Lubrizol® 9040 Zer0 - Unparalleled Fuel Injector Deposit Removal Capability

Fouled fuel injectors in the DW10 test procedure result in engine power loss. This translates to a loss of vehicle drivability, as well as increases in regulated emissions and fuel consumption. The Lubrizol® 9040 Zer0 Series diesel deposit control additive (DCA) has the outstanding ability to prevent the formation of deposits within the injector holes, or channels, of latest technology diesel fuel injectors, such as those used in the CEC F-98-08 DW10 test. This mode of action is commonly known as `keep clean’. However, what can be done when fuel injectors are already heavily fouled? As well as preventing injector fouling from occurring, Lubrizol 9040 Zer0 Series deposit control additive shows an unparalleled capability to completely remove these deposits when they are already present and thereby completely restore lost engine power to `as new’ condition. This capability has been demonstrated in a sequence of tests carried out by Lubrizol experts in the DW10 engine, starting with a set of injectors operated on reference base fuel plus zinc, which suffered significant deposit formation and hence power loss. This fouled injector set was then operated on the same base fuel treated with Lubrizol 9040 Zer0 Series DCA.

The figure below shows scanning electron micrographs (SEMs) of fuel channels from fuel injectors used in this testing. The images confirm the extraordinary deposit reduction capability of the new deposit control additive. Each fuel channel is around 110 microns or 1.1x 10-4 metres in diameter, roughly equivalent to the width of a single human hair. SEM #1 shows a cross section of the internal fuel channel from an injector operated on the reference base fuel plus 1 ppm zinc. A layer of carbonaceous type deposits can clearly be seen on the inside of the channel. SEM #2 shows an injector channel after operation on the same fuel treated with Lubrizol 9040 Zer0 Series. A dramatic change in appearance is apparent with the Lubrizol 9040 Zer0 Series additive cleaned injector. It appears to be completely free of deposits with the metallic surface of the internal channel clearly evident.