Asphaltenes (Black Fuel)

I have talked with several people over the last few months that have been asking the question " What is causing the diesel fuel to turn black".

The refining process used to produce Ultra Low Sulfur Diesel does not extract or refine out as much of the asphalt as in the past. In addition there is a lower demand for asphalt due to recycling practices. Both of these contribute to a higher concentration of asphaltenes present in our diesel fuel. The asphaltenes are not visible to the naked eye until the fuel has passed through the system and returned to the tank.

The high amount of pressure and heat the fuel is subjected to is actually refining out the aspahltenes as the fuel passes through the system. This is causing several problems, black tar like sludge in the fuel filters, plugged fuel lines, plugged return flow splitters, black staining inside fuel tanks. This is commonly mistaken for microbial growth a.k.a. diesel algae. A microbial test culture can be used to confirm or rule out the presence of microbial (algae) contamination.

One of the most talked about besides plugged fuel filters is, fuel tanks that are not staying equal. One tank will be completely full and sometimes overflowing and the tank on the other side will only be half full.

Asphaltenes are present in all ultra low sulfur and these problems can and will occur with any make diesel engine. The Cummins engines seem to be more prone to returning black fuel than some of the other makes. More times than not if someone is having one of the above mentioned problems they have a Cummins engine.

Primrose Power Klenz 5007 and Winter Klenz 5757 will safely dissolve the asphaltenes and turn it back into power as is it removed from the system. Continued use of Power Klenz 5007 and Winter Klenz 5757 will prevent the problems from reoccurring. In addition both products will significantly reduce regens, raise the centane by 40 points and improve lubricity by as much as 67%.

 

The Primrose Klenz series of products will also provide the thermal stability our fuels need to prevent  the asphaltenes from coming out of the fuel and causing the above mentioned problems.

 

 

 

The picture above is asphaltenes in fuel that has been returned to the fuel tank.

If you have any questions or would like more information please don't hesitate to contact me. I also offer free fuel storage tank evaluations and on site consultations.

 

 

Jeff Stone

Independent Manufacturers Rep.

605-528-3382

Primrose Oil Company, Inc.

http://www.primrose.com/

Phaser 3000 video demonstration

Phaser 3000®

 A modern fuel stabilizer, Phaser 3000® is recommended for use in gasoline or diesel* engines to increase performance, reduce downtime, clean, neutralize the harmful effects of engine acids, remove carbon, gum, sludge, and varnish from valves, cylinders, pistons, fuel injectors and carburetors.When ethanol blended gasoline reaches its saturation point because of contamination with H2O, multiple layers are formed. The top layer is gasoline with a lower octane rating, and the bottom is a mixture of water and ethanol that will not ignite during engine combustion. If ethanol blended gasoline reaches this state, a phenomenon known as Phase Separation, the engine can be detrimentally affected. This is where Phaser 3000® is necessary because it can actually return these separated layers back to one clear, homogeneous mixture. In this process, Phaser 3000® absorbs H2O molecules in the phase separated gasoline by breaking the ethanol-water H bond and encapsulating the H2O molecules, thus returning the separated layers back into one mixture. The H2O molecules that are absorbed in Phaser 3000® are then eliminated during the normal combustion process of an engine.

If used after phase separation has occurred Phaser 3000 will reverse the separation and stabilize the gas for up to 12 months. If Phaser 3000 is used before phase separation it will prevent it and stabilize the gas for up to 24 months. 

Primrose Oil Co.

Change they say is constant. Today however, change happens at a faster pace than ever before. Since 1916, Primrose Oil Company has been at the forefront of the lubricant and fuel treatment industries. Primrose Plus, Premium Select, Syn-O-Gen^®, and Enviro Blend^® highlight our commitment of maintaining leadership in these industries. New technology, environmental and regulatory mandates, and most importantly, our customers' needs drive our cutting edge developments. Primrose Oil Co. is always conscious of providing a 'total value' product. Only the highest quantity base stocks and additives chemistries are consistently used during development and manufacturing. This results in top quality products able to outperform normal expectations. Superior performance directly improves 'the bottom line' by reducing maintenance costs while increasing overall equipment productivity. Innovative engineering and consistent production of high quality products are cornerstones of our business. Another cornerstone is our people. We strive to instill in them the knowledge and understanding to be able to find the proper solution for the customer where he needs it most, in his place of business. Primrose Oil Company remains at the forefront of the lubricant industry. A changing technology base, changing customer demands, and a desire to meet the needs of the future, is keeping us on the move, movement that is carrying us forward today and tomorrow.

Gas Stability & Recovery

Diesel Stability and Recovery