The Effect of Cold Flow Additives on Low Temperature Operability of Diesel Fuels

Over recent years there has been much interest by end users to secure improved winter diesel fuel quality without sacrificing low temperature operability performance.

The industry standard has been to ensure low temperature vehicle operability by lowering the cloud point (believed to be the low temperature vehicle operability limit) with kerosene dilutions.

Cold Flow Additives have been used in diesel fuel appliations for over thirty years. In the past ten years, there has been a dramatic increase in the number and types of additives, as well as claims for low temperature operability performance.

The purpose of this paper is to clarify the types of Cold Flow Additives (pour point depressants, cloud point depressants and operability additives) available for use in diesel fuel and to differentiate the individual performance benefits and various test methods and their applicability.