OILS & LUBRICANTS
SulNOx has developed a hydrocarbon fuels conditioning and emulsifying process which enables more efficient fuel combustion
reduced by over 50 % and PM2.5 by over 60 %. “ It reduces the contamination of engine oil , thus potentially preserving the life of the engine . Reduces fouling of ignition , diesel filters and fuelling components along with reduced engine parts corrosion , reduced failure of lubricating films . Significantly reducing the load on the Exhaust Gas Recirculation ( EGR ) system . Longer turbo life and increased time periods between routine engine maintenance .”
The company told IM that these combined benefits mean expected reduced maintenance costs of up to 10 % are achievable and depending
on the size and maintenance costs of the mining fleet this should also be factored into any combined calculations .
A better way to reduce DPF clogging
In a recent article , Shawn Whitacre , Senior Staff Engineer at Chevron Lubricants , discussed in some detail diesel particulate filters ( DPFs ). They are unquestionably efficient and effective at doing what they are supposed to do , namely reducing harmful emissions from heavy duty diesel engines . However , the buildup of noncombustible ash in DPFs clogs the filters , impairing their performance and reducing their efficiency . “ Left unchecked for too long , DPF clogging can also impair engine performance and diminish fuel economy . That is why they require periodic cleaning , which is a maintenance headache for fleet operators . First , it is a costly and laborious process , usually involving a chemical treatment to break down the ash and special equipment to blow it out of the filter . What ’ s worse , it requires taking a truck out of service for as much as a day , meaning downtime and lost revenue .”
The main causes of ash formation in DPFs are the metallic additives in heavy duty engine oils , whose formulations typically include calcium , magnesium , zinc , phosphorus , molybdenum and boron . “ To help minimise the accumulation of ash and the resulting maintenance requirements ( and costs ), Chevron developed the first diesel oil based on a new , patented ultra-low ash ( ULA ) technology . Delo ® 600 ADF is formulated with a novel additive package that has proven in exhaustive testing to be just as effective at wear protection , oxidation stability and oil life extension as conventional additives . More significantly , ULA technology reduces the ash content in the oil from the API-mandated maximum of 1 % ( considered ‘ low ash ’) to just 0.4 %. This 60 % reduction in ash content dramatically slows the buildup of ash in the DPF , meaning longer and more predictable maintenance intervals , while delivering a fuel economy benefit as well .”
Whitacre says it has been suggested that operators can slow down DPF ash accumulation with a conventional , 1 % ash CK-4 oil simply by reducing oil consumption in the engine . “ One can see the logic in this argument – the less oil consumed , the less unburned ash flowing out through the exhaust aftertreatment system . And reducing oil consumption without compromising lubrication and protection is always a desirable goal .”
But as a practical matter , how do you actually control oil consumption ? “ It ’ s not as though there is a dial on the dashboard that you can turn up and down to regulate the flow of oil . This logic relies entirely on the ability of an oil to
inhibit piston deposit formation in the power cylinder , which is the main driver of increased oil consumption over the life of an engine . In other words , the rate of oil consumption depends largely on the properties of the oil being used , and is otherwise out of the operator ’ s control .”
But he says on the other hand , the selection of an ultra-low ash oil is very much within the operator ’ s control and effectively guarantees minimal ash accumulation , making it a much easier and more predictable solution . “ By the
Operators can slow down DPF ash accumulation with a conventional , 1 % ash CK-4 oil simply by reducing oil consumption in the engine
way , our testing of Delo 600 ADF found that it also exhibits remarkably good piston deposit control – so it will help limit oil consumption along with the specific and unique additional benefit of limiting ash buildup in the DPF .”
How much of a difference can a ULA oil make over the long haul ? The most commonly used metric for oil consumption is miles traveled per
International Mining | JULY 2021