Effect of NITROGEN and SULFUR Content of Fuels on DIESEL-ENGINE WEAR

RATE of wear in diesel engines has been found to correlate with the amount of sulfur present in the fuel. Nitrogen and naphthenic acid content have little effect on rate of wear.

Wear tests conducted at 100 and 160 F showed that wear was considerably greater at the lower temperature. It is reasoned that, at the lower temperature, condensation of moisture in the presence of carbon dioxide leads to the formation of carbonic acid, which has a corrosive action.

In the authors' tests, wear was determined by chemical analysis of crankcase oil for iron content.