School me on diesel fuel

[ericm979]

With a new tractor you'll want the ULSD. Sulfur is bad for the DPF. Diesel does not degrade nearly as fast as gasoline. But it can get algae growing in it which is bad for fuel systems. Many common attitives claim to address that. Sometimes you need a dedicated biocide.

Diesel injectors work at much higher pressure and tigher tolerances than most gasoline injectors. As a result they are more sensitive to fuel contamination. Water in the fuel can damage them too. This is why a diesel's fuel filter is bigger and more expensive than for gas engines. Your owners manual will explain how to check the filter and how often to do it.

Diesel is rated by cetane numbers. It's analagous to octane in gasoline, except that unlike with octane, higher cetane does increase performance without re-tuning.

 

[ovrszd]

For the OP and Diggin It, complete your registration with your location. At least the State. In conversations like this almost everyone responding will look at that when you post.

 

[ovrszd]

First we need to know where you live? If in warm climates antigel wont do anything.

For the most part use a lubricity additives almost every tank. Anti algee if your not useing the fuel in about 6 months. Antigel if it gets below 10 or 20* and you need to use the tractor.

Nothing will really happen bad if the fuel gels. You just cant get the tractor started until its thawed out.

Whooppss, forgot you in my previous post. You are asking the OP where he is located and not disclosing where you are located.

 

[GamblerAcres]

With a new tractor you'll want the ULSD. Sulfur is bad for the DPF. Diesel does not degrade nearly as fast as gasoline. But it can get algae growing in it which is bad for fuel systems. Many common attitives claim to address that. Sometimes you need a dedicated biocide.

Diesel injectors work at much higher pressure and tigher tolerances than most gasoline injectors. As a result they are more sensitive to fuel contamination. Water in the fuel can damage them too. This is why a diesel's fuel filter is bigger and more expensive than for gas engines. Your owners manual will explain how to check the filter and how often to do it.

Diesel is rated by cetane numbers. It's analagous to octane in gasoline, except that unlike with octane, higher cetane does increase performance without re-tuning.

Do all gas stations with diesel provide the ULSD or is this something special I have to seek out?

 

[GamblerAcres]

First we need to know where you live? If in warm climates antigel wont do anything.

For the most part use a lubricity additives almost every tank. Anti algee if your not useing the fuel in about 6 months. Antigel if it gets below 10 or 20* and you need to use the tractor.

Nothing will really happen bad if the fuel gels. You just cant get the tractor started until its thawed out.

I'm in southwest ohio. I'll be using it throughout the winter. Single digits are a common thing here.

 

[ericm979]

Do all gas stations with diesel provide the ULSD or is this something special I have to seek out?

It's the normal road fuel. Dyed off road fuel is the same except the road taxes are not paid on it. Some people use home heating oil. I don't know if it's low sulfur, it's not used in my area.

In places where it gets cold the fuel stations switch to No 1 winter dlesel which is more volatile and gels at a lower temp.

 

[iflywhatevr]

Do all gas stations with diesel provide the ULSD or is this something special I have to seek out?

I get dyed diesel delivered at 50 cents a gallon cheaper than on-road to my storage tank. Around here it’s identical to home heating oil with both large heating oil /fuel companies. You will be hard pressed to find NON-ulsd supplier in most areas on-road/off-road/heating oil I believe is all ULSD now in most of the country.

 

[Looking4new]

ULSD is what I use for home heating oil AND my tractor. The only thing I do to it is put in 1 ounce of Power Service (white bottle) per fill up in the winter.
I make sure my HHO tank is full before March 1. That way I am guaranteed I will have winter fuel in the tank for the next winter.
The fuel refiners change over from 'summer' fuel (#2 diesel) in October to 'winter' fuel (#1 diesel). It varies depending on whether you are in the far north (Canada) or the U.S. In winter, the further south you go the less likely that you will get winter fuel at the pumps.
Before ULSD the fuel was Low Sulfur Diesel and God forbid truck drivers run around on LSD.:laughing:

 

[fishheadbob]

Wherever you might live in Ohio it gets colder here. I've been running diesels of one size or another for 45 years and must admit I've never thought about fuel treatments. I pump it into the tank and turn the key. It starts and runs fine. If it's under 10 degrees I use the glow plugs for 25 seconds on the bigger, older engine.

 

[GamblerAcres]

Thanks for all the informative responses. I figured it was a lot simpler than it seemed. Just wanted to make sure before I potentially ruined my expensive new toy. I just hit the 10 hour mark last night

My plan is to fill a few 5 gallon containers at the local gas station with a year round additive. Any suggestions for a cheap hand pump so I don't have to fight a 5 gallon tank so high up?