Costa Rica News – Recope is selling diesel that, while less polluting, is harmful to some engines.
The new fuel composition seems to toast the seals thus causing leaks.
The new diesel has been distributed since November to gas stations. The fuel has less sulfur and aromatics, meaning it is less harmful to health and the environment.
It has been found to damage the fuel injection pumps of vehicle engines by damaging the packaging of pump. The fuel injection system functions to regulate the entry of the hydrocarbon into the combustion chamber of the engine. The fuel also generates a shrinkage of the nitrile seals. The growth in demand for repairs to the injection pump has increased significantly starting in December.
Recope created a Report on the Quality of Diesel and Possible Impact on the Seals of the Injection Pumps which states that they did not know this was going to happen but it does acknowledge the problem.
Still it will continue to import less polluting hydrocarbons because of benefits to public health.
