Diesel Fuel Exciter generates interest at Fergus Truck Show

by James Menzies

FERGUS, Ont. – There was some excitement in the air at the Fergus Truck Show over a new product that promises to deliver fuel mileage improvements while causing older engines to run smoother and deliver more power.

The Diesel Fuel Exciter, marketed by Core Energy, is an electronic fuel conditioning system that thins the fuel through the use of electromagnetics.

The system consists of a vibration- and waterproof box that’s mounted to the firewall as well as a coil which is wrapped around the fuel line.

Mark Brander, president of Core Energy, was demonstrating the technology on several trucks at the Fergus Truck Show. He was so confident in the product, he promised to let each of the five drivers who tested it to keep it on their trucks for several months with no obligation to purchase the unit afterwards.

“Most engines will realize an increase in fuel efficiency of 10-20%,” he told Truck News as he hooked one unit up to a truck belonging to owner/operator Ed Mitchell.

While the fuel mileage improvements take several weeks to realize (Brander says built up deposits of carbon in the fuel must first be eliminated), he said there are several immediate benefits provided by the Diesel Fuel Exciter.

The system thins the fuel by blasting the molecules and hydrocarbon clusters that have formed in the fuel, Brander explained.

“When you have a thinner fuel spraying into the chamber, you get a more complete and even burn,” he said as he set the unit up on Mitchell’s truck, which was powered by a well-used Detroit Diesel engine.

The installation took only a few minutes and Brander was ready to conduct a pedal test.

“We have the drivers get in and start the truck up and hold it at 1,000 RPM with their foot,” explained Brander. “Within two to four minutes with Detroits, the RPM will increase anywhere between 300 and 500 RPM, the engine will run quieter and smoother and a lot of vibration will be gone. We run into drivers all the time who have a hard time filling out logbooks on their steering wheel, but often they say their wheel’s smooth now (that the diesel exciter has been installed).”

As promised, that was the case with Mitchell’s truck within a few minutes. The RPM climbed to 1,500 RPM on its own within five minutes and Mitchell said there was less vibration than before. He then climbed outside the vehicle and admitted the engine ran quieter than usual at that temperature.

“Usually it sounds like the pistons are going to burst right through the top of the engine,” he said.

Next up was a 1996 Kenworth with a Cat C15 under the hood. Brander conducted a similar test, but in this case no noticeable difference was achieved. He admitted it’s not unheard of for some engines to fail to achieve the results attained by others.

“If we don’t get the results, we won’t sell it to them,” Brander said, admitting some engines are immune to the effects of the Diesel Fuel Exciter. In fact, Core Energy won’t sell the product for use with the bridge Cat engines or for that matter, engines with twin turbos.

“Cat engines usually get a 1 to 1.5 mpg improvement and on Detroits we get at least 1 mpg, sometimes up to 3 mpg depending on the engine and the way the guy drives,” says Brander. “We have one fellow right now hauling containers and he has our system on a switch. He’s pulling heavy with lots of wind resistance and his foot is into it all the time. He runs in the GTA so there’s lots of starting and stopping. When he turns our unit off, he gets 5 mpg. But when he turns it on he’s getting 7-7.5 mpg. He’s our best achiever.”

Despite the mixed results at the Fergus Truck Show, Core Energy has developed a loyal following in the industry.

Ingemar Weyrich, an owner/operator who works a regular run into the US, equipped his 1997 Freightliner with a 430 hp Detroit Diesel engine and 13-speed transmission with the unit in May.

He immediately noticed an increase in power and he said his engine ran much quieter once the system was installed.

Just recently, the fuel mileage has improved by about 20% (or 1.4 mpg), he said.

“I have observed that our unit now produces usable power/ torque from a lower RPM (as low as 800 RPM) without lugging and that the engine now has a more broad and even torque curve,” he told Truck News. “Though it took some time from when the unit was initially installed, within the last month we have experienced a significant improvement in fuel mileage, achieving as much as 7.9 mpg with a 46,000 lb payload.”

The system is available for about $1,000 and is guaranteed to deliver results. If customers prefer, they can test it for three months before paying in which case it will cost $1,499.

For more information about the Diesel Fuel Exciter, call Mark Brander at 519-490-5440 or e-mail him at mbrander@cogeco.ca.


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