"Lukoil", "EKTO Diesel": reviews, specs

Since 2015, the market has a new grade of fuel "Lukoil" - "EKTO Diesel", reviews on which among professionals and consumers are mostly laudatory. And it's no wonder, because EKTO Diesel is a product of a new generation whose quality exceeds the strictest Russian and European norms.

Fuel of the future

Under the brand name EKTO Diesel, Lukoil produces diesel fuel of the Euro-5 standard with improved characteristics. The Russian industry is obliged to produce fuel of this level of quality from January 1, 2015. However, the chemical giant has been supplying the product to the filling stations of St. Petersburg, Leningrad and Kaliningrad regions since October 2014.

This year, Lukoil EKTO Diesel will appear in Kaluga, Moscow, Perm and dozens of other major cities of the country. For the transition to the production of diesel fuel "Euro-5" the company invested considerable funds in the construction of new processing facilities at its enterprises. Innovative technologies of industrial processing of oil of the enterprises of "Lukoil" have allowed to lower the maintenance of sulfur in mark "EKTO" to 8-10 mg / kg. For comparison: this is six times less than similar indicators of DTs of the Euro-4 standard.

Overtaking time

The historical fact: the first batch of low-sulfur diesel fuel, corresponding to "Euro-5", the Perm refinery "Lukoil" produced in 2004. This became possible after the renewal of technological equipment and the introduction of methods for deep oil refining. However, innovative products of the highest quality were mainly shipped to the EU countries, where in fact there was no branded analogue of Lukoil, EKTO Diesel. Reviews of foreign partners were very positive, the product was in demand. The Russian consumer was deprived of the opportunity to use DT of a new generation.

As they say in the administration, "Lukoil" has overtaken "local time". To a diesel car park of the country such a high fuel standard at that time was completely useless. A product of this quality would not completely burn in the cylinders of old cars, because the fuel and engine standards should be correlated.

Euro-4

While the car market was preparing for the arrival of EKTO Diesel (Lukoil), the company began selling diesel Euro-4 starting from mid-2005. This became, without exaggeration, a breakthrough in the domestic fuel market. Its use reduces harmful emissions into the atmosphere 5-8 times (depending on the type of chemical compounds). But the most important characteristic was that diesel oil "Euro-4" is 40 times less sulfur than in diesel fuel, corresponding to GOST of 1982. Sulfur and its compounds are the main enemy of the fuel system of the engine.

Euro-5

Diesel fuel of the fifth generation is fundamentally different from its predecessor by reducing the amount of sulfur. Its content is measured in units of "ppm" - "parts per million". If in the "revolutionary" for Russia ДТ "Euro-4" the mentioned substance is present in the amount of 50 ppm, then in the production of "Lukoil" "EKTO Diesel" the sulfur content in general beats all records - no more than 10 ppm That is ten (and less) particles In a million. Due to this, the total amount of harmful emissions into the atmosphere when using DT "Euro-5" decreased, in comparison with "Euro-4", almost in half. By the way, in the countries of the European Union the ecological standard "Euro-4" was introduced in 2005, and "Euro-5" - in 2013. The Russian market is only a little behind the global trends.

Improving the characteristics of EKTO Diesel (Lukoil)

The motorists' comments on the use of the "fifth generation diesel" indicate the concern of some drivers with a very low concentration of sulfur. It is known, and experts confirm this, that sulfur and its compounds, in large quantities present in the previous diesel fuel, played the role of a kind of lubrication in the engine cylinders.

This property of this substance is known to Russian petrochemists. As they say, there is no thin without good: sulfur compounds at least in some way turned out to be useful. Only this benefit was blocked by harmful influence on other engine systems and on the surrounding nature. Diesel fuel "EKTO" ("Euro-5") does not contain sulfur. In return, Lukoil used a specially developed and tested set of additives that provide an excellent lubricating effect.

EKTO brand

Introducing a new standard to the market, the company thought about how to present innovative products to customers . The fuel corresponds to the standards adopted in Europe, it would be more logical to sell it as a DT-Euro-5. However, since this is an improved fuel, it was decided to conduct its branding. As a result, a brand was born from "Lukoil" "EKTO Diesel".

Marketers' reviews and sales statistics showed that this was a good decision. Customers pay more attention to the branded product than to the impersonal Euro-5. The word "EKTO" means that the fuel was obtained as a result of the addition to the DT of the fifth generation of a special complex of HiTEC 4661 additives from British company Afton Chemical, which increase the individual qualities of standard fuel. In our case:

• Better clean and lubricate the engine;
• Reduce the concentration of harmful impurities in emissions to the atmosphere due to more complete combustion.

Under the name "EKTO" is sold and diesel fuel, and gasoline. The brand is in demand, in the last half of the year its sales have increased by one third.

Resistance to freezing

One of the key claims to cheap diesel fuel from Russian drivers is the following: in a frost, a diesel engine starts badly. As the practice of using the Euro standard "Euro-4" showed, in the cold period, car owners do not have problems with this type of fuel. Experts assure that the production of "Lukoil" "EKTO Diesel" in the winter also ensures easy start of the engine at any temperature.

In the cold, the working capacity of diesel fuel determines the depressor-dispersing, that is, diluting, additive. From its concentration, the temperature range of the application of the "combustible" depends, as well as the product of the firm "Lukoil" ("EKTO Diesel"). The freezing point depends on the fuel class. In accordance with the requirement of the Russian standard from 2005, in different regions of the country the company we are considering "offers a winter DT of different classes - from the first (with the use temperature to -26 degrees), to the fourth, which works even at -44 degrees.

Benefits of fuel from Lukoil EKTO Diesel

The characteristics of the new product lead to the exploitation of cars to a new level. When using EKTO fuel:

• Improves the combustion process;
• Increases the life of the engine;
• Noise and vibration are reduced;
• The possibility of premature clogging of soot filters and the failure of on-board diagnostics systems is excluded;
• The start-up is easier and the time of the power unit's transition to the operating mode is shortened;
• Reduces corrosion of engine parts;
• The amount of carbon deposits on the nodes of the cylinder-piston group, fuel equipment decreases.

Market conditions

It is significant that Lukoil began to market diesel fuel of the highest European standard, rather than gasoline. The quality of gasoline in general in the country begins to "pull up" to European standards. This was demanded by the fleet of cars that has been renewed in recent years. But the market DT is very wide palette: from quite decent fuel to archaic diesel fuel, corresponding GOST 1982, which has not been canceled yet.

For example, at the Ukhta refinery (the Republic of Komi) for a long time, DT Euro-5 could be launched on the market, but consumers, first of all railway workers, ask: give a better diesel fuel. That is, in this region, high-quality diesel fuel by the domestic market is still not in high demand.

Reviews

What "diesel" to produce - modern or one that contains hundreds of times more harmful impurities - the producers decide themselves, depending on technological capabilities and market needs. The consumer increasingly demands better fuel. This turned out to be EKTO Diesel (Lukoil).

The responses of many drivers say, albeit a small, but real improvement in the motor performance, trouble-free operation in the winter, saving on maintenance. The second group of car owners does not see a big difference in comparison with the Euro-4. But we must not forget that the Euro-5, thanks to the low concentration of sulfur, is more useful for the engine and at the same time it is safer for the environment and human health. The effectiveness of HiTEC 4661 additives is proven by practice and comprehensive research. They are used by the leading petrochemical corporations BP, Shell and others.

Target group

Drivers of trailers, city passenger buses, mini trucks and minibuses, which are used mainly by modern Western cars, are vitally interested in the product of NK "Lukoil" "EKTO Diesel". Reviews (usually positive) of this category of citizens are most interested in the company.

Owners of cars are also consumers of quality DT. It's no secret that many Western manufacturers refuse to supply diesel "light cars" to the Russian market precisely because they can not guarantee the reliable operation of their products on our diesel fuel. And those that supply cars with a diesel engine, set a half the mileage (i.e., drivers will need to pass twice as often), or else they take off the new car from the guarantee.

So far, the sales of the product we are considering are limited to megacities and cross-border transit cities, as consumers are "truckers" and owners of modern diesel cars, that is, residents of mostly large cities. In the outback of DT "Euro-5" is not in high demand.

Modern fleet of vehicles

Diesel of the XXI century is more durable, more economical, more environmentally friendly than its gasoline colleague. In the West, it is no accident that more than half of car buyers prefer it. In France, there are 70%, in Britain - 38%. In Russia, this figure, according to various estimates, is 2-5% (sales of commercial vehicles with a diesel engine - 30-35%). The entire Russian fleet of cars with the appropriate engines today hardly exceeds 15%. But it is predicted that the process of "diesel" of the country is not far off. That is, the trend is indicated. Accordingly, with the advent of a larger number of cars with modern diesel engines, the demand for EKTO Diesel products will increase.

A look into the future

The fifth generation product was not available for sale, as journalists were interested: are there any developments on new types of DTs of the sixth and subsequent quality levels? Should we wait for new cars with more advanced, more economical and environmentally friendly motors? According to chemists, in the coming years, a drastic change in the composition of diesel fuel, which would allow us to talk about the appearance of a "diesel engine" of a new standard, is not expected. Accordingly, the product "Lukoil" "EKTO Diesel", whose passport meets the standards of the fifth generation, as well as its counterparts, the next decade will de facto dominate the market.

Oil refiners stopped at the devil, the step for which is the task of the science of the future. But there is no limit to perfection. Scientists are working on improving the individual qualities of diesel fuel. In the near future, improving the environmental friendliness of DTs throughout the world will, evidently, only by introducing new methods for the more complete removal of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons. And to further damage the environment, diesel engines must be improved at the same time.

Prospects

Perhaps the manufacturer is too ahead of time, offering ordinary domestic motorists a product from Lukoil EKTO Diesel 2014-2015. But the company notes that petrochemists are used to working ahead of the curve, given the current situation and forecasts. Moreover, many changes in our country are taking place in a leap. And it is better to prepare for them beforehand.

The special technical regulations restricting the stage-by-stage import of cars into Russia, whose power units do not meet the increased requirements of environmental standards, was adopted in 2005. A similar document, regulating the quality of automobile fuel, appeared in 2008. Experts believe that these documents spurred Russia to officially join the "chase" of European environmental standards. Although the terms of compulsory transition to the production of DTs of the Euro-5 standard have been postponed, high-quality fuel is necessary for Russians.