Oil & Fuel Diesel fuel additives are so inexpensive to use.

[AxleHub]

Its rather amazing just how low cost that quality diesel fuel additives have become.

Take as an example the name brand product Power Services which keeps diesel fuel good in colder weather. A container that treats 250 gallons is normally $12.00. I just saw an ad for our local Farm & Fleet for $ 7.49. I've not seen it at this price when gas/diesel prices were this low last year . . . ???

Is low crop prices effecting farming fuel use including additives ???

 

[davesl708]

I think supply and demand drive the price more than low crop prices. Low crop prices will effect individual spending and can effect the prices as demand goes down but on the large scale fuel supply is up oil prices down and the additives are made from oil so supply is up.

 

[AxleHub]

Last year with similar or lower fuel prices . . At this time of year I was paying 9.29 (at the cheapest) on sale for the exact same product that is now 7.49.

At least in the upper MidWest where I live . . there are bumper corn crops as its been an exceptional year for rain and temperatures and higher humidities.

I note that current corn futues are priced in the 335 range which is a really bad number (my understanding) and beans are in the 975 range currently (again a my understanding its not a good number). Both those numbers make for very difficult profitability for farmers even with higher harvest quantities. But products and services related to harvests should be in demand more (not less) because of higher qiantities to harvest and products to consume.

Thus is obviously a small example item . . however how many examples like this aren't out there.

I see no reason why supply of products like this are any greater than normal unless demand has been radically reduced.

I wonder how farm equipment sales are effected.

Its good to be able to buy milk for 1.48 a gallon on sale or Power Services at such a low number in preparation for the coming cooler weather and eventually winter. But we have more people to feed in the U.S. in 2016 than we did in 2015 but the farmers seem to be in a tough spot.

 

[CADplans]

I always wonder how something diluted at a 400 to 1 ratio can do anything other than,,,

LIGHTEN THE PURCHASERS WALLET,,,

That is about 1/10 the dilution ratio of chain saw oil for a 2 cycle engine,,,

Fuel oil is a pretty strong chemical,,, the additive would have to be REALLY powerful to make a difference.
I do not use additives,,, 50 years of diesel engine ownership,,,

 

[fordmantpw]

I always wonder how something diluted at a 400 to 1 ratio can do anything other than,,,

LIGHTEN THE PURCHASERS WALLET,,,

That is about 1/10 the dilution ratio of chain saw oil for a 2 cycle engine,,,

Fuel oil is a pretty strong chemical,,, the additive would have to be REALLY powerful to make a difference.
I do not use additives,,, 50 years of diesel engine ownership,,,

I don't know how it helps, but I can vouch that it does. My truck runs a bit quieter and gets a bit better fuel economy when I use an additive. The fuel economy increase more than covers the cost of the additive. Haven't used it in my JD yet, but I think I will add some to the next two cans of fuel I purchase.

 

[Sawyer Rob]

I always wonder how something diluted at a 400 to 1 ratio can do anything other than,,,

LIGHTEN THE PURCHASERS WALLET,,,

That is about 1/10 the dilution ratio of chain saw oil for a 2 cycle engine,,,

Fuel oil is a pretty strong chemical,,, the additive would have to be REALLY powerful to make a difference.
I do not use additives,,, 50 years of diesel engine ownership,,,

I don't use it either, nor does my relatives or farmer neighbors...all without problems.

Buy good fuel in the first place, it already had additives in it...

I've traveled all over the US, and Canada, I've never got bad diesel yet...

OK, here's comes all the diesel horror stories, telling how they got bad diesel and bla bla bla ....... lol

SR

 

[mcfarmall]

Same thing for Sta-Bil et al for gasoline. Buy non-ethanol 90 octane for your lawn mowers, chain saws, etc. and you'll never need it.

 

[TerryR]

Same thing for Sta-Bil et al for gasoline. Buy non-ethanol 90 octane for your lawn mowers, chain saws, etc. and you'll never need it.

Where would one find non-ethanol gasoline? So far as I know no one in the county sells it.

 

[TerryR]

Well, I answered my own question. A Google search brings up pure-gas.org, which lists the oil distributor where I buy off-road diesel for my tractor as a source.

 

[prichard]

I was just about to post pure-gas.org

 

[AxleHub]

People can like to use adfitives in oil and gas equipment or not . . perfectly fine.

But I always wonder at some of the reasons they use. Lets take an example.

You have a two gallon container of gasoline. That gas is being used in a walk behind lawnmower that worked just fine 4 days ago. You start the mower and after a few minutes it starts having its rpm miving up and down and has little power and doesn't run steady. You pull out a bottle of gas treatment/dryer and pour a tiny amount of it in the gas tank . . Maybe a teaspoon amount. Suddenly the engine starts and is running just fine. Then you put some in the 2 gallon gas can . . and you don't have the problem again for the rest of that 2 gallons.

A person may not like adfitives . . but how can they say adfitives don't work? And certainly that 2 gallon gas can needed very little quantity of additive to produce good results. So how can a person claim its imaginary because there wasn't enough quantity to be significant.

Or how about the idea you use good fuel (oil or gas) . . when many locations get their fuel fuel from the very same truck or source ?

Or the idea you can treat 250 gallons of your fuel for $8.00 as being expensive ?

My point is . . fuels are much more sensitive to change in modern engine needs than people realize. Small variances can make noticeable changes in modern engine performance. 40 years ago gas could sit for 6 months and work just fine every time. But today it still can work . . but maybe not every time.

I still like "dino" oil . . But today I use synthetic in certain applications.

My point is . . I desire a few select additives above and beyond the fuel suppliers mix. I use premium diesel and non- ethanol gas for my truck and all my engines. I do it for reasons that make sense and are inexpensive.

And now it seems the economy is effecting the costs of additives even lower.

 

[AxleHub]

I'd like to learn more about the selection of greases. TYPES of greases more than brands of grease. To use with my sub compact tractor.

I noticed the exact same brand at the same place I bought it last year on sale . . Is now 20% less than I ever saw it on sale last year.

Its called Mystic JT-6 products and is commonly sold at tractor supply and Farm & Fleet and other outlets.

The least priced is Multi Purpose grease.

Next for just a little more is the "red colored" version called Hi-Temp grease.

Finally there is the "green" version which isHi-Temp Grease with Moly.

Last time I chose a 10 pack of the Red version because I prefer 1 grease for all my sub compact needs and I fugured the mmm greasing needs has a lot more spin related greasing which might benefit from the HI-Temp. And I "assumed" that fel grease points are equally served by the HI-Temp as they would be by the Multi Purpise lower priced offering.

Opinions desired: Multi Purpose, Hi-Temp, or Hi-Temp with Moly ???

Also, any reasons NOT to use one version or another on all sub compact grease points ??


Here is their website

Mystik Store - AGRICULTURE - Category Details

 

[4570Man]

I've never had any problems with diesel and I don't use additives. Around here ethanol free gas is easy to get and I always use it in small engines. I don't use any additives in it either. I know of at least 5 local stations that carry ethanol free gas.

 

[rswyan]

It isn't a problem ... until it's a problem.

 

[artfull dodger]

Localy in Indiana, you can get the gas at any County Mark gas depot, along with offroad diesel fuel. I do treat my diesel with Power Services as a precaution for colder weather operation and it helps older diesel engines deal with the ultra low sulpher content. I keep the gas, even though its ethanol free, in my generator with sta-bil as it will sit for long periods without use. (I do start it once a month and let it run for about 15 min). I am a professional lawn/garden/compact tractor technical for a large Ag dealership, so I see the effects of not using some kind of additive in fuel. Mostly dealing with ethanol issues as many people have no clue about it or where to get gas that is free of it. Even in diesel engine school, they explained the importance(at that time) of using something like Power Services in fuel for older diesel engines. I would hope now that the ultra low sulpher fuel has been out for awhile, the bugs of lubricity issues in older engines has been dealt with. But not betting my engines injector pump and injector life spans on it just yet. Mike

 

[lamanated]

I ran it in my 04 VW diesel, In the winter, the car idled smoother and the engine ran better as it went through the rpms. I was the only driver for 300K so knew every twitch etc the car made by then, and could tell if the fuel didnt or did have the additive in it.

 

[orezok]

I used to use additives in my diesel until I found out that CA required a cetane of 53 in it's fuel. That's one of the reasons diesel is more expensive out here.

Cold weather is not much of a problem here.

 

[coobie]

Same thing for Sta-Bil et al for gasoline. Buy non-ethanol 90 octane for your lawn mowers, chain saws, etc. and you'll never need it.

And pay twice the price per gallon when you can find it.Where are the savings $$.I use marine grade stabil or starbrite in all of my equipment and 50hp boat motor.

 

[Sawyer Rob]

And pay twice the price per gallon when you can find it.Where are the savings $$.I use marine grade stabil or starbrite in all of my equipment and 50hp boat motor.

Twice the price?? NOT where "I" buy it... You need to shop around more...

SR

 

[moriboy]

Twice the price?? NOT where "I" buy it... You need to shop around more...

SR

Ethanol free premium is generally $.20/gallon more expensive than regular in my neck of the woods.

I add Power Service to my farm tank. Honestly, it's probably a waste of money, but I do it cause my dad did it...