Filed under: Diesel, Ethanol, Ford, Green Daily
Just in case you weren't certain, putting the wrong fuel in your tank is a bad thing. But simply knowing doesn't stop tens of thousands of people from doing just that each year. This has created a new vehicle feature for Ford UK to work on. Starting with the Ford Mondeo and coming to the new Ford Focus in January, a new Easy Fuel System will prevent inattentive drivers from dumping the wrong liquid down the dark hole of a fuel tank. The system is mechanical, and takes advantage of the differing sizes of petrol and diesel nozzles in the UK. With more and more fuel types coming to pumps across the world (ethanol and biodiesel, in addition to standard petrol and diesel), making fueling as foolproof as possible is a good thing. Because for some reason, not everyone pays as much attention to fuel alternatives as we do here on AutoblogGreen.
Anyway, Ford fuel systems engineer Stefan Buro (pictured) says in a release (after the jump) that "Ford's intention is to isolate the danger of engine damage to all customers. With Easy Fuel, we have developed a method for error-free handling, especially for the coming generation of quiet diesel engines, where the only things customers notice are good performance and excellent fuel economy." And wondering why they can't fill up at the pump they're using. That is, until the reason dawns on them.
[Source: Ford]
EASY FUEL SYSTEM TAKES THE GUESSWORK OUT OF FILLING UP
BRENTWOOD, Essex, 13 November, 2007 - Ford's Easy Fuel system which prevents drivers from filling up with the wrong type of fuel will be available on more Ford cars.
Launched on the all-new Ford Mondeo, the new Ford Focus on sale in January will also be fitted with the Easy Fuel system as standard.
The news comes as UK breakdown services deal with twice as many incidents of motorists putting the wrong fuel in their vehicles as a decade ago.
"Ford's intention is to isolate the danger of engine damage to all customers," said Ford fuel systems engineer Stefan Buro. "With Easy Fuel, we have developed a method for error-free handling, especially for the coming generation of quiet diesel engines, where the only things customers notice are good performance and excellent fuel economy."
The Easy Fuel system, with a patented mis-fuelling inhibitor, consists of a sealed filler pipe insert and fuel nozzle locator that guides the nozzle to the tank opening. The insert contains a mechanically operated diameter detector which only allows the larger diesel fuel nozzle to be inserted into the filler pipe, and locks out the thinner petrol nozzles.
Unlike a petrol engine, which compresses a mixture of gasoline and air, diesel engines compress just air before diesel fuel is injected into the cylinder and the fuel is ignited. Pouring gasoline into a diesel engine can cause damage to the fuel pump, the high-pressure injection system, as well as trigger other serious engine problems and four-figure repair costs.
Today's modern diesel engines, with their sophisticated high pressure injection systems, typically have a low tolerance to mis-fuelling. Even after a short driving distance, the fuel pump may seize, requiring expensive repairs to the injection system.
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