Diesel Additives

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   / Diesel Additives #1  

N80

Super Member
Joined
Aug 2, 2005
Messages
6,909
Location
SC
Tractor
Kubota L4400 4wd w/LA 703 FEL
I'm sure this has been discussed before, but I searched back over the last 4 months and didn't find much. But, I'd like a little info about what I might need as a diesel additive. I'm not talking about anything specific, and I may not need anything at all. So let me tell you my situation, which is probably a fairly common one.

My tractor gets used sporadically. It can go anywhere from a few weeks to a month without use. Fuel also sits in 5 gallon cans in the tool shed.

Temperature range is from mid twenties to mid 90's with most of them being on the warmer side....so no problems with slushy fuel. It is very humid in the spring and summer.

I use offroad diesel. I have no idea what the sulphur content is or even what that means to my engine in regard to a need for additives.

My tractor does not get used enough for fuel economy to be an issue.

So the question is, do I need to put anything in my fuel? If so, what?

In general, I've never been the type to use additives in my gas vehicles but diesel may be different. The only thing I've ever seen really work is an additive for tapping valves. Worked in about 2 minutes and the valves never tapped again! But that was in a high mileage gas engine that had not been treated right.
 
   / Diesel Additives #2  
honestly i wouldn't worry. diesel stores a lot better than gasoline.

Startron is a fuel stabilizer + growth-killer. Stabil can be used.

but as long as your using fuel that is under a year old you'll be fine IMO. you could probably use fuel much older and be great, but i use the 1 year rule with my stuff to be safe.

edit- make sure to keep your tank filled to the brim.
 
   / Diesel Additives #3  
Like oil related questions, lots of opinions out there. The above replies make sense. I use a product called Howes used by many truckers. Removes water. Also lubes injectors (I'm told). Heard good stuff about Lucas as well. Don't use an alcohol based product (like heat). Not sure about Stabil although I've used that product for gasoline. I'd ask a reliable trucker or commercial farmer, and follow above advise about keeping tank full as much as possible. Use a funnell w/strainer when filling and might change the filter a bit more often than manual if it sits. Does it smoke any after starting? good luck bb
 
   / Diesel Additives #4  
You're a doctor, right? Would you prescribe medicine to people as a preventative before any symptoms of a problem occur or would you prescribe medicine to treat a specific problem once symptoms appear?
 
   / Diesel Additives #5  
Power service, or as I have read on this forum other additives, some even higher quality than PS.:) Lubercisity, injector cleaner, retards the growth of alge in the diesel fuel when stored.....an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure Doc! :D Cheap insurance.......
 
   / Diesel Additives #6  
I used Power Service (White Bottle) this Fall as directed on the bottle and a "double shot" as bottle-directed when I started having gelling problems this Winter. I just got off their website- Power Service Products, diesel fuel additives, prevent gelling, clean injectors, disperse water, boost cetane, reduce emissions, improve fuel economy. It appears that many if not all of their products improve the ULSD and LSD lubricity for "on road" diesel fuel. They have a couple of products for various diesel fuel needs. Jay
 
   / Diesel Additives #7  
Of course I have no technical knowledge, and I never used any of the dyed diesel in my little Kubotas, but I bought my fuel in a 55 gallon barrel, so it lasted quite awhile. My real farmer neighbors added Power Service (white bottles) to their diesel and so did I. One guy told me his new John Deere quit on him twice while it was still in warranty, but the Deere dealer told him it was because that red dye separated out from his fuel and plugged the fuel filter. So he said he quit using dyed diesel and had no more problems. Now I've never heard that anywhere else, so I don't know that they knew what they were talking about. I asked my fuel distributor about it and he said he wouldn't worry about adding anything to the diesel if it were going to be used within a month, but if it were going to be kept any longer than that, he'd use an additive like Power Service, especially if he were using the dyed fuel.

So I don't know whether it helped, or if so, how much, but I figured a quart of Power Service in a 55 gallon barrel of diesel didn't add that much to the cost.;)
 
   / Diesel Additives #8  
I believe that fuel dye clogging filters is a myth. Sooner or later DieselPower will respond to this thread :). I could go on a tangent rant about governmental interference (i.e. dyed fuel and other "idiocies") messing things up, but I keep my keyboard quiet. Jay
 
   / Diesel Additives #9  
I believe that fuel dye clogging filters is a myth.

Since I've never heard of that happening anywhere but that one time, I suspect you may be right. However, the fuel distributor told me some of the dye could separate out in time.
 
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