Question regarding diesel fuel additives

[ericm979]

The DOT thing is federal not state. Between off road motorcycling, tractors, generators and other equipment with engines, I've filled fuel containers hundreds of times in California. I've never had anyone even look at my containers let alone check them for DOT compliance. So its far more likely that @California ran into the rare filling station person who was exceptionally zealous about rules than it is a California thing.

However I think there are more likely concerns about using an IBC tote for diesel. It doesn't meet standards for farm tanks. Your insurance might have a problem with a non approved fuel container.

farm tank regulations:

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[Too many Kubotas]

I'm lucky not to have a farm, I guess. Although, some neighbors claim that they have a ranch because they have 10 acres and maybe a poodle. Not that there aren't actual farms and ranches around here, there's quite a few.

Anyway, I don't have any of those totes in the garage, or house. The closest to that would be a metal shed, next closest a carport. And there there's more gas and diesel in the vehicles parked the carport than there is in the one tote with diesel and the (approved?) Lee Agra tank which has gas in it.

When everything is filled there's some 750 gallons of diesel in two trailers (two totes and a generic 130-gallon plastic tank), and those are only about 50 feet from the house. In the somewhat unlikely event of a fire I'd pull those trailers farther away from the house. If short on time I'd move the three vehicles parked closest to them out of the way.

I think that despite having plenty of (metal) gas cans, the only three approved containers I have are two Lee Agra tanks and the auxiliary tank on the 3500.

And speaking of approved, apparently I can transport up to 1,100 gallons of gas legally here. Or so the state police told me, before I took off on a 300-mile drive to put ethanol free 91 octane in one of the 200-gallon Lee Agra tanks.

Maybe I don't worry enough about fuel storage, but there's so much else going on in life.

 

[Fields_mj]

Be careful with what engine you add ATF to. Modern high pressure systems apparently doesn't like ATF at all, and it doesn't help that supposedly newer ATF isn't even made to burn.

Old engines with mechanical pumps are quite tolerant, but that doesn't mean pouring all kinds of stuff into the fuel is good for them. The engineers making ATF formulae probably aren't considering using their products in diesels, much like the ones creating fuel additives don't expect you to put theirs in automatic transmissions.

It's a '97 7.3 powerstroke. It's not as durable as it's IDI predecessor, but it's not nearly as sensitive as a post emissions system.

 

[RayIN]

I bought a new-to-me '97 Ford F250 and it had 4 to 5 year old diesel fuel in it. It ran pretty cr@ppy on that fuel. On fresher fuel it ran much better.

Then I bought some Power Service diesel treatment and some Lucas lubricity additive and injector cleaner and wow, it ran shockingly better than expected. It also had fresh fuel but I am now wondering if I should keep using one or both of these additives and even the Lucas certain improver on a regular basis. Both truck and tractor? I already put Stanadyne Performance Formula in my bulk tanks.

Anybody use additive to a diesel pickup or tractor ?

I think you'll find the results of this HFRR lubricity study interesting: https://www.dieselplace.com/threads/lubricity-additive-study-results.177728/

 

[fc1]

Put this old story in the For What It's Worth category... First diesel I ever had any responsibility for was my then GF's early aughties Golf TDI. When it ran right, it was a real hoot; crazy torque.

In any case, I recall reading in one of the related fora (VW Vortex, maybe?) that those cars ran better, more quietly, and with less smoke if you added Power Service to every tank.

Eventually I bought some and put it in; didn't tell her (like she'd care).

Couple days later she came home from work and asked, "What did you do to my car? It's really running well."

After that it was easy to pick PS for my Kubota...

 

[Williy]

I have been using power service white for years in truck and tractor always ready for a cold snap
Many years ago these gents were trying to start this 18
wheeler tractor they spent hours pulling it back and forth
and all it did was puff smoke the fuel had to of jelled it was
3 below zero it got to be noon and they quit
It pays to be prepared

willy