Properties and Additives of

Fuel
Unit II

Introduction
The necessity of improve the fuel
quality has been arise for a pollution
free atmosphere, for that it should
posses properties of fuels.
For a better performance and to run
the engine blending of fuels is
required.
Blending is done with the help of
various refinery products and
additives, to obtain volatility, stability

Properties of Gasoline and their

effects on engine performance
It depends on the requirements of an
Ideal fuel which are:
Characteristics that fuel should possess
are : 1. Volatility
2. Calorific-value
3. Sulphur content
4. Gum content
5. Knock-rating

1. Volatility
Volatility or tendency to vaporize is one of the most
important physical property.
Vaporization of gasoline must be easy in the cold
weather, so that vehicle can start easily and run
smoothly and prevent dilution of engine oil by un-burnt
fuel.
Volatility should be less in hot weather, to prevent the
formation of too much vapor in fuel pump, fuel lines,
carburetor or fuel injectors.
A high volatility is desired for easy starting of engine ,
while
A low volatility is desired to prevent vapor lock,
carburetor icing and storage problems.

2. Calorific-Value
The capacity of fuel to produce heat
by burning is called its calorific value
shown by kcal/kg or KJ/Kg units.
Crude oil----- 10,000 to 11,600
kcal/kg
Petrol or gasoline----- 11,000 to
11,470 kcal/kg
Diesel----- 10,900 to 11,000 kcal/kg
Heavy oil---- 9,550 to 11,500kcal/kg

Sulphur content
Present in the fuel in the form of thiophenes,
benzothiophenes, polysulphides, sulphieds,
thiophenols.
The production of sulphur oxide into the
combustion can be converted into acids that
shall lead to the corrosion of engine parts and
exhaust system.
Lowering sulphur level will bring marginal
improvement in the engine and exhaust system,
but will not help in anti-knock properties and
hence it should not be more than 0.1%.

Gum content
The un-desirable product like peroxides/ gum
are obtained by oxidation of gasoline by air.
They are usually soluble in petrol but sticky
fluid residue when petrol evaporates.
Gum can clog fuel filters, deposites on the
surfaces of carburetors, fuel injectors, intake
manifolds, ports, valves, valve guides and
combustion chambers.
Anti-oxidant additives are added in petrol to
increase its oxidation stability.

Knock-rating
Engine knock gets its name because
of the sound it produces: a knocking
or pinging sound coming from the
engine. This is caused by the fuel
detonating.

Effect of volatility on engine

performance
1. Cold and hot starting
2. Vapor lock
3. Short and long trip economy
4. Acceleration & power
5. Warm-up
6. Smoothness
7. Hot-stalling
8. Carburetor- icing
9. Crank case dilution
10.Deposits and spark plug fouling

Cold starting
Combustible rich fuel mixture is to be supplied nearer to
the spark plug at starting temperature.
The limit of
Rich mixture to get ignited is 8:1
Lean mixture is 20:1
Air fuel is 12:1
Using choke the quantity of air entering the engine is
reduced so that the air-fuel mixture can be brought into
combustible range.
To avoid difficulty of cold starting more volatile fuel
should be used to vaporize more and sufficient fuel.
Low temperature of engine also gives easy engine start.

Hot starting
If carburetor bowl ventilation is insufficient to
remove this vapor out then rising pressure will
lift the float needle and fuel vapor will move
into inlet manifold.
If the capacity of fuel pump for handling vapor
is less than the vapor produced in it will enter
into inlet manifold and hence gets difficult to
start the engine.
Therefore after running for longer distance, the
engine doesnt start after some halt is called
Percolation

Vapor lock
When lean mixture supplied to the engine is
called vapor lock.
Due to vapor lock the engine running is
changing.
When engine is hot then it will give irregular
acceleration, it will cause difficult starting
and if engine is running then it will
momentarily stops.
Vapor lock tendency of gasoline is related to
front end volatility and Reid Vapor pressure.

 Vapor-liquid ratio (V/L) for gasoline is

defined as
It is the ratio of quantity of vapor given out
by gasoline to the quantity of liquid left at a
given temperature
Vapor lock is also dependent upon the
design of fuel system, the sources that are
causing vapor lock and change in design are
Fuel tank, Fuel supply lines, Fuel pump,
Carburetor

Crank case dilution

The increase in volatility of tail end
fuel, the crank case dilution is less.
The crank case dilution is more at
low engine operating temperature
It is severe when the engine is start
and stopped frequently then the
temperature of lubricating oil will not
be sufficient to vaporize the fuel
mixed in it.

IMPORTANT PROPERTIES OF SI
ENGINE FUEL
The fuel characteristics that are important for the
performances ofInternal combustion engines are
Volatility of the Fuel
Detonation Characteristics
Power and Efficiency of Engines
Good thermal properties like heat of combustion
and heat of evaporation
Gum Content
Sulphur Content
Aromatic Content
Cleanliness

IMPORTANT CHARACTERISTICS
OF SI ENGINE FUELS
Every SI engines are designed for a particular fuel having some
desired qualities. For a good performance of a SI engine the fuel
used must have the proper characteristics.
The followings are requirements of a good SI engine fuels or
Gasolines.
It should readily mix with air to make a uniform mixture at inlet,
ie. it must be volatile
It must be knock resistant
It should not pre-ignite easily
It should not tend to decrease the volumetric efficiency of the
engine.
It should not formgumandvarnish
Its Sulphur content should be low as it is corrosive
It must have a high calorific value

Additives of gasoline
Gasoline additives have the added ability
to inhibit corrosion, and as a lubricator to
improve the fuel traveling through the
engine issues.
The types of additives include oxygenates,
ethers, antioxidants (stabilizers),
antiknock agents, fuel dyes, metal
deactivators, corrosion inhibitors and
some that can't be categorized.

 Oxygenates are fuels infused with oxygen. They reduce the carbon
monoxide emissions created when burning fuel. Oxygenates can be based
on either alcohol or ethers.
Antioxidants Some antioxidants are used as a stabilizer in fuel to
prevent oxidation.
Antiknock Agents are additives that work to reduce engine knocking
while trying to increase the octane rating of the fuel. The mixture of air
and gas in a traditional car engine has a problem with igniting too early
and when it does, it causes a knocking noise.
Fuel Dyes are added to fuels. Some countries dye a fuel that is taxed at
a lower rate to identify it when used incorrectly. Untaxed fuels are colored
(usually blue, red or yellow) and taxed fuels are clear. For example, in the
United Kingdom, the fuel they use for agriculture and construction
vehicles are taxed at a different rate than for fuel used for commuter
vehicles. They dye this fuel red.
Metal deactivators are fuel additives and lubricant additives that are
used to stabilize the fuel. It works by deactivating metal ions. Metal
deactivators inhibit the formation of gummy residues. This compound has
been approved for both military and commercial use.
Corrosion inhibitors are chemical compounds that slow down metal
corrosion. A good corrosion inhibitor will give 95% inhibition in certain
circumstances.
Miscellaneous Several other fuel additives don't fall into the same
categories as the above.