权利要求:
Claims 1: A method of reducing the formation of deposits in one or more parts of the post combustion system of a diesel engine by at least 1%, the method comprising: - combusting in the engine a diesel fuel composition comprising as an additive a nitrate compound and/or a peroxide compound; and - weighing the one or more parts of the system before and after use; wherein combustion of the fuel comprising the post combustion deposit reducing additive provides a reduced level of deposits compared to when an otherwise identical fuel is combusted under identical conditions except for the inclusion of the post combustion deposit reducing additive. 2. A method according to claim 1 wherein the additive is selected from alkyl nitrates and/or dialkyl peroxides. 3. A method according to claim 1 or claim 2 wherein the additive comprises a nitrate compound of formula (I): oO LAN NY oO [0] wherein R' is an optionally substituted straight chain, branched or cyclic alkyl group. 4, A method according to any preceding claim wherein the additive comprises a nitrate compound of formula (I): oO Re NY oO 0) wherein R' is an optionally substituted alkyl, aryl or aralkyl group. Preferably 6 to 16 carbon atoms, more preferably 8 to 10 carbon atoms. 5. A method according to any preceding claim wherein the additive comprises a nitrate compound of formula (I): oO RG N Nt 0 ~N oc wherein R'is an unsubstituted alkyl group having 2 to 20 carbon atoms. 6. A method according to any preceding claim wherein the additive comprises a compound of formula (II): R2— Q— O——; R3 (In wherein R? is an optionally substituted alkyl, aryl, alkaryl, aralkyl or acyl group; and R3 is hydrogen or an optionally substituted alkyl, aryl, alkaryl, aralkyl or acyl group. 7: A method according to any preceding claim wherein the additive comprises a compound of formula (II): R2—0Q—0——R3 (I wherein R2 and R?® are the same and each is an unsubstituted alkyl! or acyl group having 1 to 12 carbon atoms. 8. A method according to any preceding claim wherein the additive is selected from 2- ethylhexyl nitrate, a decyl nitrate and di-tert-butyl peroxide. 9. A method according to claim 7 wherein R' is a branched decyl group having an average degree of branching of from 1 to 2.5. 10. A method according to any preceding claim wherein the diesel fuel composition comprises from 50 to 2000 ppm of alkyl nitrate and/or dialkyl peroxide compounds. 11. A method according to any preceding claim wherein the diesel fuel composition comprises from 50 to 350 ppm alkyl nitrate and/or dialkyl peroxide compounds. 12. A method according to any preceding claim wherein the diesel fuel composition comprises one or more nitrogen containing detergents. 13. A method according to claim 20 wherein the one or more nitrogen containing detergents are selected from: (i) a quaternary ammonium salt additive; (ii) the product of a Mannich reaction between an aldehyde, an amine and an optionally substituted phenol; and (iii) the reaction product of a carboxylic acid-derived acylating agent and an amine. 14. A method according to any preceding claim wherein the diesel engine is an off road engine, for example a marine, rail or stationary engine.