Oil & Fuel Which diesel fuel should I use or does it really matter?

[shooterdon]

Off road is $.50/ gal cheaper. No difference in sulpher. I use it and the savings have paid for my fuel tank and transfer pump.

 

[deserteagle71]

As far as locating off-highway diesel, you have to go to a place that caters to agriculture or construction. A regular service station will not carry it.

 

[Redlands Okie]

I think I have read that the sulphur might provide some lubrication, and its less likely to grow algae. Lots of additives available to add lubrication and to stop algae in the new ulsd fuels.

Off road diesel has less taxes and has red dye added to it. Otherwise same as on road fuel.

One of many articles you can google and find.


Today’s diesel fuel vulnerable to microbes - Tank Transport Trader

 

[Mat4644]

All diesel in US is clean low sulphur and has been for several years. Only difference is dye and taxes. Neighbor farmer got caught commercial hauling using farm diesel. $10,000 fine - Ouch!

Many years ago diesel mechanics would comment how much cleaner heads would be on farm tractors that used premium diesel (cleaner burning). It's all mandated clean fuel now.

 

[Redlands Okie]

Getting caught burning off road fuel on the highway used to be a IRS offense. After paying the fine they would look at your vehicles. Add up the miles, estimate the mileage and gallons burned and then you got to pay the taxes on all of that fuel. Unless you had receipts. Doubt if its changed much.

 

[ruffdog]

A few days ago I watched a guy running a Cat M320F wheeled loader below me as I stood on the overpass. It was so quiet and smoke free it could have been electric powered but it had a exhaust stack. It is unreal how clean and quiet these new ones are now. :thumbsup:

 

[Smokeydog]

As members of a Turbo diesel register club years ago we got to tour a large diesel injection repair shop. Two things made an lasting impression. First it was the cleanest mechanic shop for big equipment I ever saw. Almost surgical clean. They did all things on the fuel side of the engine. Second, the need to add an additive to your fuel. Not only did removing sulphur from fuel reduce the lubrication, the engines run tighter to reduce oil consumption. They sold several brands of fuel additives and didn’t push a particular one. The big fleets that don’t have problems with fuel injection run Stanadyne. Not only provides lubrication, anti gel, cleans injectors, increase cetane, but also helps coalesce water molecules so the filter can remove it. Water, steam is the big enemy of fuel injection system and all diesel fuel has some water.
In my truck the additive gives a solid mile per gallon increase paying for it. In my tractors I hope they run better and are better protected.

 

[WoodDuck]

I've always used an diesel additive. I've been using Optilube myself for years, but any additive you can find that increases the lubricity of the fuel will benefit your engine. I have a 55 gallon barrel that I get filled with ag diesel at the local co-op to save money on my tractor fuel. I put the additive in before having it filled, then use a hand pump to fill the tractor. My tractor doesn't burn enough fuel to justify me getting a bulk tank; it would take years for me to use that much. I'd rather buy fresher fuel more often, than try and keep diesel clean and viable for an extended amount of time. This system works for me, but other people's needs will vary from my own. Good luck!

 

[Sawyer Rob]

I have some older diesel tractors, I don't add anything to the fuel...NOTHING winter or summer and we've never had even one problem.

I buy fuel from a station that has road and off road diesel and I use both, depending on the price. I can't tell any difference between them in use and their shouldn't be, as they are the same fuel...

My neighbor, my brother and a few friends also don't put any additives in their fuel either, all without any problems at all...

SR

 

[3930dave]

Hello all. I am in the process of purchasing a used 1977 JD 2040 diesel tractor. I just realized that back in 1977 LOW SULFUR fuel was NOT the norm of the day and today it IS. I asked the service guy should I use the 'off road' diesel instead of the low. He said YES. As I drove around today I stopped at a number of gas stations and did not find any that supported/sold the off road HI sulfur diesel fuel. I will keep checking but if I have to use the low content will it do any harm to my engine? I know in aviation the older engines used LEAD gas and then when the gov't changed to low lead I had to buy lead in a can to add to the gas. IS there an additive that can be added to make the low into the older sulfur content diesel? Sorry for the questions but I am a first time tractor owner and really want to do things right the FIRST time not after I break something expensive. THANKS TO ALL for comments offered.

If you do manage to get your hands on an actual sulphur additive, don't get too carried away...... old school diesels often had a reduced oil change interval as % sulphur went up. Too much of a good thing is possible.

Water management has always mattered with diesels; ULSD has raised the stakes. Old practice, but often ignored..... run the machine, fill up the tank at the end of the day. Reducing air volume helps minimize tank condensation.

Big Oil went to war (using Beltway Lobbyists) coming up to ULSD being mandated - they pushed for a higher Wear-Scar limit than what the engine manufacturers wanted. Oil won - they got to use less compensating additives than what the lower limit would have needed.

Old mech diesels like yours (and mine) were/are relatively robust, compared to the constant-attention-demanding-SuperModelDiesels of today. Results of different maintenance practices....... can be hard to notice, esp. at the low annual-hours many of us run....... if an injector or pump goes out at 3,000 hours instead of 6,000, only your heirs or the next owner may notice.

That said, no era of diesel minds having water-free fuel, with reasonable lubrication properties. I use Stanadyne in mine, year-round. I didn't want to use alcohol to manage water - 'dyne de-emulsifies tiny water particles (not the only one that does), so your water separator works more effectively.

Keep reading, there's more to this story.....

(But, if you do nothing else but buy fuel from a reputable high-volume truck stop and keep the tank filled, you will be ahead of 90% of the equipment out there.....).

Rgds, D.