Oil & Fuel Fuel additives for diesel?

[wjoerob]

I know it's good to add Sta-bil to gasoline in cans or in mowers, etc. But is there a similar product for diesel? I have an older model B6100 'Bota. Several people around central Indiana had problems in the -12 degree weather the other day, with their diesel gelling up. Some guys managed to get their trucks started, got out on the road, and then they died just a couple of miles from home.

 

[JoeL4330]

there are additives for anti-gel for regular and biodiesel, biocides for preventing algae growth, additives for water, etc. you might try viewing Power Service Products, diesel fuel additives, prevent gelling, clean injectors, disperse water, boost cetane, reduce emissions, improve fuel economy There are other brands that work equally well. http://www.howeslube.com/products/index.php/category/10

 

[BrierPatch]

I have used Power Service for the last 8 years in my tractors and I have never had a problem. I get my diesel in 5 gal containers and when I get them home I just put a little in. I always add some, summer or winter, having the older machines. I don't measure it, but I figure I am putting a few oz. in. I plowed my driveway last Fri. (I think it was around 15 deg. F) and my tractor sits in an unheated pole barn and doesn't have a block heater and it started right up almost as if it were 70 deg. out. The only thing was I ran the glow plug preheat for about 20 sec. which I normally only run it for about 2-5 sec. I will be honest this is one of the major benifits of a new tractor. It would have taken a little more effort to get the old B7200 started, but it has always started as well before in the winter when I used it to plow with.

 

[actionaj]

I use Power Service year around never had a problem. A32oz. bottle last me a long time.

 

[NY_Yankees_Fan]

I add the Power Service to the fuel can BEFORE I fill it this way the fuel mixes with the Power Service while I fill. Nothing like getting two things done at the same time.

 

[Evil the Weasel]

My fuel filter gelled the other day and I was using double doses of Power Service. It was sub-zero a few days prior and the tractor sits in an unheated pole barn. I just bought some Howe's diesel treat and will see how that fares.

 

[smfcpacfp]

Best way to avoid fuel gelling is to use #1 diesel which starts to gel at -40F (cloud point). The problem is that it doesn't have good lubricating properties and it doesn't have as much energy per gallon.

I use Opti-Lube XPD as an additive. The last time I saw independent rating of diesel additives, this was rated #1, unfortunately the distributorship is limited, so I ordered it on line. It is also pretty expensive. It also suposedly reduces the cloud point as do most additives, but I have yet to see any cloud point effect figures for any additives, so I use #1.

If #1 starts gelling you would be best to stay inside and bundle up.

 

[JOHNTHOMAS]

I bought my first tractor almost 5 years ago. A BX2200. On another board that I visited before finding this one most seemed to recommend Power Service. Bought a bottle at Wal Mart and always pour "some" in the 5 gallon container before I pour it into the tractor. Have done this on my BX2200, BX1500, B7800, and now BX2350 and L3240HST and will get a bottle for my F2880E which I keep at another location. I don't use it for cold weather. Not enough snow to plow so I'm sure not going to be out on my tractor when it's cold. Wellll, actually I did get the B7800 out one time when it was really cold. I had a friend doing some front end loader work for me. He came one morning and couldn't get the loader off his trailer. The tracks were frozen. He used to kid me about my little Kubota. I told him I could pick up his loader with my Kubota but never had to prove it to him. Well, the day his tracks froze he tried everything to free them with no luck. He finally told me to go get my Kubota and bring it down to the trailer. I knocked his tracks loose from the side with the front bucket which loosened them enough for it to drive off the trailer. He never said much after that about my "little" Kubota but I did kid him about it taking a Kubota to get a CAT moving.

 

[7800DUDE]

Hello
I use howes lubricator in my b-7800 have had it for 5 yrs with no gel ups in RI

 

[BrierPatch]

My fuel filter gelled the other day and I was using double doses of Power Service. It was sub-zero a few days prior and the tractor sits in an unheated pole barn. I just bought some Howe's diesel treat and will see how that fares.

I am curious what the difference is in our situations. I checked and it was -13 deg. F that morning (1-16-09) at like 8am and I got the tractor out around 2pm when it had warmed up to about 15 deg.F. The warmest it got the day before was 8 deg.F. I was wondering what kind of diesel you use. I use off road/Ag (red) from my local Co-op. I wonder if they have something added to it as well. I just thought about it, I believe the diesel in my tractor right now I bought back in the fall well before it was even close to getting cold out.

 

[Evil the Weasel]

I'm using taxed road diesel from the local convenience store. Perhaps it wasn't winterized. I really don't know. I still can't believe it happened, but I assure you it did I have no easy access to off-road and I don't use enough to warrant it really.

 

[LBrown59]

1*I'm using taxed road diesel from the local convenience store. Perhaps it wasn't winterized. I really don't know. I still can't believe it happened, but I assure you it did
2*I have no easy access to off-road and I don't use enough to warrant it really.

1*Road diesel is simply taxed off road.
Either way it was either winter or summer stuff.
2*How much do you us a month on average.?

 

[LBrown59]

I was wondering what kind of diesel you use.
1*I use off road/Ag (red) from my local Co-op.
I wonder if they have something added to it as well. 2* I believe the diesel in my tractor right now I bought back in the fall well before it was even close to getting cold out.

1*Shound have the same thing in it as on road.
2*That is probably summer blend.

 

[BrierPatch]

1*Shound have the same thing in it as on road.
2*That is probably summer blend.

1.

I thought that on road was ultra low sulfur and off road was not? They call it X4 diesel I believe, but I would have to look specifically at the lable next time to see what they claim for the sulfur content.​

2.

Is it common for Co-ops to put additives in their diesel for winter blend?​

I only started buying it from my Coop this year. I used to buy off road from a local gas station until they closed and occasionally I would buy regular pump diesel. I don't remember exactly, but I thought the off road was cheaper by more than just taxes.

 

[Evil the Weasel]

1*Road diesel is simply taxed off road.
Either way it was either winter or summer stuff.
2*How much do you us a month on average.?

I'm using around 5 gallons a month. My old G series used to tear through the gasoline, so this thing sips fuel by comparison.

 

[Reg]

I've been running diesel powered trucks for a few decades.
Initially I would dutifully slop in all kinds of recommended additives, but other than buyer's remorse they gave me nothing in return.
These days I just load up at truck stops where they turn over a lot of fuel, the mix is seasonally adjusted, plus a safety margin.
I am not having truck problems.
I get my tractor fuel at a similar place, less than 2 miles from the house, but he turns over a good quantity of fuel, so it is fresh.
I am not having tractor problems.

There is another recent thread where folk are be-moaning the fact that they are having cold start problems DESPITE having twice the recommended doses of xy_whatever.
For some odd reason they seem to be going for even more of what isn't working for them (puzzled).
Basically additives are hokum, OK snake oil.
Drain the glass bowl FREQUENTLY, change filters, fill up ONLY where they sell a lot of fuel and take care of their in-ground tanks.
Don't get snow in your tank if you fill from 5 gallon jugs.

Either there isn't a problem or additives aren't the solution.

 

[LBrown59]

1.I thought that on road was ultra low sulfur and off road was not?
2.Is it common for Co-ops to put additives in their diesel for winter blend?

1*It usta was perhaps ;but since the new mandate for ULSD I believe they are phasing everything over to that whether for on or off road so actually there is no difference between them except the red dye and the tax.
I Believe their ultimate goal is a 1 fuel does all operation.
They have already accomplished that in my area as I can only obtain 1 fuel no matter where or who I buy it from.
2*We have 3 distributors or Co - Ops here .
They all 3 fill their delivery trucks at the Ashland bulk plant here.
Guess where the local Tanker trucks hauling fuel to the local gas/service stations are filling their trucks too.
Since all these trucks are hauling from the same tank it only makes sense to add the additives to that one tank rather that constantly trying to measure out and add the proper ratio to each truck coming in and loading up.

1*I'm using around 5 gallons a month.
2*My old G series used to tear through the gasoline, so this thing sips fuel by comparison.

1*I'm using 10 to 12 gallons a month.
2*My CC GT2554 is a real gas hog but My BX1500 sips fuel in comparison.
After owning a Diesel for 4 years and using 5 gallon cans and funnels 3 of those 4 years I finally got smart and built a pump and drum fuel set up last summer.
Let me tell you I never shed a tear watching those 5 gallon cans go.
My only regret is I didn't do it sooner.
I've concluded that an average usage of 5 or more gallons of fuel per month warrants/justifies a storage system and it does not matter whether you use on or off road fuel.

This is my 30/55 gallon dual drum set up and is ideal for my 10 to 12 gallon a month use.
I also have plans for a 15/30 gallon dual drum set up geared toward a 5 to 10 gallon per month user.

 

[number two]

The fuel terminals dispence straight product,i.e. no additive.Some terminals offer #1/#2 blends or even with/without additive options.Bottom line is the distributor is determining what they offer.Blending fuel or using additive costs money and the distributors try to get by with the lowest cost product they can get by with.Some distributors want to guarantee cold weather performance and some don't.It's hard to know even if you ask,the person you speak with may have no idea what's in the tank.Probably the only way to know is to ask the tanker driver as he will know what he is delivering!Cloud points(assuming no biodiesel)for #2 is maybe 5-6F,#1 is -40 or so.If you have fuel problems over let's say +10F/it's water,not gelling.By the way,kerosene is #1 nowadays.I know it's confusing.Hope this helps.

 

[Evil the Weasel]

As far as using twice the recommended additives, it's actually indicated on the Howe's bottle to use double for colder temps.

And Triple-tractor BrowN (TBN ), I like your set up but you would have to get fuel delivered or schlep the yellow jugs around to fill those monsters up. I got one of those scepter flo 'n go pumps and I just set my diesel can up on a ladder to fill up.

 

[Evil the Weasel]

The fuel terminals dispence straight product,i.e. no additive.Some terminals offer #1/#2 blends or even with/without additive options.Bottom line is the distributor is determining what they offer.Blending fuel or using additive costs money and the distributors try to get by with the lowest cost product they can get by with.Some distributors want to guarantee cold weather performance and some don't.It's hard to know even if you ask,the person you speak with may have no idea what's in the tank.Probably the only way to know is to ask the tanker driver as he will know what he is delivering!Cloud points(assuming no biodiesel)for #2 is maybe 5-6F,#1 is -40 or so.If you have fuel problems over let's say +10F/it's water,not gelling.By the way,kerosene is #1 nowadays.I know it's confusing.Hope this helps.

I should have taken a pic of the filter. It was wax not water clogging it up.