TECH CORNER: RESULTS

See the Results for Yourself

We have developed this simple jar test to compare the ability of fuel additives to inhibit sludge formation and protect steel surfaces against fouling and corrosion in the presence of free water (condensation) and biological contamination. This test was first presented at a Brookhaven National Laboratory Oil Heat Technology Conference in 1996 and is designed to mimic real-world conditions. We have tested most of the additives currently on the market but if you don't see one on the list, we'll be happy to test it against Fuel Right^®.

How It Works

Glass jars are filled with fuel oil or diesel fuel, a small amount of water, a steel panel or "coupon", and a small amount of sludge. One jar serves as the "control" and receives no additive. Each of the other jars is treated with an additive at the manufacturer's recommended dose. The jars are then loosely capped and placed in a dark box or closet.

Once a month the jars are opened, most of the fuel is removed and replaced with fresh fuel, and the jars are re-treated with their respective additives. This process is repeated until, after 12 to 18 months, the "control" coupon has become well fouled. At that point all jars are compared and scored based on:

1. Fouling of the coupon surfaces
2. Corrosion of the coupon (by weight loss)
3. General growth of sludge (determined by pouring contents through a strainer)

Each jar is scored on a scale of 0-10, with the "control" scoring a "2" in each category. In any category, a score of less than "2" indicates the additive was actually worse than no treatment at all and a score of "10" indicates that additive was perfect in that regard. Below is an example of a typical result:

SCORES	Coupon	Strainer	Corrosion	Total
Control	2	2	2	6
Fuel Right	10	10	10	30
Other Additive	2	5	2	9

Summary of Test Results

The following tables show how various products performed in the jar test. The scores have been converted into ratings in each category as follows:

VP - A score of 0 or 1 in that category. (Worse than with no treatment at all.)
P - Score of 2 in that category. (The same as with no treatment at all.)
F - Score of 3 or 4. (Slightly better than no treatment - slight benefit.)
G - Score of 5 or 6. (Visible benefit but not outstanding.)
VG - Score of 7 or 8. (Much benefit - definitely worth considering.)
E - Score of 9 or 10 in that category. (Outstanding performance.)

When using this information, we recommend that you look for products that score high in the categories of interest to you. For instance, if you are interested in less sludge fouling but don't care about whether tanks are corroding, focus on the fouling categories. In general, the product(s) with the higher ratings should be expected to perform better in the field.

The results you see here represent the newest results we have. "Newer" versions of some products are slated for testing in the next few months, and we'll update our results as they become available.

Product Name	Made or Sold By	Year Test Started	Surface Fouling	General Fouling & Sludge Growth	Tank Corrosion	Overall Score	See the Results
Heating Oil Additives
Actene A	Aetna Chemical	1996	F	VP	F	10
Actene BAC-101	Aetna Chemical	2001	P	G	F	13
Actene WP	Aetna Chemical	2007	P	G	P	11
APC-30	Solvall	1999	VP	P	P	5
Aropet DSS	Arol	1996	F	VP	VP	4
Atomic Heat	SOS Products	2004	P	VP	P	5
Avalux	Innospec	2007	P	F	P	10
Biobor JF (Biocide)	Hammonds Fuel Additives	2002	VP	VP	VP	2
Comfort Zone (IN 05)	Index (GE-Betz)	1999	VP	VP	VP	1
Flame-Rite (at 100ppm)	Jamestown Chemical	2001	G	G	VP	15
Flame Right (IN15)	Index (GE-Betz)	1999	P	VP	P	5
Fuel Guard (Biocide)	Park-Hill (C&S Scientific)	1995	VP	VP	VP	1
Fuel Right	Fairville Products	2009	E	E	E	30
Heating Oil +	Global	2007	VP	F	P	10
Hot	FPPF	2005	P	P	P	7
Hot Shot	E-Zoil Products	2005	VP	VP	P	3
HFX	Energy Additives	1996	P	VP	VP	3
Ida-Sol D84 (Corrosion Inhib.)	Ideas, Inc.	2001	-	-	F	6*
Kathon (Biocide)	Rohm & Haas	2000	P	G	P	11
Kleen Fuel	Worcester Brush	1999	VP	VP	VP	2
LTSA-35A	Fuel Quality Services	2007	P	F	F	13
MX-3	Ideas, Inc.	2001	P	F	F	12
Nalco 303MC (80 ppm)	Nalco Chemical	2000	VP	F	VP	6
Nalco 303MC (100 ppm)	Nalco Chemical	2002	VP	G	VP	8
Oil Burner Tune-Up	Imperial	2007	F	F	F	10
Organo Ban	Park Hill (C&S Scientific)	1995	VP	VP	VP	1
PMT	C&S Scientific	1997	F	F	VP	7
Power Flow	Hercules	2001	G	P	E	21
Red Heat 700	Jamestown Chemical	2003	P	VP	P	5
SBG (Sludge Be Gone)	FPPF	2005	VP	P	VP	5
Sludge Solve	C&S Scientific	1997	G	VP	E	18
Sludge Solve	IPC	1998	VP	VP	VP	2
Sludgemaster Plus	Stewart/Hall - Rectorseal	1997	G	F	VP	13
STR 2+	Technol, Sid Harvey's	2005	F	F	F	17
Standard Sediment Tr.	E-Zoil Products	2008	F	E	VP	13
Super Heat	IPC	2005	VP	VP	VP	2
Surephyre 3000	Innospec	1999	VP	VP	VP	3
Tank Armor	FPPF	1998	-	-	VP	0*
Tank Protector (zinc ball)	Boston Environmental	1998	-	-	VP	0*
Tank Shield	Rutland	1995	F	VP	F	8
ThermoGuard	Valvtect	1998	VP	VP	P	3
Ultraguard (1032)	ILFC, Beckett Additives	2007	P	F	P	10
WP-3	Westwood Products	2005	P	F	VP	8
XTR+ (No Longer Available)	Sid Harvey's	1999	E	G	G	25

* scored only on corrosion - not sold for preventing sludge or fouling

Diesel Additives
Product Name	Made or Sold By	Year Test Started	Surface Fouling	General Fouling & Sludge Growth	Tank Corrosion	Overall Score	See the Results

Artic Formula	Chemical Technologies	2003	P	P	P	6
Biobor JF	Hammonds Fuel Additives	2003	VP	VP	VP	2
Bio-Con	Siloo	1995	F	VP	G	15
Bio Diesel	Star brite	2008	VP	E	P	13
BioGuard	Valvtect	2008	VP	G	P	12
Bio Kleen	Power Service	2003	F	F	F	12
CRC DFT	CRC Canada	2003	G	F	G	21
Clean Boost Comb. Catalyst	RGS	2007	P	P	P	8
DFC+	Sid Harvey's	2005	VP	G	VP	8
Diesel Fuel Catalyst	Red Line Synthetic Oil	2002	F	VP	P	8
Diesel Fuel Cond. & Anti-Gel	Berkebile Oil Co.	2008	VP	G	P	11
Diesel Fuel Supplement	Power Service	2002	P	VP	P	5
Diesel Guard	Valvtect	2005	P	P	P	6
Diesel Kleen	Power Service	2002	P	VP	P	5
Diesel Treat 2000	Schaeffer Mfg.	2003	P	P	P	6
Diesel Power	Gold Eagle	2007	P	G	P	12
EC-1 Diesel Additive	Innospec	2001	VP	F	P	7
E-Zoil Diesel Aid	E-Zoil Products	1998	VP	P	VP	3
Frost Prep	Park Hill (C&S Scientific)	2005	P	P	P	7
Fuel Power	FPPF	2008	P	VP	P	5
Fuel Right Summer Diesel	Fairville Products	2009	E	E	E	30
Fuel Right Winter Diesel	Fairville Products	2009	E	E	E	29
Gunk/Diesel Tone	Radiator Specialty	2004	VP	F	VP	6
Howes Lubricator	Howes	2007	P	F	P	8
JB DFC	JB Quality Products	2001	VP	VP	P	3
Polar Power	FPPF	2008	VP	P	F	6
Pri-D	Power Research	2007	VP	F	P	8
Pyroil DFT	Valvoline	1995	P	VP	F	8
Soltron "Enzyme" Fuel Tr.	RS Marketing	2007	P	F	P	9
Soy Shield	Schaeffer's	2008	VP	F	P	7
STP DFC	STP	1997	P	VP	P	4
StarTron	Star Brite	2008	VP	F	P	7
Stor-N Start	Marine Development	2008	VP	VP	P	4
Ultraguard DFC	ILFC	2002	P	VP	P	5

TECH CORNER: RESULTS

See the Results for Yourself

How It Works

Summary of Test Results

Heating Oil Additives

Diesel Additives