use of additives can be both useful and dangerous for the engine. And the whole point is the correct dosage, which is indicated in the instructions by the manufacturer himself. You should not think that increasing the concentration of the additive in the engine will improve its performance. On the contrary, its excessive concentration in the motor will only aggravate the operation of the mechanisms.

It is also recommended to take small breaks between the use of additives. This is due to the high sensitivity of engines (especially Japanese ones) to the composition of the fuel.

Conclusion

So, we found out what cetane improvers and depressants are for diesel fuel, and considered a number of leading manufacturers of this type of product. Remember that the wrong dosage of substances can harm the engine of your iron friend and lead to its unforeseen breakdown. Therefore, take care of your car and fill in additives strictly according to the instructions written by the manufacturer.