Industry Issues:

Maintaining engine performance - small marine vessels benefit from large engine additive technology
With their high engine load and high operational temperature, smaller high-speed, 0.3 to 2 MW marine engines have long been prone to high lubricant consumption. Using low sulphur distillate diesel fuel exacerbates the problem and also has an impact on combustion characteristics, increasing the formation of liner lacquer and bore polishing. Insight reports on recent work to introduce additive technology from other fields to marine diesel fuel and lubricants, with the aim of overcoming these problems.

Testing times for crankcase lubricants
Engine testing is at the heart of crankcase lubricant quality. And yet, despite 50 years' experience, nearly all contributors seem to be unhappy. OEMs feel the process to develop new tests is too slow and other industries continue to challenge their right to decide what is needed for their equipment. The oil and additive industries think tests are too expensive, have too many changes, lack precision and remain poor development tools. Can the situation be resolved to keep everybody happy? Insight speaks to Heribert Nasch, owner and Managing Director of ISP Laboratories, about the issues involved and his views on the way forward.

Take it as read - findings of the Readership Survey 2000
Industry journals more than most have to vie for attention with a wealth of glossy, informative magazines and the technical press, not to mention work itself. So it's particularly important that content and style appeal to readers. In a recent Readership Survey, Insight readers were invited to give their views on Insight's appeal, strengths and weaknesses. A summary of the results from the Readership Survey 2000 is provided here.

Keep moving in the cold - successful cold flow field trials in northern Japan
The operability of diesel fuel in extreme cold has long been recognised as a problem. But advances in flow improver additive technology and modifications to engine design can overcome the problem. Or can they? As oil companies change fuel characteristics to meet the latest requirements, they need to know that the fuel remains operable in all areas of Japan. And with a large export market for their vehicles, Japanese OEMs need to know that their engine designs can cope with extreme conditions such as those encountered in, say, Scandinavia. Insight reports results from Infineum's cold flow field trials in northern Japan, designed to provide the answers.

Face to face:

Anders Röj on his challenging role in ACEA's Fuels and Lubricants Group
It's a busy time to be involved with the Fuels and Lubricants (F&L) Group at ACEA - the reorganisation of the CEC, the introduction and adoption of the World Wide Fuel Charter, the revision of the European Fuels Directive and increasingly stringent emissions legislation are just a few on-going challenges facing European automotive manufacturers. Insight talks to Anders Röj, Manager of Fuels and Lubricants for Volvo Technical Development Corporation, about his role as pilot of the ACEA F&L Group, and his views on meeting the industry challenges.

Global viewpoint:

Asia Pacific - The 7th Annual Fuels and Lubes Asia Conference
At this valuable forum for Asia Pacific's fuels and lubes industry, held in Bagkok, Thailand at the end of January 2001, more than 50 presentations were made, covering a wide range of topics including marketing and technical trends on lubricants, fuels and additives in Asia Pacific. Insight summarises several of the keynote addresses, and offers highlights from several technical presentations, to give a flavour of the Conference.

The Americas - PC-9 moves closer
PC-9, the latest API performance category for heavy duty diesel lubricants, is needed in the marketplace by October 2002 for diesel engine manufacturers to be able to meet their emissions obligations. Back in 1998, the prospects for on-time delivery of PC-9 looked good. With the next upgrade in lubricant quality expected to occur in 2004, this gave almost six years in which to develop the new category. But negotiations between diesel engine manufacturers and the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) shortened the deadline, leaving just three years to complete the task. There is now intense pressure for diesel engine manufacturers, lubricant marketers and additive companies to meet this aggressive timetable. Are they going to make it? Infineum's Pat Fetterman reports progress.