New diesel older motors

[NHSawyer]

Hi Folks,
I just had some diesel delivered for my bulk tank. I have a loader/backhoe that is 30 years old. As I understand it current diesel fuel is low sulfer content. Do I have to add any treatment to the fuel so it is ok to run it in the backhoe?
NHSawyer

 

[Mace Canute]

A thirty year old diesel might not need it as much as a newer one...tighter clearances, higher pressures, etc in the new stuff, but it certainly wouldn't hurt it any to use an additive. Is it absolutely necessary? Nope. Would an additive be worth the money? I think it would be.

If you decide to use an additive, take a look through this site...it lists some additives which work very well, some that don't work all that well and a few that are actually detrimental.
http://rivrdog.typepad.com/files/copy-of-diesel-fuel-additive-version-3.pdf

 

[PoorMansCat]

Hi Folks,
I just had some diesel delivered for my bulk tank. I have a loader/backhoe that is 30 years old. As I understand it current diesel fuel is low sulfer content. Do I have to add any treatment to the fuel so it is ok to run it in the backhoe?
NHSawyer

Yes, its ok to use... There have been some cases where the newer fuel "being thinner" seems to cause older fuel systems to have seal failures. Not much you can do about that until it gets time to overhaul the injection pump. At that time, modern seals can be installed.
If you want, you can add some 2 cycle engine oil to give it some lubricity. I would stay clear of ATF(automatic transmission fluid) or MMO(marvel Mystery Oil), they were never designed to be part of the diesel combustion process. Atleast 2-cycle oil is designed to be combusted..

 

[Storm56]

I would stay clear of ATF(automatic transmission fluid) or MMO(marvel Mystery Oil), they were never designed to be part of the diesel combustion process. Atleast 2-cycle oil is designed to be combusted..

MMO advertises and endorses it's product to be used as a fuel additive. I have used it for 35 years in my small engines. It does not add lubricity to diesel but is an excellent cleaner. There are many that feel it helps to counters some of the negative effects of ethanol based fuels and helps condition the seals and gaskets of older diesels against the effects of the ULSD fuel.

I am not a chemist and cannot confirm these things, but do believe that it has contributed to the fact that I have had VERY little problems with the fuel systems of the engines that I have used it in, and that does incude some diesels.

 

[Diamondpilot]

I run Howse in my bulk tank. Been doing so for 10 plus years and never a issue with my 300 gallon tank of fuel, winter or summer.

Chris

 

[John Morgan]

There is a lot of crazy information floating around about fuel additives. Mace is right there are products out there that can do more harm than good. Do some research. Look for lubricity. Replacing the lubrication aspect of the missing Sulpher will help the whole fuel system. Look for a Cetane boost. This will give you more power with less expended energy meaning better fuel economy. Water dispersants are also important. This will help with power and reduce injector failure. I will e-mail you a link.

 

[PoorMansCat]

MMO advertises and endorses it's product to be used as a fuel additive. I have used it for 35 years in my small engines. It does not add lubricity to diesel but is an excellent cleaner. There are many that feel it helps to counters some of the negative effects of ethanol based fuels and helps condition the seals and gaskets of older diesels against the effects of the ULSD fuel.

I am not a chemist and cannot confirm these things, but do believe that it has contributed to the fact that I have had VERY little problems with the fuel systems of the engines that I have used it in, and that does incude some diesels.

Mixing MMO with gasoline... interesting.. Its used alot in the industry I work in as a universal lubricant for air motors. I have heard old stories of guys dumping it down the throat of a carburetor to loosen sticking valves... And I believe that would work..... but with more modern gasoline engines, carboned up valves are pretty much a thing of the past.
No doubt.... ANYTHING to help this ethanol blended fuel would be welcomed.... I have never in my life had to use SO much fuel stabilizer.... Finally found a local service station where they do NOT sell blended fuels.

 

[DarkBlack]

As usual I am probably wrong/out of date/mistaken, But I thought it wasn't an issue of mfg. date, but an issue of if the engine injector pump was fuel lubricated, or sump pressure lubricated, and of the seal/oring material.

 

[John Morgan]

Your not really wrong. Taking the Sulphur out of the fuel has changed the dynamics of the fuel. It wasn't just about lubricity, it was also the Sulphur helped control bio growth and also helped disperse water to some extent. The more water the more algea. The acids produced in the chemical processes of burning the fuel led to stiff regulation creating ULSD. Now in order to protect the components of the fuel system, we have to use fuel additives to replace the lubricity, etc... or you have higher than normal injector failure or pump failure. People are so use to having failure they dont see it as a problem any more, just part of doing business.

 

[2manyrocks]

Mixing MMO with gasoline... interesting.. Its used alot in the industry I work in as a universal lubricant for air motors. I have heard old stories of guys dumping it down the throat of a carburetor to loosen sticking valves... And I believe that would work..... but with more modern gasoline engines, carboned up valves are pretty much a thing of the past.
No doubt.... ANYTHING to help this ethanol blended fuel would be welcomed.... I have never in my life had to use SO much fuel stabilizer.... Finally found a local service station where they do NOT sell blended fuels.

I've had two incidents of stuck valves on my small engines in the past year. I've never had any valve problems before. I think it's the sorry fuel that I'm paying more than ever for.

Now I'm reading this thread wondering when my 80's diesel tractor is going to get fouled up by today's diesel fuel.