Oil & Fuel Is there a need for Diesel Fuel Additives

[hodge]

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.

The fuel is below ground in tanks, and much deeper than your water lines at home. It isn't going to gel there.

 

[DelSc]

I think the people who suggest additives to improve lubricity are mainly concerned about the high pressure fuel pumps. From what I have read about the problem, the extremely high pressure pumps in late model trucks and some cars are sensitive to reduced lubricity. The complexity of these systems also mean that repairs can be very costly when a high pressure fuel pump fails.

I have read that Canada has more stringent requirements (lower SCAR) rating for diesel than the US, and it is reflected in lower pump failure rates. If you google "hpfp failure" you can read lots about these problems.

I don't think our tractors are designed with such sensitive or complicated fuel systems. I use a lubricity additive for my late model truck, but don't bother for my tractor.

 

[rsewill]

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?

It may be that he leaves his tanks closer to empty than full all winter long which means he has plenty of area on the inside of the tank for frost to form.

 

[rambler]

As mentioned, I run #2 diesel all winter in my old farm tractors, here in MN that can be 10 or 15 below for a high, and the tractor has to go if thedriveway is blown over with snow.

I get #2 delivered to my bulk tank in fall, so it's not any kind of blend.

I have at times gotten a small 50 gallon tank filled with #1 and make my own blend, usually I just add enough Power Service to the #2.

Service stations blend #1 into #2 to make a winter grade fuel. #1 costs more, so they use as low a blend as they can for the weather temps at that time..... Some stations might blend in an additive like Power Service, which of course also cost more so again, as little as possible is used for the current conditions.

Pretty easy to see how a cold snap or driving a few 100 miles north can gel up a diesel engine even if it was filled with 'winterized' fuel.... It's only winterized for the current weather.

--->Paul

 

[ulflyer]

I asked for opinions and I got a lot of them. Thank all of you for the information, both pro and con.

After reading the input, I guess I fall into the catagory of "it will make me feel better" to add a little something to my CK30 for summer mowing, which is about to begin here in central N.C. So now I want to figure out what product will best add that little bit of extra lubricity to the fuel. Will be heading down to the local truck stop shortly to get several cans of fresh fuel and will see what, if anything, they suggest. If I'm going to do it, that would be a good time to add it in the 5 gal cans before filling.

Thanks again all................

 

[Johnp33]

I use Wynn's in my gas units and customer units and have had great success with it, the loader has a three cylinder Yanmar. I modified the fuel system with an electric fuel transfer pump and huge fuel filters from Detroit. I would like to see if it changes the black smoke on start-up. Also it is cheap.
The talk about the new fuel systems and lubricity and adding additives the most important thing is the filtration and keeping the dirt, and water out. Ford has a problem with their system allowing water threw and destroying the complete system. You have to change the pump injectors and lines. And you pay Ford does not cover it, some additives change the properties of the water allowing it to pass threw a filter, that I do not want in any aditive I would think of using.
The Ford 6.7 repair costs are between $8,500 and $12,500. Is it the filters fault or the aditive. What ever it is you pay!

 

[ritcheyvs]

Good points. You cannot overestimate the value of clean fuel and air in Diesel engines. Especially those that operate in a dirty environment.

 

[CJONE]

Take this however you want but if the pump is designed to run on the "dry" fuels [low sulfer] then you will have no issues. Any of the tier 4 engines should have no problem. These Kiotis from what I understand are a piston type pump [I have'nt even looked at mine yet!] just like Mack. We had problems with our trucks until we updated the pumps. If I had a older unit 80's-90's I would run a additive. I run power service in my diesels because of the cold temps aound here anyway. CJ

 

[Johnp33]

I worked on Class eights and the only problem we ever had that was related to lowering the sulphur content of the fuel was a hand full, of Cummins fuel pumps, the throttle shaft seals leaked, that only happened on the older units because the seal was not compatible.
I did engines and never had an pumping element seized or scored. Injectors seized from 1965 I have seen less than a dozen and all of them were caused from water. I do not like using additives that may allow the water to pass threw the filter, it will not go threw the injector tip holes, and blows the tip. We did a lot of engines Cummins, Cat, and Detroit. Mack is not a popular unit on the west coast.
99% of you will never see arctic grade fuel and that is thin like white gas, and they do not have problems using it. Except it has no power!
Most of the talk about needing additives is a sales pitch nothing else.

 

[mj007]

99% of you will never see arctic grade fuel and that is thin like white gas, and

It's not the thick or thin ...... it's the lubricity ...... and yeah I have seen 'arctic fuel' ...... Gunnison is one of the cold spots in the lower 48