An LG-X unit similar to the ones on the Hoist forklifts.

Hoist Liftruck has started installing magnetic fuel conditioners from Michigan-based Diesel Fuel Doctor as standard equipment on its diesel Neptune Series marina forklift to boost its green credentials.

Hoist engineer Bob Miller tells Forkliftaction.com News that the fuel conditioners will "further insure" the Neptune Series's performance and offer customers reliability.

"Marinas, especially older facilities, often have above-ground fuel storage, with fuel stored for extended periods of time and subject to degradation and contamination," he says.

The Neptune Series forklift engines were "currently transitioning from Cummins QSB5.9L Tier 2 to QSB6.7L Tier 3", Bob says.

Torre Miller, president of Diesel Fuel Doctor, says modern diesel fuel is created from a large percentage of tar-like crude oil substances that cluster together in liquid fuel over time.

"The good news is the clusters can be broken apart by the magnetic field in our fuel conditioners before the fuel hits the filter and before it is injected into the cylinder," Torre says.
"That improves engine performance and reduces down time which might be caused by unstable diesel fuel."

Magnetic fuel treatment does not add anything to the fuel stream nor remove any chemicals from the fuel. Torre explains that the fuel conditioners make fuel particles smaller and so increase fuel efficiency and reduce pollution.

Smaller fuel particles burn more completely in the combustion chamber, thereby maximising the value of the fuel. Larger fuel particles are not consumed completely in the engine and results in the release of more soot through the exhaust.

"Maximising the power of the fuel in the engine will turn the wheels a bit further or lift something with a bit less strain," Torre explains.

With the use of fuel conditioners, Torre says emissions have been cut by over 10%, particulate emission (soot) reduced by over 50% and fuel consumption decreased by 5%.

But the equipment can only be used on diesel engines. Gasoline is a lighter fluid and comprised of shorter hydrocarbon chains.

"We can't get a strong enough magnet in a cost-effective manner to pull hard enough on the physical bonds of the shorter hydrocarbon chains," Torre says. "We do, however, have a fuel catalyst or additive that can be added to the fuel that works chemically to accomplish the same thing as the fuel conditioner."

The LG-X magnetic fuel conditioning units are plumbed into the Neptune marina forklift's fuel lines to reduce diesel fuel clustering and performance degradation. According to Torre, they also reduce filter clogging, carbon deposits on internal engine surfaces, soot deposits near exhaust pipes and diesel smoke particulate pollution.

Testing of the fuel conditioners on the Neptune Series started in early 2007. Hoist received its first shipment of the products in June 2007.