Diesel fuel information

mj007 · Dec 16, 2013

USLD?.......LSD? ........#1 Diesel? ........Do I need to use an aditive?

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lockhaven · Dec 16, 2013

I am not sure you can find anything except the USLD I just use the diesel from the truck stop nearby. The thing with diesel is the fresher the better I do use an additive although I am not 100% sure that is necessary. Any diesel you buy from a truck stop will be fresh and have the necessary anti gel agents in it. I would not use #1 because I think it is for only certain applications. The off road diesel would be good if it came from a place that sells enough so that you would not be getting some that had sat around for months.

MotorSeven · Dec 16, 2013

Additive/or/not will start a big debate. I have a 300 gal tank and put a gallon of Power Service and a biocide in it every time it gets filled. So far I have not had any fuel related trouble. As far as the raging debate, none of us know how good or bad out fuel is stored/handled before it gets to us. A quality additive can negate many ugly things going on in diesel and it's cheap in the overall scheme of things to prevent a problem.

mj007 · Dec 17, 2013

MotorSeven said:
Additive/or/not will start a big debate. I have a 300 gal tank and put a gallon of Power Service and a biocide in it every time it gets filled. So far I have not had any fuel related trouble. As far as the raging debate, none of us know how good or bad out fuel is stored/handled before it gets to us. A quality additive can negate many ugly things going on in diesel and it's cheap in the overall scheme of things to prevent a problem.

I second all of that! Anti-gel is important but, IMHO, the increased lubricity is vital if injectors and injection pumps are to last whether you are operating in warm or frigid ambient temperatures; summer or winter. I'm a believer in additives for both of those reasons and will continue using them in ALL of my diesel-powered equipment - the cost of using an additive is miniscule when you consider the cost of replacing ANY major component on a diesel. That's my story and I'm stickin' to it. :twocents:

Looking4new · Jan 1, 2014

mj007 said:
I second all of that! Anti-gel is important but, IMHO, the increased lubricity is vital if injectors and injection pumps are to last whether you are operating in warm or frigid ambient temperatures; summer or winter. I'm a believer in additives for both of those reasons and will continue using them in ALL of my diesel-powered equipment - the cost of using an additive is miniscule when you consider the cost of replacing ANY major component on a diesel. That's my story and I'm stickin' to it. :twocents:

I second that motion.

murphy1244 · Jan 1, 2014

I believe its ULSD Fuel. No additives needed really.

ritcheyvs · Jan 2, 2014

Quality additives to prevent gelling, improve lubricity, and boost cetane may help and won't hurt. But for low-volume users I think a biocide would be more important. By low-volume, I mean folks that may have the same fuel in the tank (or can) for several months.

MotorSeven · Jan 2, 2014

Several months? I fill my 300 gal less than once a year now that I stopped doing hay & building house. I bet most of us with a bulk storage tank fill once a year. I have a spin on fuel filter & change it once a year whether it needs it or not(so far it has never clogged up). I agree that the most important thing I put in there is the biocide. Here is a list of all the problems with microbe infestation:
http://www.bellperformance.com/blog...Contamination-by-Microbes-Fungus-and-Bacteria

They are kinda like the bedbugs of the diesel world except that they are easy to prevent & easy to kill.

newbury · Jan 2, 2014

What you need to consider is your injector pumps.
From Bosch:

Lubricity: It is essential that the lubricity of the fuel as measured by the HFRR test specified in ISO
12156-1 meets the requirement of a wear scar diameter not greater than 460 microns. In addition, it is
recommended by the Diesel FIE manufacturers, that 蜷進rst fill of the fuel tank should be with fuel with
good lubricity characteristics (HFRR < 400 ｵm) in order to guarantee good 騾盃n-in of the injection system
components. The US diesel specification (ASTM D 975-09) includes a lubricity value of 520 ｵm maximum
(according to ASTM D 6079). It is expected that the useful operating lifetime of any mechanical
component will be adversely affected by fuel with a lubricity exceeding 460 microns.

http://delphi.com/pdf/diesel/FIEM_Common_Position_Statement_2009.pdf

Biocides are important if you are not using fresh fuel, but if you scar your Bosch injectors badly enough they fail.

And then you need to keep it water free.

RoyJackson · Jan 2, 2014

murphy1244 said:
I believe its ULSD Fuel. No additives needed really.

There seems to be upper cylinder lubrication problems with older tractors. I've read about a couple 1998-2004 4xxx series Deeres exhibiting this. Since I have a Deere 4400, I started using Power Service. It's pretty cheap insurance...and Power Service does have anti-gel additives too.
The people who mandated ULSD are not concerned with your tractor's health or longevity, so it's up to you to determine if you need an additive. Do not take the EPA's word on the alleged benefits of ULSD.