Fuel Analysis Ashley Mayer, CMRP Manager WearCheck Speciality
Laboratory WearCheck Africa Slide 2 Content Why We Analyse
In-Service Lubricants Why We Analyse Fuel Lubricant Tests Fuel
Tests Slide 3 Conducting Postmortems Slide 4 Actual Diesel
Statistics 16 April 2012 16 October 2012 (6,985) Slide 5 Diesel
Statistics 16 April 2012 16 October 2012 (6,985) Slide 6 Fuel Tests
Slide 7 Minimum temperature at which diesel will ignite SANS 342:
Minimum 55C Low flashpoint can cause burnt injector tips Identifies
petrol adulteration Flashpoint Slide 8 Fuel Tests Low viscosity
causes pump and injector wear High viscosity causes excessive pump
loads High viscosity causes large droplet size, slow ignition,
smoke and reduced power SANS 342: 2.2 cSt < vis < 5.3 cSt
Viscosity Slide 9 Fuel Tests Forms sulphur oxides which form strong
acids Forms fine particulate matter SANS 342: < 500 ppm or <
50 ppm Sulphur Slide 10 Fuel Tests Measures temperature range at
which fuel turns to vapour Determines starting, power, emissions,
fuel economy Identifies adulteration of the fuel Distillation Slide
11 Fuel Tests Determines energy content of the fuel Can indicate IP
contamination Density Slide 12 Fuel Tests Ignition quality of the
fuel Determined by combination of distillation and density Low
cetane index causes difficult starting, rough running emissions
High cetane index causes premature ignition, burnt tips Cetane
Index Slide 13 Fuel Tests Dirt, rust, microbial contamination
Causes blocked filters, pump and injector wear Gravimetric test
SANS 342: < 24 mg / kg Solid particulate contamination Slide 14
Fuel Tests Causes rust, microbial growth Can become free water when
temperatures drop SANS 342: < 500 ppm Dissolved water Slide 15
Fuel Tests Causes rust, microbial growth Injector/pump wear Often a
result of poor sampling Often a result of deliberate contamination
i.e. fuel theft Free/visible water Slide 16 Fuel Tests Reduced
lubricity to pumps and injectors Illegal, harsh penalties Can test
absence or presence ( 0.5%) Illuminating paraffin (IP) Slide 17
Fuel Tests Blocks up filters Caused by long storage time, water
content Bacterial Testing Slide 18 Why We Analyse Fuel Slide 19
Avoiding Unnecessary Overhauls Slide 20 Avoiding Production Loss
Slide 21 and Making MONEY! Slide 22 Lubricant Tests Slide 23
Elemental Analysis Slide 24 Ferrous Density Slide 25 Kinematic
Viscosity Slide 26 Moisture Detection EnginesEverything else,
except transformers and refrigeration compressors Slide 27 Moisture
Quantification All components except Transformers and refrigeration
compressors Slide 28 FT-IR Spectroscopy Slide 29 Titrations (TAN
and TBN) Slide 30 Gas Chromatography Slide 31 Debris Analysis
