Ben Hardwick - LubiQ HVO Fuels

Author: Ben Hardwick

Is Premium Diesel Worth It?

The question often comes up when users experience blocked DPF (diesel particulate filter) or fuel filter clogging and modern synthetic fossil-free premium diesel fuels like GTL (gas-to-liquid) or HVO can be well worth looking at to solve these issues.

Some clients have acquired a new car, van, or boat, and are happy to pay more for a genuine premium diesel but want to understand why the fuel is what it claims to be. For example, is premium diesel better for DPF problems?

Read on for an analysis of the so-called and the real premium diesels and which are really worth it.

What Is A Premium Diesel?

There are several higher priced premium diesel fuels out there from Jet, bp, and Esso and among mineral fossil diesel options there is really 2 factors: detergent level, and the fuel’s cetane number.

When we come to LubiQ Fuels HVO fossil free renewable diesel there are more factors, namely that it is a synthetic super fuel from the ground up!

So, what is the claimed difference with fossil premium diesel fuels? The higher detergent content helps to clean the engine, and the higher cetane number than standard white diesel assists with combustion quality.

The HVO Difference – Being Synthetic

When asking is premium diesel worth it? It is clear from the points above that the bulk of fuels carrying this label are not very different from standard EN940 white diesel; therefore, we could be heading to the answer, ‘no it is not hardly worth it’.

Fossil diesel is one fraction from the distillation of crude petroleum along with petrol, bunker fuel, kerosene, and LPG, the key point is that this is a natural product containing variabilities, aromatics, and sulphur.

Even if labelled ‘premium’ it is not a purpose-designed ideal fuel for compression ignition engines but rather the accepted high-availability and low-cost source from present UK infrastructure at the Humber, Southampton Water, Ellesmere Port, Pembroke, and Grangemouth.

With HVO diesel from Coryton Fuels being used to break the world water speed record in the Lake District, this can certainly claim to be a premium low emissions diesel fuel.

The exciting thing is that there is a recent arrival that really is a premium diesel that is worth it, which is called HVO. Hydrotreated vegetable oil is a fossil free synthetic diesel fuel that is made from consistent length molecule chains, has very little smell, extremely clean burn (according to MTU a drop of 80% in diesel particulates) and excellent eco-friendly credentials.

HVO is a true premium diesel to reduce blocked DPFs and fuel filters, reduce AdBlue usage and improve engine smoothness while, because it is made from waste, also cuts net greenhouse gas emissions by upto 90%. It also has a higher cetane number of 70 than any mineral fossil diesel.

Cutting Air Pollution With Fossil Free Diesel

HVO is also known as renewable diesel and should not be confused with FAME biodiesel. Using HVO brings a cut in harmful NOx emissions, and it is a highly practical fuel that can be mixed in any proportion with normal white diesel.

This makes it easy to switch and there is no need to change your tanks and pumps or the vehicles themselves.

There is such thing as red or rebated HVO diesel for use only in agriculture, marine, or train applications. There is discussion about using it as a renewable heating oil, but it would be rather expensive at the time of writing.

Look at our HVO fuel to find that the answer is actually YES to the question is premium diesel worth it?

Have a look at the Neste video below for information on current and future wastes and residues feedstocks for manufacturing HVO renewable diesel fuel and SAF:

How Is HVO Fuel Made?

It is useful to understand how is HVO fuel made to better comprehend why it is such a premium fuel with benefits to both engines and the environment.

Hydrotreated vegetable oil is made from waste products containing carbon like wood waste, used cooking oil, waste animal fats, pitch, and tallow.

These feedstocks are cracked and reacted with hydrogen, so hydrogenated, to obtain a synthetic fuel which is like kerosene density-wise and chemically similar to mineral diesel although more consistent and clean-burning.

You can see the comparison on this Neste video:

Some key differences:

There isn’t any oxygen within HVO, so it has fantastic stability for long term fuel storage without growing algae or clouding in cold weather. It is made differently from FAME biodiesel and is markedly superior.

Because it is not really a ‘natural’ product like normal fossil diesel, HVO contains consistent length molecule chains, no sulphur and almost no aromatics, it burns much cleaner than normal DERV so is good for your engine with much lower soot levels.

Has a higher cetane number than standard diesel and a higher flash point.

Certainly you will notice the smoothness of using renewable diesel immediately, especially in smaller cars and vans with a manual gear box.

Good News For Refineries!

It will probably have struck you by now, as researching how is HVO fuel made, that petrochemical refineries can fairly easily change a distillation column or cracker to making HVO instead of cracking fossil crude oil.

This is in fact what is happening in the UK on the Humber and across the world in France, Finland, Holland and the USA with sites gearing up to refine waste instead of fossil crude oil.

Many heavy lorries are using HVO fuel already, this is in part because it is getting cheaper and more plentiful and there is no hassle of changing fuel tanks or engines because you can mix it readily with normal diesel.

Because HVO is made from waste, the local councils, haulage, plant hire, and construction firms that are using HVO are in fact enjoying a 90% cut in net greenhouse gas emissions!

They are saving 2.2kg of carbon per litre burned, using less AdBlue, drastically cutting air pollution and as there is an 80% cut in particulates and soot, well they hardly need DPF filters anymore!

If you would like to join this clean and green diesel revolution please click on the link or email us at: oil@lubiq.uk

Red HVO

Red HVO Renewable Diesel

Enjoy the environmental benefits of red HVO renewable diesel fuel at rebated rates for marine, inland waterway craft, trains, forestry and agricultural uses.

For many years farming, trains, boats, and industry have used marked red diesel (gas oil) for propulsion and heating or drying tasks; this changed in April 2022 somewhat but the use of marked diesel is still perfectly legal for defined purposes.

Red fossil gas oil is a dye-treated marked diesel that has a lower tax rate, that can now be purchased as fossil-free red HVO (hydrotreated vegetable oil) in a similar way. Use of this fuel is prohibited in road vehicles which must only use white (undyed) fuels that do not have the same tax rebates.

You will need to provide us with your contact details and a declaration of what use you intend for the fuel before we can deliver to you.

Get in touch if you need bulk red HVO to enjoy the clean-burning, efficient, and environmentally friendly nature of this fuel and need a bulk delivery quotation; email us at: oil@lubiq.uk

Who Sells The Best Diesel Fuel In The UK?

When asking the question who sells the best diesel fuel in the UK it is important to understand the current, past, and future state of diesel fuel production so that we can understand beyond marketing slogans.

How Is The Bulk Of Diesel Fuel Made?

Mineral diesel fuel is largely made by the refining and cracking of natural crude petroleum oil at present. This involves heating and fractional distillation of the oil until different fractions come off including kerosene, jet A1 fuel, petrol, diesel, HFO, bunker fuel, bitumen, and LPG.

This is a splitting therefore of a remarkable natural product (crude oil) that was made by crushing of small sea creatures many centuries ago, trapped in deposits until extracted and processed.

This useful fossil resource yields a diesel fuel that includes sulphur and aromatics (the characteristic smell) and burns with a considerable smoke and soot plume. As with any natural product, this has varying length molecule chains and sub-optimal combustion and emissions performance.

When you think that diesel is just one of many product streams from crude, which is in itself variable, it becomes clear that the crude-to-refined process for normal (or so-called premium) diesel cannot easily offer a true premium diesel fuel.

It has been the norm for a century to obtain diesel this way, so we don’t tend to question it and as the supply chain from oil rig to pump yields a reasonable price and plentiful availability, it can be overlooked that there is real premium diesel available that is different from the ground up.

Diesel Additives And Detergents

There are a range of additives that can assist with clogged fuel filters, fuel injector spray patterns, and winter diesel treatments. The existence of a plethora of such products – some added at the refinery and some later – is further proof that mainstream diesel is not the best diesel fuel.

Another factor is the cetane number of the fuel which has to do with combustion quality and the products at forecourts marketed as premium diesel often have a higher number and larger amounts of detergent (claimed to keep engines cleaner).

Including FAME Biodiesel With Normal Diesel

It is arguable that well-priced diesel fuel in volume can only be made by the refining of fossil crude oil process and of course, a factor in finding who makes the best diesel is cost. Unfortunately, in a move to make this fuel ‘greener’, standard white diesel generally now contains 7% biodiesel blended in with it (you will notice a B7 on the pump handle).

This has really put normal diesel – in itself both variable and less than ideal – on the back foot. To be clear, this is a well-meaning move, but it has become a real headache from trains to taxis, cars, vans, diggers, and generators with clogged fuel filters, DPF filters and poor cold weather performance.

The term FAME means fatty acid methyl esters, and this is a biofuel produced from used cooking oils and plant oils via an esterification process. This product has done a lot of damage to the reputation of fossil mineral white diesel fuel and further downgrades it for buyers asking who sells the best diesel fuel in the UK?

There are however other biofuels in the diesel space that do very much answer to being the best diesel, namely HVO (hydrotreated vegetable oil), aka renewable diesel, that has none of the problems of biodiesel.

Synthetic Diesel Made From Waste

HVO renewable diesel tends to be focused on just for its carbon saving it but there is a great deal more to it as an alternative diesel fuel than the fact that users are saving a net 90% greenhouse gas emissions!

This is the best diesel by design, structure, cold weather performance, purity, storage factors, NOx levels, and sheer convenience as it can be mixed with normal DERV and no modifications are needed to vehicles.

It is not too much to say this is like a racing diesel, as it is synthetic and made from the ground up as high purity, no sulphur, or aromatics, high cetane number, and extremely clean burning.

HVO is the logical choice when for who sells the best diesel in the UK and it is sold by Phillips 66, Neste, Eni and LubiQ Fuels. In tests by the mtu (a Rolls-Royce company) they found diesel particulate emissions are reduced by up to 80 percent when hydrotreated vegetable oil is used and because it is made only from certified waste, HVO does not compete for precious foodstuffs.

Using HVO means the vehicle reduces AdBlue usage, will not clog in fuel filters, keeps injectors fantastically clean and reduces air pollution significantly.

These features apply across all sectors and boats or vehicles are notably smoother running with HVO, users with ride-on mowers that have no exhaust scrubbers or older diesel cars will have the best positive impact.

Synthetic high-performance low emissions diesel fuel like HVO or GTL are one solution to decarbonizing transport vehicles; another is to upgrade your engine’s pistons with the Opti Combustion process. This involves fitting gapless piston rings and ceramic crown coating.

Decarbonisation Strategy

Decarbonisation Strategy For Fleets

Many companies looking to develop a decarbonisation strategy find that the van and car CO2 emissions per km are quite a significant headache in reaching net zero.

Vehicle Options For Decarbonisation

Do fleet managers look to EV’s with getting drivers used to this new type of vehicle and accessing enough range and charging stations or continue with existing vehicles?

Many have embraced a decarbonisation strategy to cut the air pollution caused by vehicles with hybrids and/or battery vehicles and found them less than ideal in the forceful pace of commerce in the 2020’s.

Diesel Practicality, Grunt, And Pace

From parcel delivery to taxis, minibuses, and engineer’s vans, the demanding nature of just-in-time manufacturing and repair plus worsening traffic means vehicles are under the cosh. The weight of batteries in EV’s means in general they offer less payload carrying ability and wear out tyres faster than diesel vans.

This in fact is where the diesel engine is still a winner in that it can take punishment and is at its best for cruising on longer journeys. It is functional, tough, and frugal, but a substantial part of the air pollution caused by vehicles is from burning fossil diesel so at first glance it is doomed from the emissions point of view.

Retain Diesel Grunt With Less Air Pollution

What if the advantages of the diesel engine could be utilised, the increasingly common fuel filter blocking issues with fossil diesel solved, and net greenhouse gas emissions cut by more than 80%?

Sound to good to be true? We admit it does but nevertheless this is a perfectly possible way to swiftly decarbonise by changing to fossil-free HVO renewable diesel fuel.

Hydrotreated vegetable oil can be mixed with normal diesel and is an excellent high purity synthetic fuel with no sulphur and aromatics, it is made entirely from waste, drastically cuts soot, smoke, and NOx.

If your business is concerned about car CO2 emissions per km and wishes to pursue a vehicle, tractor, boat, train, or vans decarbonisation strategy, then hydrotreated vegetable oil is a fantastic solution to look at.

Due to being made from waste cooking oils and residue fats it is the circular economy in action and cuts net carbon emissions by upto 90%, reduces smoke, AdBlue usage, and cold start or storage problems.

A highly efficient, practical, and low hassle advanced biofuel to slash air pollution caused by vehicles, HVO just makes so much sense. Another option is to upgrade your engine with the Opti Combustion system which brings racing engine technology to the pistons for modifications to improve MPG.

Please get in touch to discuss how we can help you further on oil@lubiq.uk

Diesel Fuel Filter Problems

The Answer To Diesel Fuel Filter Problems

If you are experiencing diesel fuel filter problems, then you are not alone but higher-purity HVO diesel fuel can be a good alternative to fossil diesel. The difficulties are especially acute during the winter months according to the RAC who attend to thousands of call outs per year to sort fuel filter blocked Ford Transit vans, cars, or trucks.

Unfortunately, the problems with diesel fuel filters goes quite a way beyond road vehicles with South Western Railway diesel trains being hard hit in recent weeks and GAP Plant Hire noting a big surge in problems with plant fuel quality and a Farmers Weekly blog can be seen on this link.

What Is The Problem?

In essence there is a well-meaning ‘green’ drive to blend FAME biodiesel in to mainstream refinery produced mineral diesel, normally at 7% by volume, (hence the B7 you see on the pump).

While this is only 70,000 litres of biodiesel per million litres of blended fossil DERV fuel, this is causing real headaches for fuel systems and operators.

How Can Fuel Filter Problems Be Answered?

With the standard formulation diesel fuel to EN 590 this problem isn’t likely to go away. There are various fuel additives that could assist but they won’t come cheap or really solve the problem.

One simple answer is changing to a more advanced synthetic fossil free biofuel called HVO.

The High Purity Alternative That Is Fossil-Free

Hydrotreated vegetable oil is also known as renewable diesel and while production feedstocks can be the same as biodiesel, it exhibits none of the nightmare tendencies to grow algae in tanks, perform badly in cold weather, or block fuel filters.

This is because HVO is made in a different way involving reaction with hydrogen to crack it and produce consistent molecule lengths leading to very high purity and stability.

Hydrotreated vegetable oil burns very cleanly with far less soot or smell than mineral diesel and cuts air pollution and the amount of AdBlue that you use, it is the true answer to diesel fuel filter problems. Renewable diesel performs exceptionally well in cold weather and can be stored for up to 10 years before use.

Because HVO is made from 100% waste products that include used cooking oils and animal fats, it is a true example of the circular economy and cuts net carbon emissions by over 84%.

Whether you are a plant operator, minibus company, family car owner, or have the nightmare of fuel filter blocked on a Ford Transit van, it is worth considering HVO to benefit both engines and the environment. Please have a look at our FAQ page for more information or get in touch on oil@lubiq.uk

Learn About Diesel Fuel Injection Video

It can be tempting to think of compression-ignition engines as low tech but that is not true! The irrepressible Destin on his Smarter Every Day YouTube channel has a very interesting video about diesel fuel injectors from John Deere, Kubota, and others along with graphic flame patterns!

You can watch it here and better understand how fine the tolerances are on injectors that atomise the diesel in a pattern that optimises combustion and smooth running.

You really are doing your engine a favour by running it on high purity and consistent HVO fuel so that diesel fuel filter problems become a thing of the past.

Get HVO Fuel Delivered

Interest in HVO is increasing as this super-premium synthetic diesel is a fast answer to blocked fuel filters, allows you to get the best out of your diesel engine and has tremendous green benefits allowing you to join the circular economy without changing anything on your vehicle.

If you are needing to get HVO fuel delivered then please do get in touch to discuss your requirements.

Due to the use of 100% waste in the manufacture of HVO diesel you can save up to 90% of net GHG emissions and enjoy a super clean consistent burning diesel with no sulphur or aromatics and far less smoke.

How does it work to get HVO fuel delivered when there are hardly any sites that it is available at the pump?

We have innovated with this superb renewable diesel to offer delivery of UN jerrycans, IBC’s or bulk and in some areas, we can act like a fuel bowser and even fill your tanks for you! Subject to arrangement.

Please get in touch to learn more how renewable diesel hydrotreated vegetable oil can be used in any vehicle and even mixed with standard DERV fuel to answer the climate crisis – email: oil@lubiq.uk today.

HVO Fuel For Rail

HVO Fuel For Rail – Diesel Train Eco Renewable Diesel

The UK rail network hosts thousands of diesel-powered trains, locomotives, multiple units, and shunters that use millions of litres of diesel fuel yearly. While many schemes have been undertaken to electrify the network, this is hugely expensive so HVO diesel for trains is an interesting option.

Except for Class 59 and 66 freight locomotives that have 2-stroke Detroit powerplants (although Detroit belongs to mtu now) the British powerplant scene is dominated by 4-stroke Cummins and mtu diesel engines with a small number of English Electric or Sulzer older units.

Hydrotreated vegetable oil is a direct drop-in replacement for normal gas oil diesel that has been used in trains for decades and offers key advantages as follows:

A synthetic high purity fuel with almost no aromatics or sulphur, HVO burns very cleanly with far lower smoke and soot than normal gas oil fuel. It is far better for injectors and fuel systems also.
HVO is a fossil-free diesel made entirely from waste like animal fats or used cooking oil leading to drastic net green house gas emissions cuts of up to 90% plus substantial NOx reduction.

In trials by various TOC’s including DB Cargo, it has been shown that no alterations to fuel systems, pumps, or tanks are required so this is a very practical and environmentally sustainable train fuel solution.

Problems recently noted on the BBC website with SW Railway diesel multiple units and FAME biodiesel blocking fuel filters could be swiftly avoided with HVO renewable diesel fuel.

Links to mtu and Cummins engine brand articles about HVO fuel. Email us at: oil@lubiq.uk

The supply of red HVO diesel fuel oil for traction purposes to EN 15940 or BS2869 Class A2 / EN590 for use in UK railway vehicles and locomotives marked and dyed in accordance with HMRC Regulations then give us a call.

How To Reduce Emissions On A Diesel Car

Whether you’re due an MOT or a manager working on a carbon reduction plan, the question of how to reduce emissions on a diesel car is an important one.

One simple way to do this is by using HVO fuel instead of normal white diesel along with sensible driving and allowing the engine to cut when waiting at traffic lights. Another option is the Opti Combustion piston upgrade service for better air/fuel mixture – see more here.

Offering great fuel economy, good range, and low-down torque, it’s not surprising that diesel vans, pick ups and cars are enjoyed by thousands of drivers every day and replacing them with EV battery vehicles can be troublesome.

So how can we set about reducing emissions from diesel cars? Firstly by understanding current combustion and FAME-related diesel fuel problems.

Particulate Filters, Catalysts, And Urea

Modern diesel cars have a DPF (diesel particulate filter) to combat soot and smoke from combustion, catalysts to reduce exhaust pollution, and urea (AdBlue) SCR catalysts for reducing nitrous oxides. With all this in the equation, you could be forgiven for thinking we’ve done enough! But what about the fuel itself?

Standard EN 590 white diesel has low sulphur and includes 7.25% FAME biodiesel, this is a natural product cracked as part of refining crude petroleum. This leads to variability, soot when burning, the characteristic aroma and blue colour smoke and waxing fuel filter clogging also being reported.

In short, the plethora of devices, filters, and AdBlue is designed to combat the ecological shortcomings of the fuel and reduce the pollution that using it brings. Another helpful concept is Opti combusiton upgrades to improve the output of your diesel engine.

Change The Fuel Then!

Because HVO fuel (hydrotreated vegetable oil) is both a super-premium synthetic diesel fuel and it is made from waste products, it offers a great option for how to reduce emissions on a diesel car when used instead of white diesel.

Miscible with normal diesel, HVO can be mixed with DERV and used in any diesel car. It reduces the net greenhouse gas emissions by up to 90%, but there is more to it than that!

As it is a man-made fuel, HVO is very consistent and clean burning offering over 20% reduction in NOx and far lower soot levels. It is not going to far to say that a diesel car on HVO barely needs the DPF any more!

This is a super fuel with high cetane number that is very good for car engines as well as reducing emissions without any need to modify fuel tanks, injectors, or engines.

The Pedigree

The standard to which our HVO diesel complies is BS EN 15940 and as it is a FAME and fossil free diesel made from 100% ISCC certified waste feedstocks that are hydrotreated, it is a very stable in long term storage and in cold weather.

HVO has found strong support from names like Audi, DAF Trucks, Volvo Penta, Cummins and MTU among other OEM’s and can be purchased for fast delivery on this link.

FAQ About HVO Fuel

What does the term HVO mean?

It means hydrotreated vegetable oil.

What is HVO fuel?

It is a paraffinic fossil-free diesel fuel and direct drop-in alternative to fossil white diesel.

Are its characteristics similar?

HVO is more like a kerosene or paraffin and has much less smell than white diesel partly because it has very little sulphur.

Is HVO green?

Yes, being produced from 100% waste cooking oils and fats it is very eco-friendly.

What fuel quality grade is HVO in the UK?

It conforms to EN 15940 standard.

Is HVO made in the UK?

Increasingly yes, it is, having started off in Finland, Holland, USA, and France.

Is it available at the pump?

In the UK hardly at all, in the above countries and Scandinavia yes.

Can you mix HVO with standard white DERV B7?

Yes, no problem, emitts much less soot and NOx emissions also.

Does it reduce net green house gas emissions?

Yes, hugely, up to 90% in fact, it is a real low emissions diesel fuel.

Do vehicles use less AdBlue?

Yes, around 20% less.

Does it grow algae or cloud in cold weather?

No, it is useable down to -20 C, HVO fuel is used a lot in Nordic states.

How long can you store HVO fuel for?

For up to 10 years. It will nor block fuel filters as spoken of here on GAP Group plant hire website.

What Are The Differences Between FAME Biodiesel And HVO?

They both use similar waste feedstocks but HVO is cracked and reacted with hydrogen which produces a superior stability and consistency which does not have oxygen in it and thus will not grow algae in the tank as fatty acid methyl esther (FAME) biodiesel tends to.

In general it is not advisable to mix FAME product with normal diesel at higher than 10% (you’ll notice the term B7 on the pump handle, that means ‘biodiesel 7%’).

Find out more about FAME bidiesel in this ‘Lubrication Explained’ video below: