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Cloud Point is the temperature at which waxy solids first appear during cooling of diesel fuel. Keeping diesel fuel at cloud point over an extended period of time or cooling the fuel further will result in more extensive formation of wax solids.

Since fuel filters are vulnerable to plugging below this critical temperature, cloud point is the "fail-safe" operability standard adopted by the petroleum industry. It is also the primary cold flow property recommended by the Engine Manufacturers Association and the American Trucking Association's Technology Maintenance Council.

During the cold winter months, commercial trucks, automobiles, and buses may encounter diesel fuel gelling problems. Such problems often present themselves when unseasonably low ambient temperature occurs. It may also happen to long-haul trucks that travel from warm to cold regions where on-board fuel purchased in the warm region may not be adequate for cold temperatures.

While diesel supplies in most regions of the world are seasonally adjusted to meet regional weather requirements, these adjustments are based on historical records of normal climatic pattern. They cannot fully account for or anticipate abnormal weather situations. In the event of a "cold snap", it may take several days for the properly adjusted fuel to reach the end users, especially if long-distance pipelining is involved.

On the other hand, unscheduled vehicle downtime is unacceptable as it affects the reliability of freight fleets and the availability of critical services such as buses and emergency vehicles. In order to prevent any potential downtime, certain costly and time consuming preventive measures are routinely employed. They include blending diesel with kerosene (#1 diesel), use of additives, prolonged idling and frequent refueling. These practices are often executed blindly without the knowledge of the fuel cloud point, resulting in either under or over estimating the need to respond. While under-estimation leads to inoperable vehicles, over-reaction leads to excessive fuel costs, air pollution and productivity loss.

With precise cloud point information, preventive actions are often avoided completely. When such actions are needed, a cloud point measurement provides a reliable confirmation of the remedy. It eliminates all guesswork from winter fuelling.

Phase Technology is proud to introduce the world’s most precise portable cloud point analyzer for automotive applications. The patented technology is designed to address the needs of truck fleets and fuel suppliers.