The Effects of Diesel Fuel Additives on Water Separation Performance

Fuel additives are being used more frequently to meet “premium diesel fuel” requirements. Although these additives improve performance, they also affect the water separation characteristics. This program was designed to determine the effects of various additives on fuel/water separation in low- and ultra-low sulfur diesel fuel. The additives studied include detergents and lubricity additives. A soy-based biofuel is also considered.

The fuel/water separation tests conducted with coalescer filter technology generally produced higher efficiencies while the addition of a detergent additive package at 175-ppm generally produced lower water separation efficiencies.