|
Recently ValvePal did a series of articles in the trucking journal
"Movin' Out" (Sept., Oct., Nov., 2008 issues) titled "On The Fast Track To Fuel Savings". The articles detailed how Arlindo "AJ" Jardin, iventor and co-owner
of ValvePal and an idependent truck owner/operator with over thirty years of driving experience increased the fuel mileage on his Freightliner 2000 FLD 120 with a 3406E 600hp CAT, an 18 speed Eaton transmission and 3:58 rears from 6.166mpg starting in April 2006 to 8.115mpg (and still climbing) by the end of September 2008.
Following is an excerpt from the October 2008 "Movin' Out"
"Due to high sulfur emissions from petrodiesel stringent emission standards have been adopted with
the transition to ULSD starting in 2006 and becoming mandatory on Jume 1, 2010. While effective
in lowering sulfur emissions ULSD fuels result in a loss of lubricity and a lower ignition quality.
Biodiesel, an alternative to ULSD, is non petroleum based fuel utilizing either vegetable oil or animal fat. Blends of biodiesel and conventional diesel products are most common, using a system known as the
"B" factor to indicate the amount of biodiesel in any fuel mix: fuel containing 20% biodiesel is labeled
B20. Blends of 20% biodiesel with 80% petrodiesel can genrally be used in un-modified diesel engines. Biodiesel successfully eliminates any sulfur emissions and has better lubricating properties but it creates a new set of problems. Most specifically, it contains problematic amounts of water, causing more smoke, harder starting and less power. Water also causes corrosion of vital system components: fuel pumps, injector pumps, fuel lines, etc. Water accelerates the growth of colonies of microbes which can cause filters to fail or rot, plugging up the fuel system. Water also freezes forming ice crystals and speeding up the gelling of fuel. Additionally, water can casue pitting in the pistons of a diesel engine. Finally, a biocide treatment must be added each time a tank is filled to elminate the growth of microbes.
A mix of biodiesel and and ULSD results in lower emissions than either can achieve alone. It succesfully increases lubricity, lowers gel point and gives a higher cetene number. Cetene is a measure of the ignition quality of diesel fuel; or cold-start ability.
Enter fuel additives. To address the problems created by ULSD and biodiesel fuels the industry has developed a number of additives, designed to increase lubricity, dissipate the water content, treat microbial growth and boost cetene rating."
In October 2007 "AJ" began using an additive that he had learned of in a diesel/biodiesel seminar.
For the three months from October to December 2007 his total mileage was 38,607 miles using
5,083.8 gallons of diesel fuel with an idle time of 36.0hrs and an average speed of 51.4mph.
Using the additive gave him an increase of .264mpg. This was a total increase of .649mpg for the
year 2007 and an overall increase of 1.64mpg from his starting point in April 2006.*
*For how "AJ" reached 8.115mpg in October 2008 see "Movin' Out" Vol.33 No.ll, November 2008 issue.
We have had such an overwhelming response to our articles we
want to thank you all for your interest and support and many calls.
The fuel additive "AJ" used is SUMMIT™ and we are now
offering it through our web site.
| 
