Fuel Additives and its Functions
Fuel additives are used with the fuel to make the engine run smoothly. The fuel additives help to keep the engine clean. It increases the octane ratings of the fuel or the gas and also acts as a lubricator and corrosion inhibitor. This allows the usage of higher compression ratios in order to get better power and efficiency. Some of the most common additives include anti oxidants corrosion inhibitors, metal deactivators, cold flow improvers and middle distillate additive.
The anti oxidants help to extend the induction period while preventing the gum formation. Corrosion inhibitors help to prevent corrosion while transferring through pipelines and storage. Metal deactivators help in performance and stability of jet fuel or gas. Lubricators help to improve the fuel lubricity performance. Cold flow improvers help to enhance the targeted performance and bar problems which may arise due to low temperature.
Diesel fuel additives are available in different types. Some of the most common diesel fuel additives which are available contain lubricant additives, cetane and detergency. Diesel fuel additives help to keep the fuel tank clean. These cleaner additives are used mostly marine, agricultural applications and constructions.
Fuel additives help to improve the combustion efficiency of the gasoline as well as fuel efficiency. This is generally done by converting the chemical energy of the fuel into kinetic energy. Fuel additives are required essentially to reduce pollutants that are being produced from smoke. The fuel additives help in reduction of emissions of smog.