New Product Test Results for Better Diesel™ FBC (Fuel Borne Catalyst)
Better Diesel™ FBC launched one year ago in April of 2018. Since then the feedback from our customers has been uniformly positive. Better Diesel FBC increases the thermal efficiency of ANY diesel engine by improving fuel combustion directly. This results in better engine performance, meaning, more engine hp and/or miles driven for the same amount of fuel burned. So, you can either save on your fuel expense or haul a heavier load at the same speed or get there faster – the choice is yours depending on how you drive, how your engine ECM is tuned, and the gear ratio of your truck. Additionally, the catalyst will lower the “burn-off” temperature of accumulated soot and carbon in the engine and exhaust system by approximately 250 degrees F. The fuel catalyst assists in helping your DPF system regenerate faster and can extend the regen interval by hundreds of miles. This means less fuel burned, less DEF consumed, less thermal stress on the exhaust-side components. Best of all, soot and carbon deposits will burn off at normal EGT (exhaust gas temperatures) as you drive, resulting in a cleaning effect of the EGR, EGR cooler, sensors, DPF, and exhaust turbo charger. These components work better and last far longer without soot build-up – the result is far fewer trips to the shop and less lost revenue from down time and repairs. We estimate this to be in the range of $8,000 - $15,000 per year per truck with emissions after-treatment, 2007 or newer.
Now we have fuel economy results from a controlled, rolling dyno test of a Cummins ISX 550 hp engine. We are pleased to share the good news. (See the chart above for the results.)
Engine Test Condition Total Amount of Fuel Consumed1 % IMPROVEMENT
Before - without FBC Retest - with FBC
30% engine load,
1400 rpm 1.161 gallons
(Average of 3 runs) 1.024 gallons
(Average of 2 runs) 12%
60% engine load,
1400 rpm 2.375 gallons
(Average of 3 runs) 2.035 gallons
(Average of 3 runs) 14%
1 Fuel measurement based on total carbon emissions using 40 CFR Part 1065 compliant test method as performed by PEMS.
The test engine: This engine is a 2016 Cummins ISX CM2350 rated at 550 hp mounted in a Kenworth W900 “SuperCab”. The engine had 272,476 miles on the odometer when the fuel treatment period began in April 2018. The test concluded at the end of July with an odometer reading of 308,218 miles. The ECM program was “stock” as received from the engine dealer.
The engine test facility: Pittsburgh Power performed the engine test for fuel economy using their Taylor rolling dynamometer. This rolling dyno uses a water brake to control the engine at a fixed rpm and percent load (torque). We then measured the exhaust stack emissions using a PEMS (Portable Emissions Measurement System) manufactured by Sensors Inc. These emissions measurements were converted to fuel consumption estimates using EPA compliant methods for certifying engine fuel consumption (40 CFR Part 1065). This eliminates any influence of extrinsic variables on fuel economy such as wind and rolling resistance, driving style, and terrain.
After the baseline testing was complete, the same engine began use of diesel treated with Better Diesel FBC (fuel borne catalyst). As is typical, the driver noted smoother, quieter engine operation and better pulling power. His manually logged baseline MPG was 5.2. The driver noted that the MPG gradually increased over the first month of the evaluation period. The driver-logged MPG from beginning to end of the 3-month test period was 5.85 MPG. This represents an increase of 13% which included the initial clean-up and conditioning time. The driver-logged MPG for the last 2 months of the test period was 5.94, an increase of 14%. These results are consistent with the rolling dynamometer results obtained under stringently controlled engine operating conditions of rpm and load.
“Return to Baseline” test and repeat: As a check on the driver reported MPG evaluation, we ran a repeat test in which the truck was driven with untreated fuel for ~30,000 miles. This “return to baseline” evaluation began in the fall of 2018 with use of “winter” fuel and lasted for approximately two months. Treatment of the fuel with Better Diesel FBC resumed on Jan. 24, 2019, again using winter fuel, and ended on Mar. 14, 2019. Recorded numbers from the truck owner’s manual fuel log were 2,568 gallons of diesel burned over 14,289 miles driven since he resumed use of treated fuel. These numbers yield an estimated fuel economy of 5.5 MPG, significantly higher than the baseline estimate of 4.9 MPG achieved over the previous two-month period. The increase in driver reported fuel economy for this second evaluation was 13%, consistent with previous results obtained with the rolling dynamometer (controlled conditions) and the MPG calculated manually by the owner of the engine from his fuel log.
Do the Math: if you spend $120 per month on the fuel catalyst, you can see that it pays you. If you get an increase in fuel economy of only 2.5 %, then the cost of the fuel catalyst is covered*.
*this example assumes 10,000 miles driven per month at 6 MPG and a fuel expense of $3.00 per gallon.
For further inquiries please contact:
Jane K. Gates, Ph.D. – CSO, Better Diesel FBC, Inc
ph: (612) 209-3079
Britt Beal, Sr. – COO, Better Diesel FBC, Inc
ph: (855) 501-1005