Low sulphur boosts pump wear
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• Low sulphur diesel fuel is leading to accelerated wear in diesel pumps, says Ewen Auld, Shell oils Automotive Technical Manager.
Injection pumps are lubricated by the diesel they are pumping: reducing the sulphur levels has also reduced the lubricating properties.
Evidence is also coming to light that the soot produced by low sulphur fuels is tending to form into larger lumps than with traditional diesel. This may cause the sump oil to thicken and to clog soot filters or diesel oxidation catalysts in the exhaust.
By 1994 Auld expects a new API specification of oils lubricating low emission engines which will have smaller running clearances and top piston lands.
These engines will require either a lower viscosity semi synthetic oil (say 10W140), or the traditional oil running at a higher temperature.
Engine overhaul periods will not be reduced before the midnineties says Auld, by which time oils should be available to protect the new generation of engines. Commercial Motor has carried out a survey of 50 operators of all fleet sizes and found a high Level of ignorance concerning the effects of environmental legislation on diesel engines.
Only one knew what the regulations were called: 20% were
aware that some legislation was due in October 1993 (CM 27 Aug-2 Sept).