FAQ:

• Why should I use ChangeTL?

The Green Deal agreement, a collaboration between the government and the maritime sector, includes ambitious environmental objectives for both sea and inland shipping. This involves reducing CO₂ emissions and also harmful air emissions (sulfur oxides, nitrogen oxides and particulate matter). The goal for inland shipping is to reduce CO₂ emissions by at least 20% by 2024. A reduction target of 10% has been agreed for harmful air emissions. The Green Deal marks the starting point of the long-term transition to climate-neutral and emission-free shipping.

With ChangeTL we achieve a reduction of 16% CO₂ emissions. In comparison with road transport (around 6% reduction in 2019), this results in more than 2.5 times less CO₂ emissions.

ChangeTL also reduces NOx with 19% and soot and particulate matter emissions with 33%.

• What is ChangeTL?

ChangeTL is a diesel fuel consisting of a combination of GTL, FAME and the enzyme technology of ChangeXL.

• What is GTL?

GTL is a diesel fuel that meets the European EN15940 standard. The advantage of GTL is that it has much better cold properties and a very high cetane number compared to "normal" diesel. This results in a much cleaner combustion that is also odor-free.

• What is FAME?

FAME is a collective name for all kinds of biodiesel that meets the EN14214 standard. It may contain vegetable and/or animal oils and fats. Due to the reuse and growth of plants and trees, CO₂is extracted from the air, which determines the CO₂ reduction.

• What is ChangeXL?

ChangeXL is an additive based on enzyme technology. ChangeXL prevents bacterial problems due to the elimination of microorganisms. The enzyme technology breaks down contaminants such as sludge, water and bacteria and gradually dissolves them in the fuel. The enzymes break the surface tension between water molecules so that they are gradually dissolved in tiny particles. For more information about ChangeXL visit www.changexl.com.

• What are the advantages of ChangeTL?

With ChangeTL you reduce local emissions (soot, particulate matter and NOx) including a CO₂ reduction of 16%. In addition to fewer emissions, ChangeTL ensures lower maintenance costs and better performance through the combination of GTL and ChangeXL's enzyme technology. No investments or adjustments to the infrastructure are required. ChangeTL can be used in all types of engines.

• How much do I pay for ChangeTL?

You can request the price from your dealer.

• How reliable is ChangeTL?

GTL complies with the EN15940 fuel standard and the used Fame complies with the EN14214 standard. The enzyme technology has been extensively tested by independent laboratories and found safe for use in all engines.

• How long can I store ChangeTL?

The ChangeXL enzymes optimize and stabilize the fuel in ChangeTL, that preserves them for a very long time. Depending on the storage conditions, there is no reason that the fuel deteriorates because the enzymes continue to work actively in the fuel.

• Are additional measures required before I start using ChangeTL?

The advice is to clean the bunker tanks and make them anhydrous. This prevents initial problems. Due to the cleaning effect of ChangeTL, the existing old dirt will be loosened and this can cause filter clogging. If any new water and dirt gets into the bunker tanks, this will be solved by the ChangeXL additive.

• Does ChangeTL contain biocides or pesticides?

ChangeTL does not contain any chemical component, ash or metals.

• Does ChangeTL help to reduce carbon deposits?

ChangeTL fuels burn more efficient and more complete, so that in principle less carbon (soot) is produced. In addition, the engine is gradually cleaned so that the combustion process will be increasingly efficient with continuous use of ChangeTL.

• Will the use of ChangeTL extend the lifespan of the injectors?

Fuel injectors fail when dirt (water, dirt particles, etc.) or rust gets into the system and over time the nozzle, armature or needle of the nozzle get stuck. These problems reduce the efficiency of the fuel and damage the injectors prematurely. The ability of ChangeTL to break down and gradually dissolve water and contaminants in the fuel, cleans and maintains fuel injectors and extends their lifespan.

• What does ChangeTL do with (condensed) water in the fuel?

The enzymes in ChangeTL break down water into tiny particles. These particles are dissolved in the fuel and taken to the engine. In the engine, these small water molecules produce a cetane-enhancing effect because they burst apart just before the fuel itself burns. This effect of mini-explosions is a well-known scientific phenomenon and is called "micro-puffing." The degradation and removal of the water thus ensures on the one hand a better condition of the fuel (and removes the breeding ground for micro-organisms) and on the other hand for more power and a more efficient combustion.

• Does ChangeXL have a cleansing and anti-oxidising effect?

The enzyme technology in ChangeTL cleans tanks, filters, separators, injection systems and engines. In addition, the enzymes ensure that the fuel is more stable and therefore has a long shelf life without oxidising.

• What is the influence of the enzymes on engine oil?

Because the enzymes improve fuel quality and combustion, this will certainly improve the service life of engine oils. By a more complete combustion, considerably less soot is produced and less soot ends up in engine oil.

• How efficient is fuel use with ChangeTL?

ChangeTL has a high cetane number (> 70). Diesel has a cetane number of 51. A higher cetane number ensures faster and more efficient combustion. This means that the energy content is better utilized as a percentage. The energy value of a liter of ChangeTL is slightly lower than diesel, but due to the high cetane number, the available energy is much better utilized as a percentage and you also produce far fewer exhaust gases (low-emission). Soot is actually unburned diesel.

• Is ChangeTL suitable for engines in ships and generators?

ChangeTL is technically suitable for all diesel engines, including diesel engines in ships and generators. The advantage of ChangeTL is that you no longer suffer from smoke and odor from exhaust gases (if you sail before the wind). In the salon of the ship you can no longer smell the diesel from the engine compartment and the deck remains free of soot particles. The engine also runs quieter, which means fewer vibrations and noise disturbance.

• Is ChangeTL approved for my engines?

ChangeTL is not EN590 standardized. You can check with your supplier whether your engines can run on the ChangeTL while maintaining the guarantee. Then check whether the engine is approved for GTL with fuel standard EN15940 and additional 20% FAME with standard EN14214.

• Does ChangeTL emit less CO₂?

Yes, CO₂ is still released at the exhaust. The total CO₂ saving of 16% cannot be measured 1 on 1 as a reduction at the exhaust. This is also not the case with the use of biodiesel in road traffic. The principle is as follows: The FAME that is added is produced from vegetable and animal material. A plant extracts CO₂ from the air during the growth process prior to combustion in an engine. We call that CO₂ neutral. Animal material has already been used and is being reused, this is called circular. The production and transport have also been taken into account in the calculation of the 16% CO₂ reduction, because CO₂ is added to the environment in this process. Independent measurements by a control and inspection company show that ChangeTL at the exhaust reduces -5 to -10%, depending on the engine load, compared to diesel.

• Can problems occur with ChangeTL and seals?

This can sometimes still occur, but is a problem that is only related to NBR gaskets (Nitrile Butadiene Rubber, in short Nitrile rubber). Today, and also in the last ten years, NBR gaskets are rarely used because it is a natural rubber with not the best qualities in the oil industry. This is often replaced by Viton (FKM) or by Hydrogenated Nitrile Butadiene Rubber (HNBR) in short hydrated nitrile rubber. These types are now widely used and advised by manufacturers of gaskets and seals for engines, fuel installations and fuel delivery pumps and do not pose any problems with ChangeTL.

• Can problems occur with bacterial growth in ChangeTL?

Bacterial growth can occur with the addition of FAME. FAME is hygroscopic (attracts water easily). This increases the chance of bacterial growth in your fuel. Water will have to be drained daily in your bunkers. Any remaining water will be broken down by the addition of ChangeXL. The enzymes break down bacteria and gradually dissolve them in the fuel. You can also preventively install a so-called debug filter. This filter possibly "kills" the last bacteria. Further information can be obtained from various filter suppliers.

• Can ChangeTL clog filters?

The enzyme technology of ChangeXL breaks down contaminants such as sludge, water and bacteria and gradually dissolves them in the fuel and carbon deposits in the engines are gradually broken down. This prevents fuel problems and therefore the blocking of filters. Unless it is a new fuel system, there will always be sediment and water in tanks. The enzymes will immediately begin to break down these impurities as soon as they are present in the system. The breaking down and especially the draining of sludge and water is a gradual process and this will be noticeable especially in the first weeks (usually 2 to 8 weeks). This process naturally affects the condition of the fuel filters. It should therefore be borne in mind that during the first few weeks of using ChangeTL extra filters may have to be replaced. The continuous working of the enzymes makes the fuel system and the engine cleaner. A clean system, stable fuel and an optimal combustion process contribute to lower maintenance costs and extend the life of tanks, filters, separators, injection systems and engines.

• Does ChangeTL meet the winter characteristics of EN590?

The addition of FAME to GTL reduces the cold properties of the product. The excellent cold properties of GTL (Artic diesel) ensure that ChangeTL always meets the standard that is used for EN590 diesel with regard to the cold properties (Cold Filter Plugging Point and Cloud Point) as stated at the VOS website.