Each and every engine out there has a recommended operating window that ensures that the engine runs reliably at peak performance for a long period of time. These operating conditions are dictated by the engine manufacturer itself and can vary depending on the nature of the engine and its intended purpose. Nevertheless, one thing we can all agree on is the fact that no engine manufacturer recommends using poor quality fuel. This can lead to serious problems, including but not limited to the following:
Damage to Injectors
Fuel injectors are designed to provide the engine with the proper amount of fuel to complete combustion according to its load and operating characteristics, which means that they play a vital role in maintaining engine efficiency and power. As the devices responsible for providing fuel, it is not a surprise that they can take serious damage from using poor quality fuel. It has been scientifically proved that most fuel injectors found in modern engines may have their lifespan cut down in half from using fuel mixed with a small amount of water or other contaminants.
Plugging of Filters and Other Openings
The presence of debris in fuel may cause several side reactions to occur inside the engine compartment (particularly around the combustion chamber). These reactions may turn tiny particles of contaminants into substances like slag or asphalting, which can clog a diesel filtration system, thus leading to even less fuel quality and premature replacement of the filters themselves. See this post to find out more details.
Less Lubricating Power
Contaminants found in fuel may mix up with engine oil and other lubricating agents, which will then hamper their performance as well. Engine oil will start to thicken and form a greasy mixture which cannot lubricate engine components properly. Similarly, the diesel fuel also loses some of its lubricating power, which can lead to excessive engine wear in the pistons, cylinder liners and engine valves.
Loss of Power and Economy
Using poor quality fuel means that the engine cannot perform the same as if it would be when using standard fuel. The most likely symptoms of poor fuel usage are a sudden power loss and a decrease in the fuel economy, both of which are caused by low cetane numbers in diesel engines. In time, you can experience other issues like engine knocking, delay with engine start-up and the appearance of a large amount of smoke from the exhaust. All of this may make it necessary to get a decent diesel cleaning system Brisbane to fully clean-up the engine from time to time.The usage of poor fuel in any engine can lead to a lot of undesirable results, which is why you may want to emphasize using good quality fuel to prolong the service life of your vehicle and machinery.