A fuel additive called FCS-27, developed by PE Fuels Solutions, achieved a 5.2% improvement in fuel economy according to tests by Performance Innovation Transport (PIT), a highly regarded independent tester. This result exceeded typical improvements seen by PIT of up to 2.86% and validated the claims of the developer. The additive is said to work by improving combustion and real-world fleet testing showed an average 9% fuel economy improvement. PE Fuels is now looking to expand distribution of their bio-based additive across the industry.

1. Brought to you by the editors of
Fuel additive gets attention with
strong showing at PIT’s Energotest
April 2, 2015
by James Menzies
CALGARY, Alta. — When PE Fuels Solutions approached Performance
Innovation Transport to get its fuel additive included in the popular Energotest
trials of fuel-saving products, company president Christine Teschl was initially
greeted with some skepticism.
Fuel additives don’t have a good track record at achieving positive results using
the organization’s stringent test procedures, she was warned.
“PIT said save your money, we don’t see many that work,” Teschl recalled in an
interview with Truck News. It’s a good thing she wasn’t easily dissuaded.
PE Fuels Solutions can now boast a ‘PIT Power 5’ rating for its FCS-27 bio-
based additive, after achieving a fuel economy improvement of 5.2%. PIT’s
testing is highly regarded in the industry, as it adheres strictly to the SAE J1321
Joint TMC/SAE Fuel Consumption Test Procedure – Type II protocol. A positive
verification from PIT earns a product instant credibility among the many fleets
that look to the organization for validation of potential fuel-saving products and
techniques. And with that report now in hand, PE Fuels is looking to make itself
known to the industry.
“We’ve been trying to stay low on the radar,” Teschl told Truck News.

2. The company has quietly been setting up a distribution network for its FCS-27
fuel additive, which it says works by boosting cetane, increasing lubricity and
generally improving the combustion process.
“Our technology is based on compound catalysis derived from bio-based
ingredients and specialty improvers, leading to the highest fuel saving and GHG
emission reductions confirmed by SAE J1321test protocol performed by PIT,”
Teschl explained.
In its report, PIT granted the prestigious PIT Power 5 designation. This
represented a surprisingly strong result, given the performance of other additives
in the past.
“Fuel consumption tests conducted by FPInnovations in previous Energotest
campaigns with other fuel additives, or special formulated fuel, showed up to
2.86% improvement in fuel economy…However, the result obtained by the FCS-
27 additive, 4.9% fuel savings, is superior to the performances shown by the
tested fuel additives,” PIT concluded. (Different formulas are used to calculate
fuel savings and fuel improvement. The PIT Power score is awarded based on
fuel economy improvement).
“It should be mentioned that the tests were conducted with test vehicles having
high mileage (as it was requested by the supplier), of a particular make and
model, and equipped with a particular type of engine. This result refers only to
the vehicle and specimen of technology tested according to the procedure and
conditions described in this report. In order to fully demonstrate the potential of
the technology for a larger spectrum of vehicles representative for the actual fleet
population, we recommend conducting additional testing on vehicles with lower
mileage, of different make and model, equipped with different engines, and with
different Diesel Particulate Filter (DPF) regeneration strategy.”
The tests were conducted in 2014, using 2012 Peterbilt 388 tractors powered by
450-hp Cummins engines. Teschl said the two-year-old engines are a good
representation of the current vehicle population in use today.

3. While thrilled with the validation earned through PIT’s Energotest, Teschl said the
results didn’t come as a surprise to her, and were actually short in comparison to
on-road tests conducted with Canadian fleets.
“What we have found is, on average transport companies are seeing a 9%
reduction in fuel consumption, even in newer vehicles,” she explained.
One of the fleets testing the additive in its operations is Groupe Trans-West.
Results presented by PE Fuels to Truck News show an average fuel economy
improvement of 9% over 95,000 kilometres of testing.
Teschl said FCS-27 includes cold flow improver, which also has improved
reliability in the extreme winter weather. Fleets using the additive in winter
experienced no stalling or starting issues in extreme cold, she said. Teschl also
said FCS-27 has extended DPF life by up to 80,000 kms and reduces emissions.
The company is headquartered in Calgary and the additive is manufactured in
Saskatchewan.
More information on the company can be found
at www.PEFuelsInternational.com.
James Menzies
James Menzies is executive editor of Truck News and Truck West magazines
and equipment editor of Motortruck Fleet Executive. He has been covering the
Canadian trucking industry for more than 13 years and holds a CDL. Reach him
at jmenzies@trucknews.com or follow him on Twitter at @JamesMenzies.
All posts by James Menzies