Over the last 15+ years, government mandated emission control standards have forced manufacturers of diesel engines to adopt multiple tiers of control. Tier 4 emissions standards established by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) have reduced the levels of particulate matter and oxides of nitrogen (NOx) to a level that is 50-96% lower today than that of diesel engines manufactured just 5 years ago. To meet the current Tier 4 emissions requirements, manufactures have developed advanced technology that requires more precise maintenance and more specific fluid inputs. These requirements are not specific to any manufacturer, but general to anything using a new diesel engine.
While these engines run more efficiently, they also require more specific fluid inputs, and can be more easily damaged when fluids and maintenance aren’t kept up to specification. Fuel cleanliness remains essential to the proper performance and functioning of diesel engines. Tier 4 engines may experience operating problems when using the same fuel that would have run just fine through an engine built 20 years ago.
The technologies that allow increased efficiency such as high pressure fuel systems will not tolerate the same level of fuel contaminants that might run through an older, even Tier 3 engine, just fine. Subsequently, the need for onboard filtration of fuels has increased. Tier 4 engines require finer filtration media and can plug faster than filters used on older engines. The government mandated change of diesel to low sulfur and ultra-low sulfur diesel (ULSD) has also changed the chemical composition of what we commonly refer to as “diesel fuel”. Not all “diesel fuel” is the same as it’s made up of a complex blend of additives, chemicals, and fuels that vary depending on supplier, time of year, and geographical location.
As we head into winter, keep in mind that extreme cold temperatures can also have a different effect on your new diesel engines. When fuel reaches its cloud point, (that is the temperature in which the wax in diesel begins to solidify and gives the fuel a “cloudy” appearance), the finer filtration required in many Tier 4 engines will plug with the solidified wax. Diesel fuel will reach its cloud point at a higher temperature than the gelling temperature. When it clouds, the machine may not continue to run until the fuel is warmed and the fuel filter is changed. Other contaminants in the fuel such as water can also contribute to operational issues in extreme cold weather. Water can build up in fuel as it’s stored through condensation in fuel tanks. This excess water that falls out of solution in the fuel can form tiny ice crystals that will also contribute to fuel line and filter plugging, along with premature wear on the precise high pressure fuel system components.
Additional maintenance steps may be required in winter months to maximize up-time with new Tier 4 diesel engines. Consider these items and work with your fuel supplier to make sure you are ready for the inevitable cold days we’ll have through winter.
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