Winter grade diesel

Subject: Science and tech

Context:

Indian Oil Corporation Ltd (IOC) launched a special winter-grade diesel in Ladakh.

Concept:

• Motorists in high-altitude sectors like Ladakh, Kargil, Kaza and Keylong face the problem of freezing of diesel in their vehicles when winter temperatures drop to as low as -30◦Celsius.
• Indian Oil has come up with an innovative solution to this problem by introducing a special winter-grade diesel with a low pour-point of -33◦ Celsius, which does not lose its fluidity function even in extreme winter conditions
• Regular diesel fuel contains paraffin wax which is added for improving viscosity and lubrication. At low temperatures, the paraffin wax thickens or “gels” and hinders the flow of the fuel in the car engine.
• Special types of diesel are thus used at low temperatures that contain additives enabling the fuel to remain fluid in such conditions.