Resources

Description
A scale used to measure fuel weight.

Effects
Heavy fuel is hard to burn and has a low API. Light fuel has less heat and less mpg performances, and has high API

Description
Non-Combustible material

Effects
High ash means increased wear, more smoke, lost fuel

Description
Bottom Sediment and Water Content

Effects
Non-usable material in fuel.

Description
The quantity of heat required to raise the temperature of one pound of water by one degree

Effects
Measure of fuel’s energy output.

Description
Ignition Quality (Startability)

Effects
Low cetane means poor starting.
High cetane means good starting.

Description
Wax Formation Temperature
(Crystals form)

Effects
Fuel at cloud point will flow but will have paraffin wax crystals suspended in fuel. This may plug filters and lines.

Description
Measure of fuel’s tendency to form injector deposits.

Effects
High percent means injectors stick, Increase wear, Tip deposits.

Description
Boiling range/lab test
(Vapor temperatures)

Description
End Point

Effects
Low EP means less horse-power.
High EP means more smoke, more deposits, more wear.

Description
Lab test of fuel vapor flame point

Effects
Low Flash Point means probable blending with lighter products (handling danger).

Description
Measure of fuel’s major components. Hydrogen and carbon content is used to determine the fuels BTU content (fuel economy)

Effects
Will tell the ultimate MPG the fuel will deliver when used.

Description
Initial Boiling Point

Effects
Low IBP means lighter fuel.
High IBP means hard to burn

Description
10% Vaporized

Effects
Low IBP means lighter fuel.
High IBP means hard to burn

Description
50% Vaporized

Effects
Low IBP means lighter fuel.
High IBP means hard to burn

Description
90% Vaporized

Effects
Low IBP means lighter fuel.
High IBP means hard to burn

Description
Measure of fuel’s lubricity properties

Effects
Lack of proper lubrication will increase fuel pump and system wear

Description
Fungus or Bacteria spores or growth in fuel

Effects
Microbial activity causes fuel filter plugging, injector fouling, system deposits, tank and line corrosion, loss of usable fuel, lower mpg, more smoke, lower power, poor idling

Description
Free Carbon formation in fuel due to incompatibility

Effects
High test number means unstable fuel, engine deposits, system deposits, increased smoke, low power

Description
Solid contaminants present in fuel

Effects
Higher amounts result in fuel system deposits, filter fouling, increased smoke, and loss of usable fuel.
Examples: Rust, Dirt, and other foreign materials.

Description
Jell Temperature (Solid Fuel)

Effects
Fuel at pour point temperatures will not flow through lines or filters.
Solid in tanks

Description
A lab test to determine maximum usable fuel content

Effects
Recovery is a lab measurement of usable fuel. Residue is a lab measurement of unusable fuel.

Description
Fuel contaminant which is a major element in system corrosion and fuel acidity

Effects
High sulfur means increased wear, more deposits, oil contamination, more smoke

Description
Contamination of fuel by small amounts of metal particles present in crude oil

Effects
Higher amounts mean more deposits, increased wear, decreased fuel stability, increased ash.

Description
Measure of Fuel Thickness

Effects
Low viscosity can cause injector leaks
and more wear.
High viscosity is hard to burn and gives poor injector spray.