Oil & Fuel Is there a need for Diesel Fuel Additives

[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?