Diesel Addititives - Do I Need To?

[MarkF48]

Recently bought a Mahindra 2216 tractor and it's the first diesel I've owned. Somewhere I had read that diesel fuel was susceptible to some kind of contamination due to growth of bacteria. Should I be adding anything to the fuel to prevent this or is it already treated from the supplier?
Any other additive I should consider for any other reason?

 

[jonyyuma]

You can read back a couple of weeks on the forums, this is a hot topic, but the answer is yes, if you want to keep your tractor operating well. It depends on how long the fuel sits and ages. Fuel injector cleaner also goes into my fuel tank..Why would the supplier add anything that increases his cost and price?

 

[atgreene]

Yes you should. Biocide additive will prevent algae from growing. Doesn't require much, but once you've had algae, you'll see why.

Also, Power Service, the white bottle, will help prevent gelling. People can say what they want, but almost no fuel company is now treating fuel for winter use. Power Service is cheap insurance. One outbreak of gelling and you'll also see what I mean.

 

[Wolfy]

Atgreene, does power service contain biocide? Or is it a different product?

 

[John Morgan]

Schaeffers Diesel Treat 2000 has an additive to prevent the growth of algae. It has a water dispersant and a Cetane booster. In the winter in Mass. you can use Diesel Treat 2000 Winter to prevent gelling. The lubricity package has completely elliminated fuel injector failure with many users.

If you want to compare pricing, check how many gallons of diesel fuel the additive treats. Diesel Treat may be a bit higher per gallon/pint but typically will treat twice the fuel of others cutting your expense.

There are many quality fuel additives available. Schaeffer is but one of them.

One of my clients is a Mahindra dealer. Tough little tractors. You got a work horse. I'll be in Boston for the 1st time in my life weekend of the 19th, any food suggestions?

 

[Soundguy]

Atgreene, does power service contain biocide? Or is it a different product?

you can get a seperate biocide from the white bottle.

my f450 has a 70g in bed tank and I treat it with biocide and silver bottle power service, and white bottle in winter.

soundguy

 

[daman1]

Yes..

use a aditive for lubricity and and Biocide if fuel will be sitting for a period of time.

 

[dodge man]

I'll go against the grain here and say you don't need an additive, except in the winter. If your fuel sits for a long period of time, and additive might be a good idea, but otherwise I think its a waste of money. That said, I have a bottle of Power Service at home, that I use in the summer, and a bottle of Howse, that I use in the winter. When I run out of the Power Service, I doubt I will buy more. All of the fuel I buy has some amount of bio-diesel in it, so that takes care of the lubricity issues.

 

[PoorMansCat]

I'll go against the grain here and say you don't need an additive, except in the winter. If your fuel sits for a long period of time, and additive might be a good idea, but otherwise I think its a waste of money. That said, I have a bottle of Power Service at home, that I use in the summer, and a bottle of Howse, that I use in the winter. When I run out of the Power Service, I doubt I will buy more. All of the fuel I buy has some amount of bio-diesel in it, so that takes care of the lubricity issues.

same here... I really dont use any of the stuff anymore, of course, we dont really have any issues with gelling in Texas...
If I thought I needed some lubricity, I would jsut dump a bottle of 2 stroke oil in the tank. But, like Dodge Man said, most fuel has about 5% biodiesel mixed in now, so no worries...
On the Algecide..... IF you get fuel from a contaminated source and/or the tractor sits for long periods of time... then a SMALL dose of algecide would be ok from time to time...

 

[sw03]

I just MMO for lube issues...that is all...And no issue at -20F last year....

 

[Spanky100]

What is a readily available Biocide product that can be purchased in local chain store?

What is the mix ratio if you use 2 stroke oil?

Thanks

Wayne

 

[Soundguy]

power service ( i believe that is it ), has a biocide. i got some at napa a month ago.

id use stanadyne or power service addative for fuel lube before i'd add mix oil...

soundguy

 

[sw03]

use power service and pull a UOA...then do not use it and do a UOA....I do not use PS after the results......YMMV

 

[Mace Canute]

I just MMO for lube issues...that is all...And no issue at -20F last year....

Take a look in this site...they tested MMO for lube purposes. It actually increased wear.

http://rivrdog.typepad.com/files/copy-of-diesel-fuel-additive-version-3.pdf

 

[sw03]

Take a look in this site...they tested MMO for lube purposes. It actually increased wear.

http://rivrdog.typepad.com/files/copy-of-diesel-fuel-additive-version-3.pdf

yup, old school results (2007 vs current 2011). I know what MY own results show...No more PS anymore.PS showed WAY more wear.

 

[Soundguy]

more wear?


soundguy

 

[atgreene]

I use Power Service in everything, have yet to have an issue with over 15 years of diesel going into tractors, trucks, excavators, loaders etc...

I know that when I forget to treat the tanks during temps below 15 degrees I will foul fuel filters in every vehicle, especially the Duramax and the Takeuchi. If I treat regularly, no issues.

It's your equipment, do as you please, I'm just speaking from actual experience.

 

[FTG-05]

yup, old school results (2007 vs current 2011). I know what MY own results show...No more PS anymore.PS showed WAY more wear.

Where are the 2011 test results?

 

[JIGBUILDER]

If your buying your fuel from a single fuel suplier that fills your bulk tank I would use additives.

We had a local fuel supplier that apparantly didn't get the correct additve package at the rack. One of our local green tractor dealers had a influx of pump failures on various size tractors and traced the fact that all of those individules with pump failures bought fuel from the same supplier.

Buying fuel from different stations/suppliers should fix that issue.

Also older tractors pump seals can harden without the proper seal lube in the fuel.

I've seen all kinds of pro/con supposedly test results on all kinds of additives. Great stuff for arguing on a web site or a high school parking lot IMO.

 

[Turbys_1700]

I've never used any additives on my diesels but I run my tractor pretty regularly in the summer and even crank it up some in the winter...
It does not get very cold here except for a few months in the winter anyway...
I can tell you though that my fuel pump in my 03 F350 seized a couple years ago...
I attribute it to the low sulfur diesel sold now...
I now add some to each tank that I purchase for my truck...