Silver Bottle, Diesel Kleen + Cetane Boost Additive (questions)

[3930dave]

FYI, if not seen already....

Cummins, Inc. Officially Recommends Power Service(R) Diesel Kleen +Cetane and Diesel Fuel Supplement +Cetane Boost For Optimized Engine Performance | Business Wire

In the past, GM has issued similar recommendations for Stanadyne's products.

Old practice, probably even more critical today...... fill up equipment tanks at the end of the operating day, to minimized air space in tanks and cut down on moisture problems - doubly critical on equipment that is idle most of the time.

Keep researching OP, you will probably (I did) need to do a pile of reading to end up comfortable with your understanding level.

One person's non-negative outcome does not prove causality.

Ex. What conclusion would you arrive at if you only looked at Keith Richards when making a decision about using recreational drugs ?

Rgds, D.

 

[BX23S-1]

PAPOW, don't over think this issue. With the change of seasons, just fill up your tank with the mix you intend to use at that time. Won't matter what mix is still left in the fuel tank.

LOL... i DO tend to overthink things, i blame the engineer side of me for that, all the "what if" scenarios. All i could think about is chemical reactions against each other if mixed together, so thats why i asked if it would hurt anything or each type mixed would take away anything from each other. I`d much rather hear it from people that know, rather than do what average people do and not ask. Never hurts to ask, by asking ahead of time has saved me alot of grief in the past, especially when its something i know absolutely nothing about. Thank you for chiming in, it ease`s my mind more than you know.

 

[BX23S-1]

wow! many wild variety comments here.

i been using power service in my BX since i got it. it got somewhere around 1500 hours now. i use a black sharpie to mark out the intervals of how much to pour on the see thru side of bottle so i am not overdosing, nor under . i really trust the white bottle for winter use and i havent had any gelling yet. i use the silver for summer use , it cant hurt to use it , i just dont want anything to grow inside the tank causing the filter to plug up. better to be safe then sorry. as for having summer fuel left in the tank heading into the winter, i wouldnt worry about it if you use the bx for clearing snow. by the time the REALLY cold temps roll around, you should have already used up the summer fuel in the tank or at least have it half empty then fill with fresh fuel with white PS bottle added. i dont worry about the timing of when to switch fuels. The question is how often do you fill up? If I look at my purchases of diesel for BX, I average roughly 5 gallons a month, if not more so the timing to switch colors of power service is not a concern.

I think if there were a vote today, the PS Diesel Kleen users would win hands down. As of right now, i dont see a huge amount of use for this BX tractor, it will likely sit a lot more than it gets used. I only bought it to do small projects, and to replace my JD 60" mowing machine when it dies.

Being that the JD420 (gas engine) is still mowing for now, the deck on the BX is in storage until the JD cant mow anymore. When i bought the BX 2 weeks ago, i added the deck to the deal because i knew someday that the JD would not be used much longer due to age and no parts available anymore. I paid $900 extra in the deal for the BX 60" deck, i cant buy another tractor to mow with for that price, and having a FEL & BH sitting here, is like money in the bank for me. I wont have to hire someone to come in and do work for me anymore. Kinda like hittin 3 birds with one stone. My concern is how much the BX will be sitting... and hoping that the DK will preserve the fuel while sitting at long intervals. I bet i wont use more than 10 gallons all summer, if that. When winter hits, it will likely be used twice as much for pushing snow. That was my concern, mixing additives that will likely be changed out often. With my biggest concern, when to start using Diesel Kleen. I`ve come to the conclusion from most of what i read on forums, its best to start adding DK to the fuel right from day one brand new. If anyone has a difference of opinion when AND how, to start using DK, i`m all ears.

I bought my JD back in 1989 brand new... not once did i ever use ANY additives and it sits outside year round. I dont put corn gas in it either, just 91 octane non-ethanol gasoline. Pull the choke, hit the key, it runs with no efforts. This BX being diesel, i know i`m in for a treat just to keep it running good, its a diesel, i expect that. I do know, i`ll have to mix additives. What i do like, is the BX wont use fuel like the JD. The JD takes 6 gallons to mow my yard, the BX diesel might use 6 cups...lol.

 

[3930dave]

LOL... i DO tend to overthink things, i blame the engineer side of me for that, all the "what if" scenarios. All i could think about is chemical reactions against each other if mixed together, so thats why i asked if it would hurt anything or each type mixed would take away anything from each other. I`d much rather hear it from people that know, rather than do what average people do and not ask. Never hurts to ask, by asking ahead of time has saved me alot of grief in the past, especially when its something i know absolutely nothing about. Thank you for chiming in, it ease`s my mind more than you know.

Another general point you may already be aware of, but bears repeating.......

If at all possible, buy your diesel at a very high-volume truck stop. Locally, I drive past several small stations to buy all my diesel at a Husky truck-stop - they sell enough volume that they sometimes get 2 diesel deliveries a day. Esp. with diesel fuel, you want high turn-over in station volume.

I know several people who have had problems with diesel @ smaller stations near here, particularly in the Winter time.

Rgds, D.

 

[3930dave]

Hi,

I some how got algee growing in my diesel five or so years ago. I have been using additives for that long now. Started with the one they make one for algee, but now use the boost additive.

I also use stable fuel when winterizing gas motors, and fuel for the generator.
Using the old stable containers and filling with additive allows me to mix small five gallon quantities.

Obviously, water caused problems in any era. That said, the upside of high(er) sulphur levels in older diesel fuel (no longer available here) was that you had a basic level of biocide built-in. If that old-era fuel had a bit of water in it, the bugs had less of a chance of growing back when.....

Rgds, D.

 

[TomSeller]

If at all possible, buy your diesel at a very high-volume truck stop. Locally, I drive past several small stations to buy all my diesel at a Husky truck-stop - they sell enough volume that they sometimes get 2 diesel deliveries a day. Esp. with diesel fuel, you want high turn-over in station volume..

very true.

 

[BX23S-1]

Another general point you may already be aware of, but bears repeating.......

If at all possible, buy your diesel at a very high-volume truck stop. Locally, I drive past several small stations to buy all my diesel at a Husky truck-stop - they sell enough volume that they sometimes get 2 diesel deliveries a day. Esp. with diesel fuel, you want high turn-over in station volume.

I know several people who have had problems with diesel @ smaller stations near here, particularly in the Winter time.

Rgds, D.

Great point Dave, i do that with all my vehicles, fresh gas burns better. But with no truck stops around, i`m in a bind with that way of thinking.

 

[3930dave]

Great point Dave, i do that with all my vehicles, fresh gas burns better. But with no truck stops around, i`m in a bind with that way of thinking.

Esp. 24x7, diesel can be tough to find at all in parts of your State, so I hear you....

That issue is proportionally more significant with diesel than gasoline.... not that anybody likes stale gas.....

In another thread, somebody had a great post explaining why ULSD has a higher affinity for water than historical diesel (so more water, no sulphur to speak of, bugs grow faster........).

Normally I'd say "Interstate", and that may work for you, but that's not as easy an option in parts of NY. If the fuel is just for your tractor, and relatively low hours/year, I'd be collecting an appropriate # of cans and doing a fuel run to the next major city. That's how strongly I feel about diesel fuel sourcing. Properly sealed and post-treated, diesel stores reasonably well.

At a minimum, I'd be asking around about people's experience with local diesel. Start a thread in the Northeast sub-forum titled with Your Area of NY - Diesel Fuel Sources ? Ask any local contractors you come across. Ask specifically about Fuel Quality Issues, Esp. in Winter. Less common down your way (I think), but we have rural Cardlock stations here that you can access with just a credit-card.

Yeah, my OCD is showing , but this really is an area where One Oz Prevention = 2,000# Cure.

(Edit - Plan B: Buy a Mr. Funnel, and use it every time. People on here use them, and a buddy keeps one in his float-plane to deal with fuel "wherever".....)

Rgds, D.

 

[Ford850]

I find good quality fresh diesel at a couple large 'gas' stations in my small town and those near me. These are the quick stop, 'mart' type stations, and have at least one isle that includes diesel. They get a steady stream of commercial and HD trucks and I've never had an issue with the fuel at these. They are modern and have better pumps, tanks, and filters (I believe), and offer easy access for trucks and trailers. They are usually located on the main state routes through towns.

 

[PILOON]

I'll echo or add the only additive you want to consider is anti gelling for winter and that is even questionable but then a cheap insurance as gelled fuel is no fun.
Not all fuel suppliers are equal and there is no way you can be sure the November fuel is winterized.
At that even if 'winterized' there is also sweating of your stored or even tractor tank fuel.

You just have to walk home once to appreciate the simple insurance of having added some 'anti gell'.