DIESEL
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LOW GRADES FOR SHELL AND BP • Shell UK and LIP oil have revised their winter-grade diesel by altering the refining process to remove some of the wax, instead of relying on additives alone to improve cold weather performance.
The change has effectively lowered the cloud point of both fuels (the temperature at which wax crystals become visible). According to Shell the natural cloud point is a better indicator of a diesel fuel's cold weather capability than the more commonly-used cold filter plugging point (CFPP) test.
Shell claims that CFPP can give a misleading impression of the true cold weather operating performance of a dieselengined vehicle, and says that there is a limit to what additives can do to prevent wax crystals clogging up the fuel system.
Shell and BP's winter grade diesels now have a cloud point of —5°C, compared to a 'normal' winter grade cloud point of —2°C. Both have a CFPP of —15°C.
While the latest diesel should help truck operators in cold weather, Shell says that correct management and maintenance of vehicles is essential in winter.
The new fuels will be available to most Shell and BP customers from 16 November, but due to logistical problems the fuel companies say that they are unlikely to be available until a later date in some areas, such as the extreme South West, South Wales and Northern Ireland.
NEW FORMULA DIESEL PLUS • Mobil has also launched a new formulation of its diesel, Mobil Diesel Plus, in time for winter. The company claims the new fuel has a cold filter plugging point of —18°C and a cloud point of —5°C. Diesel Plus contains a detergent to keep the engine's fuel injection system clean, and defoamant to minimise spill back and speed up the filling process. It will be available from 1 November.