Heavy Duty Diesel Case Study

Amplify Diesel HD

How a simple fuel change reduced PM2.5 emissions by 40%

When you’re operating heavy-duty diesel engines, you quickly realise how much engine efficiency and performance counts. A recent independent trial has proven the fuel cleaning capabilities of Ampol Amplify Diesel HD and the associated improvements in fuel efficiency and emission reductions of this world class performance diesel.

The Mission

If you’re an operator of modern heavy-duty diesel-powered equipment, then you’re probably under constant pressure to keep your equipment running as cleanly and efficiently as possible. Especially when you’re working in harsh conditions and following a relentless and unforgiving schedule.

Many heavy operations are now also facing the challenge of meeting increasingly stringent emissions requirements.

At Ampol, we understand that maintaining a cleaner injector/fuel system is key to helping you meet these operational challenges.
This is because a cleaner fuel system can improve combustion efficiency and extend injector maintenance intervals, in doing so laying the foundation for improved fuel consumption as well as the benefits of emission reductions.

As the fuel company with the power to deliver, Ampol engaged the best available technology to locally develop Amplify Diesel HD to help keep heavy-duty engines running cleaner. This is Ampol’s third-generation performance diesel. It features an advanced formulation that’s been thoroughly tested to meet the demands of tough Australian conditions and ensure your heavy-duty diesel engines stay cleaner and go the distance, on every working day.

To confirm the fuel efficiency and emission reducing qualities of Amplify Diesel HD, a recent trial was conducted at an independent testing facility in Brisbane using a heavy-duty mining equipment powertrain.

The Action 

The trial was designed to compare the reduction in fuel consumption and emissions that can be achieved from a 45 litre, V12 mining excavator engine when operating with the cleaning benefits of Amplify Diesel HD performance diesel against regular diesel fuel.

A customer’s heavy-duty Cummins QSK45-C mining excavator engine was used for the trial. It had approximately 17,346 injector and engine hours and no known prior mechanical issues.

To ensure the accuracy of the results, the engine was coupled to a dynamometer and portable emissions measurement system (PEMS) equipment using an industry standard test cycle.

This ensured the performance could be compared on a like-for-like basis before and after switching to Amplify Diesel HD.


The Benefits

After conducting a steady state cycle run using Amplify Diesel HD, the test results confirmed improved fuel efficiency and a reduction in Hydrocarbons (HC) and Particulate Matter (PM2.5) emissions.

Ampol Amplify Diesel HD delivered:

  • Fuel efficiency improvement of up to 3.9%
  • Reductions of up to 4.1%* in CO2 and up to 22% reduction in total Hydrocarbon emissions
  • Up to 40% reduction in Particulate Matter (PM 2.5) emissions. 

These results were consistent with an engine benefiting from improved combustion due to a cleaner fuel system.

1. Results table

  BSFC  Soot CO2  THC
QSK45 Regular Diesel 252 0.082 790 0.610
QSK45 Amplified Diesel HD 242 0.050 758 0.476
% Change -3.9% -39.6% -4.1% -22.0%
  BSFC (g/kWh)
PM (g/kWh)
CO2 (g/kWh)
THC (g/kWh)

* Ampol engaged an independent engineering consultant to perform a fuel trial at a testing facility in Queensland. The test engine was coupled to a dynamometer, and the results of fuel consumption and emissions reduction were compared against regular (unadditised) Diesel. Fuel consumption was measured using a high precision Coriolis mass flow meter with an accuracy of ±0.1% for liquids (and repeatability of ±0.05%). Emissions were measured using PEMS, providing repeatability of 1% or better and complying with US EPA, ECE and ISO regulations. Trial results were at a 95% confidence level and represent weighted-average change, based on industry-standard ISO 8178-4 C1 test cycle for off-road vehicles and diesel-powered off-road industrial equipment. Note that results may vary depending on the engine, environmental conditions and other factors such as variability in engine load factor and driver behaviour.

Amplify Diesel HD has the proven power to help keep heavy duty diesel engines free from performance robbing deposits.

  • Fuel efficiency improvements and emissions reduction benefits due to an improved combustion process once a cleaner fuel system is established through the cleaning abilities of Amplify Diesel HD
  • Reduction in Particulate Matter (PM2.5) means less emissions harmful to human health
  • Amplify Diesel HD will keep powering the mining industry while also lowering environmental emissions.

Amplify Diesel HD also contains:

  • Corrosion inhibitors to protect the engine from the formation of abrasive rust particles
  • Foam inhibitors for faster and cleaner refuelling.

    *Ampol engaged an independent engineering consultant to perform a fuel trial at a testing facility in Queensland where the test engine was coupled to a dynamometer, and comparison of fuel consumption and emissions reduction results were done against Regular (unadditised) Diesel.

    Fuel consumption was measured using a high precision Coriolis mass flow meter with an accuracy of ±0.1% for liquids (and repeatability of ±0.05%). Emissions were measured with a Portable Emissions Measurement System (PEMS), providing repeatability of 1% or better and complying with US EPA and ECE and ISO regulations.

    Trial results were with at least 95% confidence level and represent weighted-average change, based on industry standard ISO 8178-4 C1 test cycle for “Off-road vehicles,diesel powered off-road industrial equipment”.

    Note that all the results may vary depending on the engine itself, environmental conditions, other factors such as variability in engine load factor and driver's behaviour.