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Do fuel additives really work? How can you be sure? Truth is, some of them do exactly what they
say and are truly effective -- even necessary - for good engine
operation.
They
do good things'
….These good things are keeping fuel injector tips clean and
preventing unburned carbon deposits from accumulating in pistons
and exhaust valves.
Power Research Inc.'s PRI-D
(diesel) and PRI-G (gas)
fuel treatments seem to have the most convincing laboratory and
real-world data to prove their claims.
Reduce
Diesel Smoke
Power Research says its PRI-D
will reduce diesel smoke opacity -- a standardized testing measurement
scale used to determine the amount of unburned soot in the exhaust
-- by an average of 31 percent.
The product is supported with research studies showing a
virtual elimination of carbon build-up on piston crowns even after
550,000 miles of transit bus service. A comparable piston from the same series engine
in the same service with just 150,000 miles looks like a pitted, coked, battleground.
Why
is carbon control so important? It provides better fuel economy,
less frequent filter changes and longer lasting engines.
How does a product like PRI-D
work? It relies on the principal
that the chemical makeup of fuels delivered at the pump includes
hydrocarbons that form gums, resins and carbon during the combustion
process.
These unburned impurities are left behind to attach themselves
to engine components, making the engine less efficient. According to the company, the chemistry in PRI-D stabilizes the fuel and inhibits
carbon agglomerations from forming, thereby keeping engine components
clean.
This same chemistry helps to preserve or even rejuvenate fuel
that has been stored for years.
Stored fuel does oxidize over time to eventually become unusable. In one real-world application, Power Research
staff added PRI-G, a
gasoline stabilizer, to 15-year-old fuel taken
from a junked automobile and brought it into acceptable use specifications.
Although
these are extreme examples of fuel problems, they do demonstrate
that a fuel stabilizer will indeed improve the quality of the fuel,
thereby preserving engine performance and improving economy. Presented
properly, these products could form the basis of a significant continuing
revenue stream for any marine dealer and offer a significant customer
benefit over the long term.
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