Most diesel in Ukraine will not withstand frost - research results

During the war, the quality of diesel fuel reaches a level of strategic importance — not only civilian transport but also the Armed Forces depend on it. Many enterprises and critical facilities also rely on diesel generators that ensure operation during blackouts. Low-quality fuel can disable a generator much faster than a car engine, and its repair is complex and expensive.

Over the months of the war, the diesel fuel market has changed significantly: it has experienced a reorientation of supplies and shortages. But whether the current fuel meets quality standards, experts from the Institute of Consumer Expertise decided to check by conducting a large-scale study of diesel at Ukrainian gas stations.

Samples were collected throughout the country — a total of 19 positions of "regular" diesel from the networks OKKO, WOG, SOCAR, SHELL, KLO, PRIME, ZOG, AVIAS, AMIC, AVANTAGE 7, CHIPO, BVS, BRSM-nafta, Neftek, U.GO, BILL OIL, ENERGО-EXPORT, PATRIOT, and EURO 5. Premium grades were also purchased separately: Pulls Diesel Arctic OKKO, Mustang WOG, Ventus Diesel KLO, Nano Extro SOCAR, and Euro BRSM-nafta. Such fuel is usually more expensive and is positioned as arctic, with a very low freezing point.

Laboratory tests were conducted according to key DSTU parameters: cold filter plugging point, flash point in a closed cup, and sulfur content.

The results were divided into two groups: the "green" one — where all indicators met the standards with a certain margin, and the "red" one — networks whose fuel did not fit into the current standards. It is worth noting that in wartime conditions, even fuel of the EURO 3 standard is allowed to be sold, so formally the "red zone" operates within the law. The conclusions are up to the consumers themselves.

Green zone (standard diesel fuel)

Of the 19 samples of regular diesel, only 8 networks made it to the leaders. Fuel from SOCAR, OKKO, WOG, KLO, PRIME, ZOG, AVANTAGE 7, and CHIPO met all requirements of DSTU 7688:2015. First, the most important indicator for drivers was checked — frost resistance. Among the leaders, standard diesel withstands minus 20 (ZOG, AVANTAGE 7), minus 21 (KLO), minus 22 (PRIME, CHIPO), minus 23–24 — at OKKO and SOCAR. And WOG became the record holder — minus 26, which almost corresponds to the arctic class.

The second important parameter is the flash point, which shows whether foreign impurities have entered the fuel. The norm is not lower than 55 °C. The best result is at SOCAR (70 °C), followed by WOG (67 °C) and OKKO (65 °C). Such figures indicate the factory origin of the fuel.

As for sulfur — the main enemy of the environment and the fuel system: it destroys neutralizers and particulate filters, and its removal is an expensive and complex process. Sulfur oxides enter the air with exhaust, and we breathe this. Ukrainian norms (analogous to Euro 5) allow no more than 10 mg/kg. In all participants of the green zone, this indicator was below the limit: the least — at PRIME (6 mg/kg), then KLO and SOCAR (7 mg/kg each).

Red zone

This time there were quite a few outsiders — 11 networks did not fit into the DSTU standards at least by one parameter. Eight samples failed the frost resistance test. In some, the deviation is small (SHELL, Neftek, U.GO — minus 18–19 °C), but there are also critical cases: AVIAS stops pumping fuel already at minus 11 °C, BILL OIL — at minus 9 °C, and AMIC — at minus 7 °C!

The flash point did not meet the norm in AMIC, BRSM-nafta, BILL OIL, ENERGО-EXPORT, and PATRIOT. The worst indicator is at ENERGО-EXPORT: 20 °C with a norm of 55 °C. This may indicate the non-factory origin of the fuel and significantly increases the risk of ignition in case of an accident or other emergencies.

The outsiders also have problems with sulfur. Exceedances of more than 10 times were recorded in BRSM-nafta, BILL OIL, PATRIOT, and ENERGО-EXPORT. And in the latter — a striking exceedance of 32 times. It seems that such fuel is produced at mini-refineries, where the depth of processing leaves much to be desired.

Premium diesel fuel

Is it worth overpaying for "branded" grades? For diesel, the answer is unequivocal — yes. Almost all premium samples turned out to be truly arctic, and even with a margin. How networks manage to get arctic fuel, which is scarce in Europe, in commercial volumes is a mystery, but the fact remains. The lowest freezing point is at Pulls Diesel Arctic OKKO (minus 36 °C). Mustang WOG and Nano Extro SOCAR withstood minus 35 °C, Ventus Diesel KLO — minus 33 °C. But Euro BRSM-nafta did not even reach standard diesel — only minus 19 °C. In terms of sulfur content, the best results are at Nano Extro SOCAR (4 mg/kg) and Pulls Diesel Arctic OKKO (5 mg/kg).

Conclusions

After the period of shortage, there are currently no problems with the availability of diesel — this is positive. But the quality of the fuel sold raises questions. The study showed quite a few violations, although not all of them are critical. Therefore, it is worth giving preference to networks that do not compromise on quality. And if frosts intensify — refuel only with arctic grades so as not to end up in the middle of a field with a frozen engine.

Oleksandr Babenko

DP EURO

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