Additives

[Car Doc]

Car Doc, what is the advantage of winter diesel? I was going to wait for Spring to refill my small bulk tank, so that fuel is always fresh when used. Is there an advantage to buying winter diesel while it is available now?

Good question?! I have a 300g farm tank sits on a tall stand and I started out late in the year with this diesel tractor I bought winter diesel then and ended up running it all the next summer and it worked just fine. I have been told diesel stores pretty well also a few years is ok or so I have been told cant verify that but just repeating it?

So after that my way of thinking was just buy it already blended 1/2 #1 and #2 and not concern myself with using it all up and run it year around and not have to worry about gelling in the bulk tank maybe a funny way way to see it but thats my reasoning.

(we see 20 degrees as a average winter temp with a few days thrown in below zero not uncommon a few times each winter also fwtw. not that I am going to be out on purpose but is nice gelling isn't a constant worry in case I am compelled to venture out like a power outage, big snow etc)

 

[California]

That makes good sense for your climate. I didn't realize winter can be that severe there.

The climate here (N of San Francisco, not far inland) is milder so I don't need gelling protection or antifreeze in tires. Hitting mid 20's might happen a few nights per decade but rarely persists through the daylight hours.

I don't know if #1 diesel is even offered nearby. It seems like it should be available at truck stops for cross country drivers but I'm not sure it is.

 

[Neat 1500]

only thing I use in my cummins & yanmar is 2 cycle oil

X3, i run 300:1 in my Yanmars and Landcruiser. no noticeable "extra" smoke than normal. but it does make up for ULSD that they were never designed to run 30+ years ago.

 

[stormpetrel]

Not exactly about fuel additives, but I found a bottle of Howe's penetrant/lubricant when I was looking for something to clean up the tools on my boat. They had rusted some, and one big SK adjustable was frozen from sitting in a tub that had salt water in it. I tried corrosion-X, which is the best stuff I know of, and it didn't work. The Howe's had that wrench working like new in 15 minutes. I have never heard of this stuff, don't even know where I got it.....but it is the best. Hands down.

 

[Willl]

Lots of info out there on this subject, here's 2 that helped me decide.

 

[deepNdirt]

Lots of info out there on this subject, here's 2 that helped me decide.

Wow! Not sure what to say.... Looks like Lucus is on the very bottom, I've always used their products, even 1 quart in every oil change of my vehicles, It's always seem to help quit things down My wife explorer has close to 200k miles and the lifters started sounding off a bit at startup back around 140k miles, I keep the lucus it it ever since and stopped the cold start Lifter ticking, Maybe the gas/deisel additive are not as good,

 

[creekbend]

Lots of info out there on this subject, here's 2 that helped me decide.

Thanks for posting.

 

[pedalstomper78]

I use the Lucas for my fuel. Toss about 1/2 in every couple of tanks. Seems to start better and run a hint smoother even.

 

[kenmac]

It appears (to me) that the 2 cycle oil I've been using made the list

 

[sdkubota]

Car Doc, what is the advantage of winter diesel? I was going to wait for Spring to refill my small bulk tank, so that fuel is always fresh when used. Is there an advantage to buying winter diesel while it is available now?

Winter Diesel is #1 diesel and essentially kerosene. It is a drier fuel so should have some lubricating additives added. In addition it contains less paraffin wax so your mileage/power/etc will not be nearly as good as #2 diesel. I would just purchase a winter additive and add it to your #2 diesel.