a standard alcor fouling test is carried out for 180 minutes the total fouling as measured by the total reduction in outlet liquid temperature is referred to as u03b4t180 or dt180 fig1 and fig2 illustrate the impact that the presence of particulates in a crude oil has on fouling of a refinery component or unit there is an increase in fouling in the presence of iron oxide fe 2 o 3 particles when compared to similar crude oils that do not contain particulates the present invention will be described in connection with the use of a low sulfur low asphaltene or lsla whole crude oil and a high sulfur high asphaltene or hsha crude oil blend as base crude oil examples these oils were selected as being representative of certain classifications of crude oil the lsla crude oil represents a low s bn high reactive sulfur and low asphaltenes crude oil the hsha blend crude oil represents a crude oil that is both high in asphaltenes and reactive sulfur the use of these crude oils is for illustrative purposes only the present invention is not intended to be limited to application only with lsla crude oil and hsha crude oil it is intended that the present invention has application with all whole and blended crude oils and formulations of the same that experience and or produce fouling in refinery components including but not limited to heat exchangers the presence of fouling reduces the heat transfer of the heating tubes or rods contained within a heat exchanger as described above the presence of fouling has an adverse impact of heat exchanger performance and efficiency the present inventors have found that the addition of a crude oil having a high tan and high.