Method and use for the prevention of fuel injector deposits

摘要

A method of substantially removing, or reducing the occurrence of, injector deposits in a diesel engine operated using a diesel fuel containing a minor amount of a metal-containing species. The method comprises adding to the diesel fuel the reaction product between a hydrocarbyl-substituted succinic acid or anhydride and hydrazine. The diesel engine is equipped with fuel injectors having a plurality of spray-holes, each spray-hole having an inlet and an outlet, and the fuel injectors have one or more of the following characteristics:
(i) spray-holes which are tapered such that the inlet diameter of the spray-holes is greater than the outlet diameter;
(ii) spray-holes having an outlet diameter of 0.10 mm or less;
(iii) spray-holes where an inner edge of the inlet is rounded;
(iv) 6 or more spray-holes;
(v) an operating tip temperature in excess of 250°C. The use of the reaction product to substantially remove, or reduce the occurrence of, injector deposits and a process of producing a diesel fuel detergent are also described.