Same fuel sample tested by two accredited labs, have two totally different results (Pass vs. Requires Urgent Attention)
Fuel industry standard specification has to comply by law to SANS 342 with a max particle contamination of 24 mg/kg, (measurement of contamination done through the total weight is ineffective as a standard). Injectors have micron clearances of single micron sizes, therefore the total of particle physical size distribution and the total physical count amount, is far more important. The index of harmful particles between 1-12 microns in the fuel is vital, as highly contaminated equates to a liquid sandpaper effect to engine injectors and are far more blinding/compromising to quality OEM on- board filtration mediums. Inherently the efficiency and capacities constraints are compromised. OEM warranties are based on iSo levels 4406 and require a minimum of 18/16/13, should this not be met it leads to “abusive invoices”.
If you want to extend the economic lifecycle of equipment without unnecessary fuel related issues, ensure testing and complying to OEM iSo-standards and do not rely on the fuel industry’s, out-dated SANS342 standard for fuel compliance.
Most fuel in the market fails the OEM requirement s, due to the bad practices of using labs that purely comply with the fuel industry’s legislation for PASS and not if the fuel is suitable for modern engines. Creating a false sense that the fuel used is suited for the required micron clearances in most engine injectors.
Fuel to the eye appears “shining clear” with no visible contamination; however, high levels of contamination are far too small to be viewed with the naked eye.
OEM warranties for diesel are mostly based on iSO 4406 Standards minimum of 18/16/13 which is not based on SANS342, as used by several accredited labs to only comply with the fuel industry standard specification of 24mg/kg for a PASS, this however, equates to a FAIL by the recommended and required by OEM standards.
Each user of fuels should have a blueprint practice of filtering fuels when transferred and stored, as well as correctly sampling fuel and testing to iSO 4406 standards, to ensure OEM compliance and simply lower the cost of equipment ownership.
Most fuel in the market place does not comply to iSO 4406 18/16/13 due to no filtration or worse filtration systems that are simply lacking in supplying sustainable cleanliness levels. The BAD practice of using spin-on filters in bulk fuel applications, even in multi housings, is simply ineffective as they lack the dirt holding capacity required and the internal construction to handle the various differential flow pressures. Test your fuel for compliance after “filtering” regularly and utilize an accredited labatory that tests fuel to iSO 4406 levels.
Standards minimum of 18/16/13 which is not based on SANS342, as used by several accredited labs to only comply with the fuel industry standard specification of 24mg/kg for a PASS, this however, equates to a FAIL by the recommended and required by OEM standards.
Each user of fuels should have a blueprint practice of filtering fuels when transferred and stored, as well as correctly sampling fuel and testing to iSO 4406 standards, to ensure OEM compliance and simply lower the cost of equipment ownership.
Most fuel in the market place does not comply to iSO 4406 18/16/13 due to no filtration or worse filtration systems that are simply lacking in supplying sustainable cleanliness levels. The BAD practice of using spin-on filters in bulk fuel applications, even in multi housings, is simply ineffective as they lack the dirt holding capacity required and the internal construction to handle the various differential flow pressures. Test your fuel for compliance after “filtering” regularly and utilize an accredited labatory that tests fuel to iSO 4406 levels.
Why do quality original OEM on-board filters block prematurely or worse fail? This results in down time and costly repairs!
The Answer is simply that the designed dirt holding capacity of the filters is exceeded! The onus is on the owner of the equipment to ensure that fuel is clean and within the OEM warranty specification inside the Fuel Tank of the equipment. Cleanliness standards being iSO 4406 levels 18/16/13 not the Fuel industry standard compliance specification of SANS 342 of 24 mg/kg – equitable to liquid sandpaper. It is no wonder that the filters FAIL or lose efficiency during the allotted time based service intervals. Because of common rail engine impoverished requirements of a cleanliness level of 12/9/6 at the injector, bulk fuel management has become more important than ever. Ensure your fuels are sustainably filtered, through the fuel supply chain and test regularly for compliance to iSO 4406 18/16/13 levels. iCerMax™ iSo-Specsure™ filters for bulk tanks, mobile bowsers and tank cleaning equipment (bulk and on-Board Tanks) ensures OEM warranties are sustainably met, as our filters BLOCK and will not compromise on the filtration medium.
7 ton of Engine Muscle, 60 ltr, V16, 2013 kw – constant power = fuel consumption at 417LPH
Operating this for 500 hours to service intervals in a mining application and one may be playing Russian roulette if the mine does not have proper bulk tank/ mobile bowser sustainable filtration systems, as well as an on-board equipment fuel tank cleaning program. The injector pressures are 1600 bar, this requires permanent clean fuels and relying on the on-board filters to have the dirt holding capacity to supply the required clean fuel could prove to be a very costly risk. OEM high quality spin-on filters compromise or at best block, if confronted with fuel contamination levels in excess of iSo 18/16/13 in the on-board tank. This is why OEM warranties on fuel require 18/16/13, as a minimum fuel cleanliness level. Test fuel regularly for compliance to the OEM warranties and don’t rely on Fuel Analysis Reports, which base fuel test results for Pass or Failure against the fuel industry standard of SANS 342 of 24mg/kg, as this level of fuel quality is equated to liquid sand paper for injectors.
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