Winter fuel protect

[PCABE5]

Gotta disagree with you:

Another reason ULSD has been blamed for premature fuel system and engine wear is due to its low sulfur content. At 15 ppm (out of 1 million parts, just 15 can be sulfur), ULSD contains only a fraction of the sulfur concentration found in the previously used low-sulfur diesel (LSD), which was roughly 500 ppm. And since sulfur acts as a lubrication agent in diesel fuel, ultra-low sulfur content in ULSD is thought to be one of the main suspects in causing fuel-related problems in pre-2007 diesels, which were designed to run primarily on LSD.

I didn't start using additives for anti-gelling (always depended on the winter blends for that) That's a benefit though.
I started using additives when articles started popping up about problems resulting from ULSD in pre-2007 diesel engines. My dealer's techs have also mentioned problems with older Deere tractors with what they called "dry head" or "dry cylinder head" resulting in premature valve problems.​

I would agree and disagree. Sulfur was the lubrication used in older blends of diesel fuels and nothing else was needed. Since Europe went to ULSD in the 1990's the lubrication issues were discovered well before the fuel came here to the U.S. One thing not mention is the decrease in aromatics caused seals and fuel lines to leak and fail in older diesel engines (pre-500ppm) which made failures appear greater but were not wear issues.

In 2005 ASTM came out with ASTM D975 which covered lubricity and cetane standards. This came out a year before the transition hit. This was also to make the fuel backwards compatible for older engines. But engines before the 500ppm standard (many tractors) would still have seal/fuel line issues until they were replaced with newer seals and lines. The additives for lubricity and cetane are added to the fuel by the distributors prior to it being delivered to your local fuel station. Other additives are also added to improve oxidative properties and injector cleanliness as these are problems associated with ULSD. If you buy winterized fuel you should never have to add a anti-gel agent unless your like me who still has left over summer fuel to burn before winter or add an additive to it.

One could say that you should not have to add anything to your fuel as it should be already added prior to you ever pumping it. But it can also be said that adding extra on your own will not hurt the engine or emissions. Newer engine valves, injectors and pumps are design around the ASTM standard and should provide thousands of hours of trouble free service.​

 

[pacerron]

Except mine and home heating oil is purple because it doesn't have highway tax on it.
This is an interesting thread but as I said I have used it for 20 years with no additives and no problems. It is stored outside in a 200 gallon bulk tank elevated in the air so it is higher than the tractor fuel tanks for gravity feed, no filters in the line and no problems with water.
But... I have a reputable dealer. You can read stories elsewhere of some of the junk that is put into diesel fuel to make more profit.

 

[flyingcow]

Except mine and home heating oil is purple because it doesn't have highway tax on it.
This is an interesting thread but as I said I have used it for 20 years with no additives and no problems. It is stored outside in a 200 gallon bulk tank elevated in the air so it is higher than the tractor fuel tanks for gravity feed, no filters in the line and no problems with water.
But... I have a reputable dealer. You can read stories elsewhere of some of the junk that is put into diesel fuel to make more profit.

Been trucking for 20 yrs. Diesel went from(SULFER) 3000 ppm to 500 ppm to 15 ppm. On a consistent basis, no additives( no tranny fluid, etc.). Once in a while, if the cold temps swung from 20f to -25f(in 24 hours) i would add powerservice, especially if i couldn't find time to change fuel filters. Which isn't often. But i would throw a qt into a 100 gal tank on the truck. I have also run early '70's tractors in the same time frame. No additives unless the same type of temp swing. And only power service. Don't think i haven't had fuel problems in the deep freeze. And as the guy from Quebec has had. It sucks changing filters in the deep freeze. Which up here is -20 or below. BUT this was because of a load crappy fuel. At that point I've used Methanol and anything else i could get my hands on to get to a shelter of some sort( Have had to do this a few times in my trucking life). When you get a serious problem with fuel in subzero weather, all bets are off until you're under cover. For myself, i don't spend the money on additives. But as far as my world in trucking...I avg 2000 gals a month. Not uncommon to get a $8,000 a month bill for fuel. Not excited about spending extra coin on additives. It's the old fellars that tell you....change your filters often. And ride on.

 

[pacerron]

It's the old fellars that tell you....change your filters often. And ride on.

Filter changes are wise money spent. As for farm tractors in cold weather I find it best to store them in the barn, run a trickle charger on the batteries, and be sure to have the engine block heaters plugged in.
Then they think it's summer and start as if it were. And of course, let them run slow for a little bit to get everything warmed up, particularly the hydraulics.

 

[big e]

It seems logical that those of us who only go through 5 or 10 gallons of fuel over the winter would be smart to use an additive... it's cheap insurance, the fuel sits around longer, etc.
But...
Do you gents who use hundreds of gallons of fuel per month burn it so fast that you don't need a biocide? Is the biocide protection more for diesel that sits around awhile?

 

[sunnyside360]

Diesel fuel additive is cheap insurance against gelling, icing, and algae. I've had trouble with all years ago and haven't had a single problem since using additives, usually Power Service, for past 35 yrs.
BTW, I use additive year around.

 

[flyingcow]

It seems logical that those of us who only go through 5 or 10 gallons of fuel over the winter would be smart to use an additive... it's cheap insurance, the fuel sits around longer, etc.
But...
Do you gents who use hundreds of gallons of fuel per month burn it so fast that you don't need a biocide? Is the biocide protection more for diesel that sits around awhile?

I've had algae a couple of times. It's still a problem from time to time. One fuel company had to pay to have new injectors, clean fuel tanks, etc. They had a bad batch of fuel at the truckstop.

 

[RalphVa]

The fuel additives work similarly to pour depressant or dewaxing aids. The dosage is about 0.15%, so 1.5 volumes in 1000 volumes of fuel. An ounce is 30 ml or cc (e.g. 2 tabelspoons). Convert your gallonage to cc or ml to figure out the dosage of 1.5/1000.

You can also use 30-50% kerosene.

DO NOT use any gasoline, although 10% gasoline will work but give you an exposive mix in the vapor space of your diesel tank. Be a nice bomb.

Ralph

 

[creekbend]

Take a look at this link:
https://jdparts.deere.com/partsmkt/document/english/pmac/5496_fb_SummerWinterDieselConditioner.htm

Thanks for the link. I just added it to my "Favorites" bar.

 

[chopped]

So, am I to understand that a certain amount of two stroke oil added with help this problem of lube. if it indeed is a problem? And if so approx how much would be recomended to say// 5 gallons? Thanks