So when i get my new tractor......

[pickeringchris]

Thanks so much guys. I will use an additive. FYI. I don't think my machine will see much winter action and it will be kept in a heated shop. I keep it @ 20c (68f?) all winter.

Cheers.

Chris

 

[pickeringchris]

I use synthetic in all my 4 stroke garden machines. Never owned a diesel anything so it's all new to me.

 

[Coyote machine]

I had a brand new '86 Izuzu Trooper 2 and later bought an '87 Izuzu Pup truck. I went to start the Trooper on a day that was easily -25F plus windchill and could hear the engine rapping like crazy. Dealer eventually put a short block on it after first trying a new head, to no avail, under warranty. I had NO synthetic oil or additives in it. After that nightmare I started using Slick 50 in my 100k+ mile Volvo 240 and my brand new Pup Truck. Never experienced anything similar in either of them and was favorably impressed at how easily they would start in any amount of sub-zero weather.
I also used to sell Red Line Diesel Fuel Catalyst, when I owned a Foreign Auto repair/used car facility prior to '86, when I sold the business.
My shop used it when we would see numerous diesels from out of state that would freeze up on the mountains at the ski resorts when the temps would drop at night. We'd add it to the fuel, fuel filters, and thaw out the cars on the lifts then send them on their way home.
We found the additive reduced cold start issues, burned more of the vapor/water in the fuel tanks and filters/lines etc.
This is just my specific experience, your mileage may vary.

Currently I am not running any additives in my DK-40, but I do keep my fuel and tractor in a heated garage.

I currently run/ran Amsoil Diesel Oil in both my DK-35 and now DK-40. I plan to continue to run synthetic in the DK-40, since I traded the DK-35 for it last year.
Diesel's high compression and fairly frequent oil/filter changes don't phase me so long as I feel I am reducing engine wear by using synthetic oil. For instance, some manufacturers now REQUIRE synthetic oil in their cars, Corvette is one of numerous cars in this category. Good enough for them- then good enough for me.

 

[pickeringchris]

That's good advise. Btw. My tractor will be in a heated garage too and won't see much action during the winter anyway.
I just talked to a diesel mechanic and he uses stanadyne on his family farm. I checked out the stanadyne website and they have a few products. For me, money is no object f it will help reduce wear. I will only put on 50 hours a year if that so the best oil and additive won't cost much.

 

[VictorW]

That's good advise. Btw. My tractor will be in a heated garage too and won't see much action during the winter anyway.
I just talked to a diesel mechanic and he uses stanadyne on his family farm. I checked out the stanadyne website and they have a few products. For me, money is no object f it will help reduce wear. I will only put on 50 hours a year if that so the best oil and additive won't cost much.

I've ordered Stanadyne from this company and received fast order turn-around and shipping. Their prices are the cheapest, when you include the shipping, that I could find during some searches. They carry the four different mixes. I've used the performance formula with good results from 90"F to -4"F. Stanadyne Diesel Fuel Additives Including Performance Formula, Lubricity, Winter 1000 and Gas Injector Cleaner

 

[pickeringchris]

Thanks for the link Vince.

I don't know squat about this stuff. Just in case you didn't notice.
Would you use 2 different additives at the same time? For example the performance and the lubricity???

Thx

 

[FinMod]

Now that you have decide to go with an additive you need to decide which one... http://www.dieselplace.com/forum/showthread.php?t=177728

 

[pickeringchris]

I have read that thread. Don't know how to understand it as it applies to a Kioti engine. The test was done with a reciprocating ball in a controlled environment. Would it be fair to say #1 is great and #20 is crap? I don't know.

 

[IndyIan]

I have read that thread. Don't know how to understand it as it applies to a Kioti engine. The test was done with a reciprocating ball in a controlled environment. Would it be fair to say #1 is great and #20 is crap? I don't know.

Well the reciprocating ball test is done to make it easily repeatable anywhere in the world. I would assume at some point some engineers proved that the test results do relate to wear in an injection pump as well.
I just bought some stanadyne lubricity and performance additives which is what I'm going to use. I like that stanadyne is a diesel fuel system component manufacturer first and additive seller second. They actually make the equipment their additives are supposed to help and understand how they work and can test what an additive actually does...
Anyways, that's my reasoning behind using the stanadyne products, and at 36hrs my tractor is running just fine! The real test is 1000's of hours and years from now. Hopefully its still running just fine!

 

[VictorW]

Thanks for the link Vince.

I don't know squat about this stuff. Just in case you didn't notice.
Would you use 2 different additives at the same time? For example the performance and the lubricity???

Thx

It might be overkill but I use the performance formula and the lubricity additive together. I follow Stanadyne's mix rate for each as listed on the bottle. I know the fuel doesn't gel in the Winter and starts easy anytime. Has it helped for wear? I would hope so. I'm coming up on 500 hours with no problems but that is actually a young age for a diesel engine and I'm not going to tear down the respective parts to find out.

Have many fun trouble free hours with your tractor. I have so far.