"Clean diesel" and injector pump reliability

[metal manny]

Compliments of the season and happy tractoring to all.
Does anyone with concise technical knowledge of old school mechanical injector systems know if we're damaging our pumps and nozzles with clean low-sulphur diesels?
The towns nearest my farm only stock 50ppm diesel and I used to previously refill with 500ppm which is starting to be phased out countrywide, here in South Africa. I'm under the impression that the working parts in these systems need a healthy dose of sulphur to adequately lubricate the mechanicals???
Is this true and if so, what is the remedy - 2-stroke oil in addition, perhaps? 50ppm is apparently still not clean enough as 10ppm is the next level already on sale at the pumps.

 

[dodge man]

You can buy additives here to add the lubrication, such as power service here. Two stoke oil works also as does bio diesel

 

[DarkBlack]

I stopped adding 2 stroke oil after reading a test report showing more wear with the added 2 stroke oil than nothing. I remember the authors being surprised by the results too. I値l have to see if I can find it again.

 

[3Lfarms]

When ultra low sulfur fuel came out, everyone predicted doom and gloom, but it didn’t really pan out that way.
There probably is more wear and tear on pumps and injectors, but the vast majority of diesels never get enough run time to see the difference.
Lots of Cummins engines in pickups have gone a million miles or more, and not all were using additives.
For example, I have a 2016 ecodiesel. I am active on several forums about theses ecodiesel and I don’t remember a single case of pump failure on these engines. I have heard of a couple isolated injector problems, but that isn’t uncommon for any make of Diesel engine. The vast majority of people don’t run any additives at all.
Lots of Audi and Mercedes diesels are in their cars and SUVs here and almost none get additives. They don’t have mass failures either.

I think it comes down to you can add extra lube if you like, and if you are hotshotting with your pickup, I think the extra lube might pay off in the long run due to the mileage racking up so fast.

 

[TractorGuy]

Here are the results of one study.

https://www.jatonkam35s.com/DeuceTechnicalManuals/Diesel_fuel_additive_test.pdf

I have used the Stanadyne lubricity formula for a while. I may consider a change.

 

[MHarryE]

The report from JD855guy is 12 years old. I partner in 3 farms. One uses Howes additive, the other 2 nothing. We have had 15 ppm diesel for 7 years now and no fuel system failures. I think the total is 20 diesel tractors that we are running ranging from 1960s to 2018.

 

[metal manny]

Thanks for the responses everyone.
So I guess that although not ideal, I can fill with 50ppm without catastrophic results. I also need to research which fuel companies mix in tested and research-verified additives to their fuels and use them over others who don't. According to the PDF (thanks JD855guy) bio-diesel rates best as an additive and I will try and source a supplier in due course should additives not be company policy over here.
I'll still try and obtain 500ppm where possible when commuting with my two 1990's Land Rovers, as this is still available in the bigger towns, particularly from Shell.

 

[DEWFPO]

It was my understanding that the LSD and ULSD had been reformulated or had additives put in them to make up for the lubricity loss of the lower sulphur content. So the consumer would not need to add anything to the diesel fuel after purchase.

DEWFPO

 

[dodge man]

As a rule I don't like additives except to help with fuel gelling in the winter.

 

[metal manny]

As a rule I don't like additives except to help with fuel gelling in the winter.

Ditto to additives and you'd laugh at our winters where if it's extremely cold, the water in the dog's bowl might have a layer of ice thick enough to support an ice skating cricket! However, I doubt that bio diesel would fall into that category?