Cleaner Injectors and Less Smoke with Hydrogen-Treated Diesel Fuel

Although No. 2 diesel fuels give about the same amount of exhaust smoke when compared in an engine over test periods of a few minutes, they differ greatly in their injector-fouling rates during long-term engine operation. These differences are vastly more important to the diesel operator with respect to smoke production and power output. Fuels lacking sufficient thermal stability permit rapid deposit buildup in injectors and on spray tips. The result is increased exhaust smoke, loss of power, and shortened injector life.

Hydrogen treating improves stability of diesel fuel and promotes long injector life. In truck tests under severe operating conditions, injector life was increased two to three times that obtained on straight-run fuels similarly tested.