Research of quality of motor fuels and oils in agricultural production of Kuban

Abstract

The quality of fuel and lubricants used in agricultural production was studied in order to assess the effect of their properties on the performance of the engine. The analysis of gasoline determined the following quality indicators: density, presence of mechanical impurities, water content, acid number, the presence of mineral acids and alkalis, fractional distillation of fuel (determination of the boiling and boiling point of 10 % of fuel, 50 % of fuel and 90 % of fuel). When analyzing the properties of diesel fuel, the following indicators of its quality were determined: density, presence of mechanical impurities, water content, flash point, viscosity at 20 °С, presence of mineral acids and alkalis. The evaluation of the quality of motor oils was carried out according to the following parameters: density, viscosity at 50 °C, viscosity at 100 °C, viscosity index, flash point, presence of mineral acids and alkalis, mechanical impurities and water, acid number. The most often deviating from the standard of quality indicators of gasoline is the density, starting properties, the propensity to form in the summer of steam plugs in the power system. Sometimes this is accompanied by incompleteness of combustion. Diesel fuels are characterized by the following violations of standard quality indicators: high content of actual resins, reduced viscosity and very high (above 100 °C) flash point. The most common indicators of the quality of motor oils, the deviation from which can lead to a malfunction of the engine, are: viscosity at 100 °C, viscosity index, acid reaction, water availability, low flash point. After assessing the quality of motor oils, the most common causes of motor malfunction were identified. Most violations of the quality of oils are associated with its improper storage or deliberate mixing with cheaper components.