A few years back our customers were seeking advice on poor fuel economy during winter months, particularly with diesel powered vehicles. This phenomenon is easily explainable. The reason is that many fuel companies around the colder parts of the world, the UK being one of them, switch fuels during winter. This usually occurs in the UK around mid-November.
This is in part a good thing in that it provides greater protection against gelling and waxing, normally providing additional protection of up to -15 degrees centigrade as opposed to the normal -5 degrees during the colder spells. The downside is that this fuel usually has a lower BTU (energy) value than the summer equivalent. This results in less energy being produced during the combustion process and thus your engine requires more right foot to attain the same level of accelerative or cruising effort.
There isn’t a direct solution other than to use a high quality fuel catalyst to help maximise the energy capability of the fuel. No additive can increase the BTU of a fuel, but what you can do is ensure you get the most out of it and make sure it’s not wasted in the form of excess emissions or particulates. Also, diesel engines are more susceptible to carbon build-up during winter months as the engine takes longer to get up to temperature and this can ultimately lower the MPG.
Our advice is to use Oilsyn Hybrogen or Archoil AR6900-D MAX. Both help provide a much cleaner burn (even during engine warm-up conditions) with the added benefits of cleaning and lubricating the fuel system, preserving the fuel and protecting against water and other contaminants.
If you have any questions regarding this article or require any assistance then please don’t hesitate to contact us.
