fuel additives

[diesel85]

I had a neighbor come to see me last year while I was working in the woods cutting firewood. He asked me if I had ever had fungus or bacterial growth in my fuel tank. I told him no never had a problem. He had a bad issue with it in his Kubota, his is like a 2010 40 something hp nice new tractor. He also bought his fuel at the same truck and farm refueling station where I buy my fuel. Said after a lot of problem he was advised to remove his tractor fuel tank and clean it out. I cannot even imaging what fresh hell that must have been to get the tank out but i bet it sucked. Said he had 2 or 3 cups of black brown sludge in the bottom of his tank. I asked what additives he was using to help prevent such happening, he just looked at me like I had 3 heads and said I never heard of adding anything to my fuel...

As far as fuel storage as mentioned above, I have never done anything fancy. Every November and every May? maybe, I go to my fueling station and fill 4 or 5, 5-gallon plastic fuel cans with dyed off road fuel that have my added fuel additives already in the can. Then I store them under cover in unheated 3-sided lean-to where I keep my tractor.

It's hard to believe algae growth in cold climates such as Maine. Typically the algae likes consistent warm temps (50F and above).

Although, I'll splash some PowerService ClearDiesel in once a year in my tanks.

I live in Upstate NY.

 

[LouNY]

It's hard to believe algae growth in cold climates such as Maine. Typically the algae likes consistent warm temps (50F and above).

Although, I'll splash some PowerService ClearDiesel in once a year in my tanks.

I live in Upstate NY.

You can most certainly have algae problems in NYS. I have heard it said that they require sunlight to grow also, bull. I've seen growth on closed steel tanks and closed plastic tanks. I have a 275 gallon steel above ground tank that is contaminated as we speak. I am going to polish the fuel this spring to clean it up and be usable. I have already dosed it with a biocide and have two cleanable screens for primary/initial cleaning as well as 10 micron and 5 micron filters.

 

[Too many Kubotas]

It's hard to believe algae growth in cold climates such as Maine. Typically the algae likes consistent warm temps (50F and above).

What allows algae to grow is completely different from the bacteria that can grow in diesel tanks, and doesn't need any light - but needs water in the fuel to get going.

 

[Jeff Lary]

You need to remember that Maine has 4 seasons, and it is normal to have weeks of above 80* temps every summer. It gets into the 60s plus by the end of April and continues to rise until into September. Even in November the first week has been in the 70s.

 

[TractorGunn]

I had a neighbor come to see me last year while I was working in the woods cutting firewood. He asked me if I had ever had fungus or bacterial growth in my fuel tank. I told him no never had a problem. He had a bad issue with it in his Kubota, his is like a 2010 40 something hp nice new tractor. He also bought his fuel at the same truck and farm refueling station where I buy my fuel. Said after a lot of problem he was advised to remove his tractor fuel tank and clean it out. I cannot even imaging what fresh hell that must have been to get the tank out but i bet it sucked. Said he had 2 or 3 cups of black brown sludge in the bottom of his tank. I asked what additives he was using to help prevent such happening, he just looked at me like I had 3 heads and said I never heard of adding anything to my fuel...

As far as fuel storage as mentioned above, I have never done anything fancy. Every November and every May? maybe, I go to my fueling station and fill 4 or 5, 5-gallon plastic fuel cans with dyed off road fuel that have my added fuel additives already in the can. Then I store them under cover in unheated 3-sided lean-to where I keep my tractor.

When I first read your post about additives, I thought it said 50 oz of MMO, lol!

 

[Hay Dude]

When I first read your post about additives, I thought it said 50 oz of MMO, lol!

Where’ve you been my friend?

 

[RayIN]

What allows algae to grow is completely different from the bacteria that can grow in diesel tanks, and doesn't need any light - but needs water in the fuel to get going.

Algae is not algae.

 

[sd455dan]

The Old chinese tier 2 Rhino tractors and Ford TLB a bit of 2 stroke oil added in the summer. Winter white bottle and some howes
Needed to haul furniture today and noticed the 03 Ram was loping a bit at idle. eyeballed some howes and power service into about a 1/2 tank. Within 15 miles the wife commented how smooth the engine was running. I don't know how much truth there is to early common rail Cummins... but have been told that it is common to replace the injectors after 200 k miles have rolled up, about 150K on mine.

 

[Too many Kubotas]

Algae is not algae.

Unfortunately, changing that misperception is probably no easier than to convince people that diesels do not like to idle.

 

[TractorGunn]

Where’ve you been my friend?

Hey Hay!

Been busy with the job and the holidays. Pretty sure I had covid, was sick for a few weeks, couldn't taste or smell a thing, all that fun stuff.

Thanks for asking!

 

[Shawn T. W.]

Just delivered this load ... Somebody's buying it ...

I prefer the HotShots brand, but believe the de-emulsifier is critical in separating out the water, I certainly don't want it in the fuel! Water in the pump, or injectors is not good for them, wether the extra high pressure system or not! (Neither of my tractors are, but bosses 2026 Kenworth Semi is!)

I buy my own tractor fuel at local farm supply "store" ... Off road diesel fuel, I went inside and talked to them and ask the lady if this off-road diesel was any different than the on road fuel, other than tax, and red dye? She said no, they are the same before adding the dye ... I then asked her if there was any bio-diesel in it, she said no. I then asked her if it was treated with a anti-gel? She said, yes ... I then asked if they did it, or did it come from the rack that way? She said, that normally it came from the rack treated for normal temperatures, but if it wasn't, they were required to tell them, then they treated it when it got to the station . . .

While I was there the local fire truck came to fill up ... When I came out of the office, a local logger was filling up his truck ... They sell to local farmers mostly ... There name is MFA which I believe stands for Missouri Farmers Association.

It says it has added lubricant to it ...

BOSS Performance Diesel

BOSS Performance Diesel — a scientifically designed and tested diesel for on-road and off-road vehicles of all ages, including today’s high-tech engines.

www.mfaoil.com

I add either HotShots Everyday or Winter Defense depending on the season, plus add half a dose of there LX4 which is a lubricant, which is also in the other additives, my company pays for anti-gel, and wants me to treat out tanks on the semi-trucks if temperature is below 30°F, I pickup the HotShots Winter Defense at truck stops and use that, it's 11°F out here in Indiana now, I'm comfy here in my sleeper!

 

[Midniteoyl]

...it's 11°F out here in Indiana now, I'm comfy here in my sleeper!

Must be my part of the woods. It says 11F, but feels like it's way below zero

 

[Shawn T. W.]

I was in Richmond, (went down to 8°) ... now moved up to New Haven (15°F now) can't be at next customer until 07:00 tomorrow in Elkhart ...

The engines are running fine, and keeping me moving when I gotta go, and warm when parked!

 

[Midniteoyl]

I was in Richmond, (went down to 8°) ... now moved up to New Haven (15°F now) can't be at next customer until 07:00 tomorrow in Elkhart ...

The engines are running fine, and keeping me moving when I gotta go, and warm when parked!

Suppose to be 3-4F then..

 

[Too many Kubotas]

I then asked her if it was treated with a anti-gel? She said, yes ... I then asked if they did it, or did it come from the rack that way? She said, that normally it came from the rack treated for normal temperatures, but if it wasn't, they were required to tell them, then they treated it when it got to the station . . .

I definitely need anti gel as it can get down to -10, or even -20 here.

What complicates things a bit for me is the occasional trips I take. If filling up in August, for example, the fuel certainly won't be a winter blend or treated.

Then the next trip might be in February, so I'll need to add some anti gel. And the fuel I get on that trip will most likely be a winter blend...which I'll then often end up running on the following summer.

Basically, I often have the wrong fuel for the season in the tanks, but the trusty 3500 still tows just fine.

 

[Shawn T. W.]

I add anti-gel if I fuel up down south, like the other day in Dallas, TX, I was headed north, so I treated it ... Of course I'm driving my semi-truck almost every day, so I'm burning the fuel ... I try to keep an eye on the weather where I'm headed for both storms and temperatures.

At home for my tractors I usually stop adding anti-gel in March purchases, as I have enough on hand to last me well into warmer weather ... Start adding again in October ... Doesn't hurt anything to run the anti-gel in the summer, some people, especially low fuel use users, it's just easier to treat with anti-gel year round ...