Leisure Vehicles - Fuel Efficiency 

As we head towards the summer months and prime leisure season, leisure vehicle owners are busy planning for their first trip of the year. With many of us now preferring to ‘staycation’ within the U.K, motorhomes, caravans, and van conversions have become significantly more popular in recent years.

Owning a leisure vehicle means free accommodation, which saves money on hotels etc. and gives ‘staycationers’ the freedom to travel pretty much wherever they want to go. Being very large and due to the increased tow weight, a lot of motorhomes and caravans have a significantly increased mpg meaning that the running costs will be much higher.

Fuel costs at the pump have increased exponentially and continue to do so. Filling up your motorhome or towing vehicle for a long journey is now a daunting prospect. There are also times when your motorhome is left to sit idle for weeks or even months at a time with little or no use and your motorhome fuel tank may be prone to diesel bug which has the potential to block fuel filters causing breakdown or even worse.

Wherever you plan to travel in your leisure vehicle, why not use our ElimiNOX Eco™ fuel conditioner to significantly reduce your CO2 emissions and improve your fuel efficiency by 8-10% minimising the amount you’re spending on fuel whilst away. ElimiNOX ECO™ will also keep your fuel in pristine condition preventing the growth of diesel bug.

The ElimiNOX ECO™ fuel conditioner is compatible with all forms of diesel and petrol engines. The only difference is the mix ratio at 1 part fuel conditioner to 2000 parts diesel and 1 part fuel conditioner to 1000 parts for petrol.

In addition to the financial savings from improved fuel efficiency there is the improved torque, increased lubricity (up to 30% less) and reduced SO2, NOx, PM10 and PM2.5 emissions. ElimiNOX Eco™ is unique in that it will actively eliminate the water from stored diesel by means of emulsification, removing the growth medium where diesel bug usually thrives. This means that when you are ready to set off on your much needed break away you won’t need to worry about fuel and engine issues.

How do I work out how much ElimiNOX Eco™ Diesel Conditioner to add? 

In practice the 1:2000 ratio is 5ml per 10 Litres with diesel, thus 25ml of fuel conditioner when adding to 50 Litres of diesel. For random litres can be converted to ml then halved e.g. 56L = 28ml.

With petrol and a 1:1000 ratio it becomes 50ml of fuel conditioner to 50 Litres of petrol and with random litres just convert to ml hence 56 L requires 56ml.

The dual chamber bottles will allow 10ml to be conveniently measured and added to fuel by simple remove the cap and gently squeezing.

While there is something quite romantic about having the freedom to drive wherever the open road takes you. Whether representing pioneering spirit, implying large horizons and wide-open spaces, or epitomising economic travel with a comfortable change of scenery. Along side this aspiration to create a 'home away from home', having a little help to keep the fuel bills in check just makes sense.

We have a range of real world examples of customers benefiting from improved fuel efficiency. They are not necessarily camper vans or motorhomes however they give examples of what is possible.  

Check it out        

What Can Affect the MPG/Fuel Efficiency of Your Leisure Vehicle?

The mileage per gallon will vary depending on your driving style and where you are driving. If you are driving in hill country, on rough terrain or on windy road you will get less mpg. You get the best mpg when driving at around 60mph on a flat road. The weight, size and length of your leisure vehicle will also affect its mpg. 

  • Using our Eliminox ECO™ fuel conditioner will improve your fuel efficiency by 8-10%.
  • Pack light as the heavier the vehicle the worse the mpg due to the harder pull on the engine by the increased weight. 
  • Keep up with your motorhome maintenance, regular engine checks will ensure any issues are highlighted before they become significant. 
  • Running your air conditioning excessively will contribute to poor mpg as it creates more work for your engine. 
  • Don't leave your engine running when parked, although this impact is small it will still be consuming fuel. 

Although leisure vehicles will always be costly to run, ElimiNOX ECO™ can help reduce the chance of expensive engine failures by preventing diesel bug, extending your engine's life, reducing service intervals and most importantly improving your motorhome's fuel efficiency. Don’t let the rising fuel costs keep you from making the most of your pride and joy!

Particulate Matter Health Impacts

Particulate matter - is responsible for the black smoke traditionally associated with diesel powered vehicles. Diesel particulate matter emissions are usually abbreviated as PM or DPM, the latter acronym being more common in occupational health applications. The existing medical research suggests that PM is one of the major harmful emissions produced by diesel engines. Diesel particulate matter is subject to diesel emission regulations worldwide.

Due to the small size of many of the particles that form PM some of these toxins may enter the bloodstream and be transported around the body, lodging in the heart, brain and other organs. Therefore, exposure to PM can result in serious impacts to health, especially in vulnerable groups of people such as the young, elderly, and those with respiratory problems. As a result, particulates are classified according to size.

In comparison, the average diameter of a human hair equals 50-70 µm.


Particles so small they can get deep into the lungs and into the bloodstream.


Particles small enough to pass through the throat and nose and enter the lungs. Once inhaled, these particles can affect the heart and lungs and cause serious health effects. 

What Kinds of Harmful Effects Can Particulate Matter Cause?

A number of adverse health impacts have been associated with exposure to both PM2.5 and PM10.

For PM2.5, short-term exposures (up to 24-hours duration) have been associated with premature mortality, increased hospital admissions for heart or lung causes, acute and chronic bronchitis, asthma attacks, emergency room visits, respiratory symptoms, and restricted activity days.

These adverse health effects have been reported primarily in infants, children, and older adults with pre-existing heart or lung diseases. In addition, of all of the common air pollutants, PM2.5 is associated with the greatest proportion of adverse health effects related to air pollution, both in the United States and world-wide based on the World Health Organization’s Global Burden of Disease Project.

Short-term exposures to PM10 have been associated primarily with worsening of respiratory diseases, including asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), leading to hospitalization and emergency department visits. More than 90% of Diesel Particulate Matter is less than 1 µm in diameter.

Long-term (months to years) exposure to PM2.5 has been linked to premature death, particularly in people who have chronic heart or lung diseases, and reduced lung function growth in children. 

ElimiNOX Eco™ dramatically reduces environmental pollutants.

The effects of long-term exposure to PM10 are less clear, although several studies suggest a link between long-term PM10 exposure and respiratory mortality. The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) published a review in 2015 that concluded that particulate matter in outdoor air pollution causes lung cancer.


Comparative particle size. 

The American Heart Association also warns about the effect of PM2.5 on health and mortality rate:

“Exposure to PM <2.5 μm in diameter (PM2.5) over a few hours to weeks can trigger cardiovascular disease-related mortality and nonfatal events; longer-term exposure (eg, a few years) increases the risk for cardiovascular mortality to an even greater extent than exposures over a few days and reduces life expectancy within more highly exposed segments of the population by several months to a few years.”

Improving Combustion to Reduce Emissions

By achieving a more complete combustion ElimiNOX Eco™ offers significantly improved fuel economy, in addition when encountering and emulsifying water into the fuel it further improves the combustion profile reducing emissions through the secondary explosion mechanism, something a traditional non-emulsified diesel simply cannot do. 

ElimiNOX Eco™ dramatically reduces environmental pollutants & is proven to reduce emissions,

Carbon Monoxide (CO) 

An odourless, tasteless, poisonous gas, CO, that results from the incomplete combustion of carbon.
Inhalation causes central nervous system damage and asphyxiation.  Breathing air with a high concentration of CO reduces the amount of oxygen that can be transported in the blood stream to critical organs like the heart and brain.

Carbon Dioxide (CO2)

A colourless, odourless, incombustible gas resulting from the oxidation of carbon. Carbon dioxide, a key greenhouse gas that drives global climate change, emissions mainly come from burning organic materials such as diesel. Carbon dioxide is the primary greenhouse gas, responsible for about three-quarters of emissions. It can linger in the atmosphere for thousands of years. In 2018, carbon dioxide levels reached 411 parts per million at Hawaii's Mauna Loa Atmospheric Baseline Observatory, the highest monthly average ever recorded. New mandatory CO2 standards for the years 2025 and 2030 were adopted in early 2019. For passenger cars, average fleet-wide emissions will have to be  reduced by 15 % by 2025 and by 37.5 % by 2030, with respect to a 2021 baseline. CO2 emission levels for these new targets will be measured in the Worldwide Harmonized Light Vehicles Test Procedure (WLTP), which became mandatory for new vehicles in September 2018. 

For heavy-duty vehicles, CO2 emissions will have to be reduced by 15 % by 2025 and 30 % by 2030, with respect to a 2019 baseline (Rodríguez, 2019). A regulatory proposal is expected from the European Commission in mid-2021 which will strengthen the CO2 targets for passenger cars and light-commercial vehicles to bring them in line with the EU’s ambition to cut greenhouse gas emissions by at least 55 % by 2030. 

Nitrogen Oxides (NOx)

Nitrogen oxides—as commonly defined by emission regulations and regulatory measurement protocols—include two gases: nitric oxide NO and nitrogen dioxide NO2. both are non-flammable and colourless to brown at room temperature.
Nitric oxide is a sharp sweet- smelling gas at room temperature, whereas nitrogen dioxide has a strong, harsh odour and is a liquid at room temperature.
NOx mainly impacts on respiratory conditions causing inflammation of the airways at high levels. Long term exposure can decrease lung function, increase the risk of respiratory conditions, and increases the response to allergens.
NOx also contributes to the formation of fine particles (PM) and ground level ozone, both of which are associated with adverse health effects. 

NOx is considered one of the critical pollutants found in emissions from all types of internal combustion engines. Nitrogen oxides are highly active ozone precursors playing an important role in the smog chemistry. They can also form secondary nitrate particulates in the atmosphere.

Sulphur Dioxide (SO2)

A colourless gas with an irritating pungent odour. It readily dissolves in water and is one of the main chemicals that causes acid rain. Breathing in sulphur dioxide causes irritation of the nose and throat. Exposure to higher concentrations can cause nausea, vomiting, stomach pain and corrosive damage to the airways and lungs. Causes severe skin burns and eye damage.

 

Particulate Matter

Particulate matter - is responsible for the black smoke traditionally associated with diesel powered vehicles. Diesel particulate matter emissions are usually abbreviated as PM or DPM, the latter acronym being more common in occupational health applications. The existing medical research suggests that PM is one of the major harmful emissions produced by diesel engines. Diesel particulate matter is subject to diesel emission regulations worldwide.

Due to the small size of many of the particles that form PM some of these toxins may enter the bloodstream and be transported around the body, lodging in the heart, brain and other organs. Therefore, exposure to PM can result in serious impacts to health, especially in vulnerable groups of people such as the young, elderly, and those with respiratory problems. As a result, particulates are classified according to size.



In comparison, the average diameter of a human hair equals 50-70 µm.


Particles so small they can get deep into the lungs and into the bloodstream.


Particles small enough to pass through the throat and nose and enter the lungs. Once inhaled, these particles can affect the heart and lungs and cause serious health effects. 

Clean diesel fuel makes a difference

There are a wide variety of different reasons why diesel has becomes contaminated with a bug. A faulty tank and condensation are two of the more common causes. More often than not water is the source of bug problems in fuel.

'Diesel bug' is a commonly accepted term for a number of contaminants that include microbial bacteria, fungi and algae that live at the point of blend between water and diesel. The water from the condensation in the fuel tank is what the diesel bug survives on, allowing it to reproduce at a very fast rate.

ElimiNOX Eco™ is unique because it eliminates the water in which  the diesel bug grows. The water is eliminated by suspending it as an emulsion within the diesel, removing the growth medium where the diesel bug thrives and actively prevents diesel bug growth between re-fuelling.

The microbes have a very short life but before they die they multiply and produce waste deposits, both of which descend to the bottom of the fuel tank. One bacteria microbe can reproduce more than 7 million microbes in 24 hours.

Any fuel tank with an air pocket will produce condensation when the temperature falls far enough. After a day out on the road, the remaining diesel is warm from the heat of the engine and as the temperature cools, cold air is drawn into the fuel tank. The cold air causes condensation on the inside of the tank, forming water that eventually sinks to the bottom of the fuel tank. In that water are the microbes as they live off the oxygen in the water and then eat the diesel.

When bacteria, sludge or water is sucked into the fuel lines it causes filter and injector blockages. As a result of the blockages the filter, injector, fuel tank and lines may require replacement or cleaning, and if the damage affects the operation of the injector pump then potentially an expensive repair.

Recent changes to fuel such as the addition of biodiesel mean that, although it has clear environmental advantages, it also has a greater propensity towards absorbing water creating the microbial breading ground.

These microorganisms will live very happily in even the smallest amounts of water, often from condensation, and at the interface of fuel and water, where they can create thick mats known as biomass. They can also coat surfaces and ‘climb’ up storage tank walls by creating what we know as biofilm

When water contaminates diesel fuel, microbiological growth develops inside the fuel tank. This growth turns the fuel black in colour and if left in a tank long enough it will turn into a mud like substance (sludge).

While you may not notice it at first, inevitably you will see clear symptoms as the problem worsens. Diesel bug symptoms and effects include:

Bad smells or black smoke coming from the exhaust.

Increased fuel consumption.

Blocked filters, fuel injectors needing frequent cleaning and replacing.

Difficulty in starting the engine, or the engine suddenly losing power.

ElimiNOX Eco™ actually prevents diesel bug by scavenging and emulsifying any free water. Improving performance, reducing maintenance, improved fuel efficiency and reducing emissions.

HVO Lubricity Challenges

The development of renewable sources of fuel has been pivotal in the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions, as the demand for cleaner fuels continues to grow.

One highly effective and reproducible method of producing renewable diesel involves hydrotreating biomass-derived materials such as vegetable oils. The process of hydrotreating involves the removal of Oxygen and other elements such as Sulphur, by selectively reacting these less desirable materials with hydrogen at relatively high temperatures and pressures.

One drawback of this process is the poor lubricity of newly composed renewable diesel. Considering that sulphur acts as a lubricant in fuel, the low sulphur content in renewable diesel will lead to low lubricity. Additionally, the oxygen-containing components removed during hydrotreating have been studied and proven to significantly reduce wear and improve lubricity to acceptable levels. 

At the same time high sulphur content in petroleum fuels has been identified as a cause for harmful exhaust emissions, which has led to strict regulations on the allotted sulphur content in diesel fuels globally - Ultra Low Sulphur Diesel (ULSD). However, the process used to reduce the sulphur content in diesel also reduces the fuel's lubricating properties, resulting in increased wear on the various parts of the engine's fuel injection system.

With HVO the lubricity is very low due to the absence of sulphur (and oxygen) compounds in the fuel,

The lubricity of a fluid is often defined as the fluid’s ability to reduce friction between that fluid and the solid surface during motion. Lubricity is a key fuel property due to the potential to increase the longevity of a part as well as ensuring maximum performance of the system. When a fuel’s lubricity drops, metal parts are likely exposed to each other, resulting in wear or scarring.

While hydrotreated vegetable oils (HVO) do not have the detrimental effects of ester-type (FAME) biodiesel fuels, like increased NOx emission, deposit formation, storage stability problems, more rapid aging of engine oil or poor cold properties, HVOs are straight chain paraffinic hydrocarbons that are free of aromatics, oxygen and sulphur.

HVO is currently only available from a small number of distributors in the UK, more widely available across Scandinavia where it also benefits form reduced fuel duties. Among the fuel’s drawbacks is the price. It is around 10% to 15% more expensive than mineral diesel. That cost will not be recouped through fuel savings: efficiency is only marginally better than diesel. Testing by Cummins a few years ago on Euro 5 showed just a 2.3% fuel saving.

While truck makers are happy to endorse its use, van makers are more equivocal. Some approve it for their entire range, others approve it for some models but not others, and yet others do not approve it at all. Fleets should therefore get written confirmation that HVO is approved for use in a vehicle before they fill up the tank. Failure to do so could invalidate the warranty.

ElimiNOX Eco™
Is certified to be compatible with all forms of diesel.
Treated fuel retains it's EN590 / ASTM D975 compliance thus posing no warranty issues.
Bureau Veritas testing has demonstrated a 30% improvement in lubricity addressing the reduced lubricity found with ULSD and HVO
Based on real world use has demonstrated improved fuel efficiency in the range of 8-9%  

ElimiNox has proven to reduce Particulate Matter PM 2.5 + PM 10 by a further 23% in HVO emissions