CPA Bulletin

TECHNICAL: 1 TECHNICAL This is because engines used in modern construction plant are becoming more sophisticated to reduce exhaust emissions and improve fuel consumption and can be a particular problem for engines designed to meet stage V emission requirements. It is therefore essential that plant owners and users are using the correct fuel for their machines, as specified by the plant manufacturer. Some manufacturers have reported cases of fuel filters on later designed engines blocking where incorrect specification fuels are used and state that where filters are not changed, possible damage to the fuel and after treatment systems, especially on stage V engines, can occur with the results being potentially extremely expensive. To understand the problem, plant owners need to know that there are currently four specifications of diesel fuel commercially available in the UK: a. White road diesel that meets European Standard BS EN 590+A1:2017 - This fuel has a maximum sulphur content of less than 10mg of sulphur per kg of fuel (10ppm); b. Red diesel (Gas Oil) that meets European Standard BS EN 590+A1:2017 - This is available from a number of fuel distributors in the UK and has a maximum sulphur content of less than 10mg of sulphur per kg of fuel (10ppm); c. Red diesel (Gas Oil) that meets British Standard BS 2869 Class A2 - This fuel has a sulphur content of less that 10mg of sulphur per kg of fuel (10ppm); d. Red diesel (Gas Oil) that meets British Standard BS 2869 Class D - This fuel has a maximum sulphur content of 1000mg of sulphur per kg of fuel (1000ppm). In 2011, it became a requirement that all fuel used in non-road mobile machinery (NRMM) must comply with EU Ultra Low Sulphur Diesel (ULSD) regulations and must therefore contain no more than 10mg of sulphur per kg of fuel. Since white road diesel (DERV) was already ULSD compliant at this time, it is often believed that the specifications for red diesel and white diesel have been identical since the regulation change. This however is not the case. There are two recognised standards of red diesel (Gas Oil) that are currently in use: • BS 2869 Class A2 • BS 2689 Class D Class A2 has a maximum sulphur content of 10ppm and is used for excepted vehicles, while Class D has a maximum sulphur content of 1000 ppm and can only be used for heating or static generators. An ‘excepted vehicle’ is one listed in Schedule 1 of the Hydrocarbon Oil Duties Act 1979 and includes (but not limited to) plant such as mobile cranes, dumpers, excavators, telehandlers, rollers, mobile crushers, etc. Neither of these standards however, meet the specification for white road diesel (BS EN 590:2013+A1:2017, Automotive fuels. Diesel. Requirements and test methods). One of the key differences in specification between Class A2 Gas Oil and Road Diesel is in the fuels’ cetane values. BS EN 590 has a higher cetane value than BS 2869, which means it has a shorter ignition delay and therefore burns more efficiently and cleanly, leaving fewer deposits in the engine’s fuel injection combustion chamber. With plant manufacturers continuously improving the technologies used within plant diesel engines, plant owners and users are strongly advised to check that the fuel obtained or used by themselves or their customers complies with the plant manufacturer’s specification and contact the manufacturer if need be to check the fuel requirements for their machines. As stated previously, if the incorrect specification fuel is used, it can and has resulted in costly engine breakdowns and recovery costs. There is also a possibility that a manufacturer’s warranty would be void. Where plant is on site for long periods or hired on a non-operated basis, it is essential that all plant users are made aware of the correct fuel specification by the plant owner, as the user or a designated person or persons will generally be responsible for refuelling the machine and that the information has cascaded down to all those involved. The information alert can be downloaded from https://www.cpa.uk.net/ informationalertstechnical/ RED DIESEL (GAS OIL) FUEL SPECIFICATIONS ALERT FOR CONSTRUCTION PLANT DIESEL-POWERED ENGINES 36 CPA Bulletin > February 2020 www.cpa.uk.net The CPA has issued an alert on fuel specifications for mobile and static plant powered by gas oil (red diesel) engines following feedback from owners and manufacturers. The alert advises owners and users of potential problems if the incorrect specification of fuel is used, particularly machines fitted with EU Stage V engines.