Oil & Fuel Is there a need for Diesel Fuel Additives

[ulflyer]

I've read a number of articles about lack of lubricity in ultra low sulfur fuel and the need to add certain addtives to make up for this. Some are soy bio-diesel products, another is Opti-lube, etc. It never occurred to me that our late model Kioti tractors needed fuel additives. I doubt all the truckers on the road are using these products. I use the same fuel as they do.

What say you folks?

 

[rsewill]

The refineries add all the necessary lubricants needed for your engine to run safely on Diesel.

 

[Reg]

The refineries add all the necessary lubricants needed for your engine to run safely on Diesel.

Agreed, but if a can or two of snake oil a couple of times a year makes you feel better then go ahead and waste your money.
Available NOW from a Fear mongers' shop near you, but the benefit is purely as a placebo (-:

 

[Bigfoot62]

I've read a number of articles about lack of lubricity in ultra low sulfur fuel and the need to add certain addtives to make up for this. Some are soy bio-diesel products, another is Opti-lube, etc. It never occurred to me that our late model Kioti tractors needed fuel additives. I doubt all the truckers on the road are using these products. I use the same fuel as they do.

What say you folks?

Is there a NEED? Well, in a word, NO. It's not a necessity.

The refineries add all the necessary lubricants needed for your engine to run safely on Diesel.

Necessary, yes. Optimally, no.
If that were the case, then why does the local fuel wholesaler add Power Service Diesel Kleen to all of their diesel fuel? They add 5 gallons of the super concentrate formula to every tanker load.

Agreed, but if a can or two of snake oil a couple of times a year makes you feel better then go ahead and waste your money.
Available NOW from a Fear mongers' shop near you, but the benefit is purely as a placebo (-:

Some people wouldn't consider increased lubricity, resulting in less wear and greater fuel efficiency "snake oil" or a "placebo."

In addition to the Diesel Kleen, every now and then I also put in a little Lucas Fuel additive. BTW, the manager of that same fuel supplier puts the Lucas in his personal truck as well.

Just my :2cents:

 

[MapleLeafFarmer]

many will say yes... many will say no...

Additives for anti gelling if you are carrying over from one temp extreme to another is a must.

Lubricity... maybe not but if it makes you feel better probably not much down side other the the $ amount involved.

 

[Reg]

Is there a NEED? Well, in a word, NO. It's not a necessity.


Necessary, yes. Optimally, no.
If that were the case, then why does the local fuel wholesaler add Power Service Diesel Kleen to all of their diesel fuel? They add 5 gallons of the super concentrate formula to every tanker load.


Some people wouldn't consider increased lubricity, resulting in less wear and greater fuel efficiency "snake oil" or a "placebo."

In addition to the Diesel Kleen, every now and then I also put in a little Lucas Fuel additive. BTW, the manager of that same fuel supplier puts the Lucas in his personal truck as well.

Just my :2cents:

Local fuel wholesalers are as gullible as anyone who used all that STP in the way_back_when_ago (-:
"Managers" aren't exempt from sales drivel either.

Hmmm STP; as I recall .....Ahh, never mind, I wouldn't want to still be driving a Ford Torino from that era around anyway.

Point is what the refineries put in is adequate to take just about anything any of us would drive "into the ground", more is clearly a senseless waste of money.
Your money - and that nonsense about a can of that for a few bux being a lot cheaper than a new engine for several Kbux ?
Sure, except it doesn't apply (-:

 

[Bigfoot62]

Local fuel wholesalers are as gullible as anyone who used all that STP in the way_back_when_ago (-:
"Managers" aren't exempt from sales drivel either.

Hmmm STP; as I recall .....Ahh, never mind, I wouldn't want to still be driving a Ford Torino from that era around anyway.

Point is what the refineries put in is adequate to take just about anything any of us would drive "into the ground", more is clearly a senseless waste of money.
Your money - and that nonsense about a can of that for a few bux being a lot cheaper than a new engine for several Kbux ?
Sure, except it doesn't apply (-:

Never used STP or had a Torino. :laughing:
But, I have been running diesel engines for more than 35 years. It's how I make my living, and maintain my farm. I'm not a mechanical or chemical engineer, just an equipment operator, truck driver, and part-time farmer.

. . .
What say you folks?

The OP asked for opinions. I gave mine. You have yours.

 

[Gittyup]

Snake oil or not, my tractor definitely runs quieter and smoother with it. I'd rather be gullible and spend $20 a year than a wise guy and have to spend $1000 on a new injector pump or worse.

I will continue to use power service in every tank full.

 

[ulflyer]

Giddyup: what is "power service" ?

 

[hodge]

Powerservice is a brand of diesel additive. They make a blend for summer use (gray bottle), a blend for winter that helps with gelling (white bottle), and an emergency blend if your fuel has gelled (red bottle).
I use powerservice. Who am I to believe? Reg, who is one voice, the 35 year trucker who has seen it all, some oil executive who says that everything needed is in there, or my own experiences? You asked for opinions, and you are getting them. Brow beating has no place here.
My take- sulfur was a lubricant in diesel fuel, which has been greatly reduced. Using a replacement to give added lubrication is helpful. My 12 valve Cummins is not a new diesel engine, designed with low sulfur diesel fuel in mind. So, I have no problem using Powerservice in my equipment. And, I will not be bullied by those who are so opposed to it. The OP asked for opinions- state yours and move on.

 

[Coyote machine]

My opinion: do what you want. If you are going to make decisions based on someone on the net telling you what to do, then I've got some swamp land for sale cheap.
Opinions are like holes in the ozone and others, there are plenty of them.
BUT, if all currently sold fuel was so bad as claimed then most diesels would be on the side of the road instead of the middle of it.
I buy my fuel from the biggest local dealer and wait until they cut the fuel to winter blend to fill my tank in the fall to be sure it will not gel in winter. Absolutely no fuel problems- but I keep the tractor in a heated to 50 minimum barn year round.

 

[hodge]

My opinion: do what you want. If you are going to make decisions based on someone on the net telling you what to do, then I've got some swamp land for sale cheap.
Opinions are like holes in the ozone and others, there are plenty of them.
BUT, if all currently sold fuel was so bad as claimed then most diesels would be on the side of the road instead of the middle of it.
I buy my fuel from the biggest local dealer and wait until they cut the fuel to winter blend to fill my tank in the fall to be sure it will not gel in winter. Absolutely no fuel problems- but I keep the tractor in a heated to 50 minimum barn year round.

A friend has driven truck for Mckee Bakery for 20 years or so now. He has had to use red Powerservice more than once to ungel fuel in the winter- if the winter blend was sufficient for every circumstance, why does the fuel gel?

 

[Johnp33]

Diesel Garage did a fuel lubricity test and the very best was 2% bio fuel. Seeing as most all diesel uses Bio fuel as a cetain booster you are using the best there is right out of the pump.
If you google it, please do and read it about 1/2 the additives they sell make it worse, than base fuel.
Fuel gels because at a certain temperature it thickens they add a thinner fuel to cut it so it does not do that. Usually #1 fuel

 

[rambler]

I use #2 diesel all year around here on the farm in cold Minnesota. So of course I use Power Service over the winter, works well.

Minnesota has used 2-5% soy oil or biodiesel for several years now in all diesel fuels, and that seems to do a great job of adding back the lubricity, so I don't worry about an attitive over the summer.

--->Paul

 

[Johnp33]

It is #2 fuel in the winter you get winter fuel which is a mixture of #1 and #2, then there is arctic grade witch is like white gas. It all depends on the location as to what fuel you get and the time of year. If they ran the same summer grade in the winter it would gel and they could not pump it into your vehicle.
I worked on Class eights, and heavy equipment, doing engines most of my life, and never, not once has someone with a fuel related problem, ever said or had the service writer, write down, they added an additive. Additives added to every tank of fuel are for the owners benefit not the machines.
If you, and I do it myself have equipment full of summer fuel it is a good Idea to add an anti-gel aditive, in the fall.
Telling me it idles this way or that, if it is a cetain booster it may delay ignition enough to make it quieter. Some engineer develops an engine to run on #2 diesel and some guy puts in additives or burns #1. and thinks he is the smart one?

 

[ritcheyvs]

I think a good case can be made for adding a fuel biocide (kills microbes at fuel/condensate interface) in cases where your machine (or fuel supply) may sit unused for extended periods (such as the winter).

 

[Coyote machine]

A friend has driven truck for Mckee Bakery for 20 years or so now. He has had to use red Powerservice more than once to ungel fuel in the winter- if the winter blend was sufficient for every circumstance, why does the fuel gel?

Hard to say why the fuel gels in a specific instance without lab tests. Could be some left over summer fuel or water in the bottom of the tank, a clogged fuel filter, water in the fuel lines, dirty tank bottom, etc. etc. NOTHING is sufficient for every circumstance; but properly CUT (winter grade) fuel and properly maintained fuel filter changes are good for most situations.

 

[Johnp33]

I think a good case can be made for adding a fuel biocide (kills microbes at fuel/condensate interface) in cases where your machine (or fuel supply) may sit unused for extended periods (such as the winter).

Where you are, you get a lot warmer weather than I do, and yes adding a biocide is a good idea, in the fall, or late summer, to cover all the fuel left in the machinery.
I add Wynn's injector cleaner in my gas units even a cap full in the jugs I use for the power saws. I am going to add Wynn's to the diesel in my loader, to see what it does.

 

[Johnp33]

If the fuel gels, you do realise the fuel pump at the station would not be able to pump it. Most every modern diesel engine returns a lot of fuel that has gone threw the engine, and is warmed up. If you go the a truck stop go over and feel the fuel tank.

 

[Barnone]

I am going to add Wynn's to the diesel in my loader, to see what it does.

I'm curious as to how you are going to see what adding Wynn's to your loader does?