WHEELING, Ill. – More and more motorists are opting for new clean diesel technology, attracted by the promise of improved fuel economy and reduced maintenance costs. But these benefits can only be achieved and sustained if their powerplants are kept in top operating condition. In response to this growing need, The Penray Companies Inc. has introduced two new products that will help owners of diesel-powered cars and light trucks optimize the performance and economy of their vehicles – Penray Plus Diesel Fuel Prep and Penray Plus Engine Oil Treatment. 
Penray Plus Diesel Fuel Prep is a technology Penray originally developed for heavy-duty diesel engines. This diesel fuel treatment is engineered to keep fuel systems free of deposits and contaminants that can compromise the performance of fuel injectors and other fuel system components, all of which are manufactured to extremely tight tolerances for diesel applications. Keeping injectors clean will minimize plugging of diesel particulate filters (DPF), thus extending the life of the emissions control system, Penray states.
Another key feature of this new Fuel Prep is the ability to significantly raise the cetane rating of the fuel, according to Penray. Higher cetane numbers accelerate the combustion process to guarantee that the fuel burns where and when it is supposed to for maximum power and efficiency. In today’s modern electronic fuel injection systems, combustion timing is more critical than ever. According to the company, its new Penray Plus Diesel Fuel Prep helps to reduce maintenance costs and maintain efficiency by keeping the system clean and ensuring that consistent power and performance are preserved.
The second new product for diesel-powered cars and light trucks is Penray Plus Engine Oil Treatment. Diesel engines are very different from gasoline engines in many ways, including operating with very high compression ratios that require the chemistry of diesel fuels to burn properly. A by-product of this diesel combustion is soot, which can find its way into engine oil past the piston rings and valve guides. The problem with soot is it is aggravated by the higher levels of Exhaust Gas Recirculation (EGR) present in some diesel engines.
Penray’s new Engine Oil Treatment combats sooty deposits and other contaminants by dissolving them and holding them in suspension where they can be removed by the oil filter, thus preventing soot and particulates from compromising engine performance and possibly causing engine damage, the company says. This new Penray Plus product includes acid neutralizers to prevent corrosion, and also includes supplemental zinc, which fortifies the engine oil. This is especially important since oil formulations have changed in recent years with substantial reductions in zinc, which is a critical lubricant for the camshaft-to-lifter interface and other high-pressure contact areas.
“As the number of diesel-powered cars, light trucks and SUVs increases, so does the need for technicians and motorists alike to be aware of the differences in the need for periodic maintenance,” said Mark Kardon, director of marketing for Penray. “While diesel engines do not have spark plugs or conventional ignition systems that require regular tune-ups, they do have issues with both the fuel system and the lubrication system that are different from those that motorists are accustomed to with gasoline engines.
“Our many years of experience in developing innovative and useful chemical additives for heavy-duty diesel engines gives us intimate knowledge of these differences,” Kardon added. “So while diesel-powered light-duty vehicles do not require the regular tune-ups we’re all familiar with, scheduled oil and filter changes are even more critical in keeping soot and particulates from clogging filters and damaging engines.
“The use of specially-designed additives like these two new Penray products will assure that engine oil, fuel and oil filters, and emission control devices function properly during their normal service life. Combined with strict adherence to recommended schedules for changing engine oil and oil filter, as well as the engine fuel filter, these innovative made-in-the-USA chemical supplements will help keep diesel-powered light-duty vehicles performing at their peak for many thousands of miles,” he said.
