Diesel heater vs diesel fuel additives

[Searios]

I've just read that diesels heaters should not be using diesel with stabiliser additives....

Is this correct and is there any evidence in the TF of this?

If so I might have to rethink my diesel heater fuel delivery system.....

 

[Roamer Blue]

For what reasons should they not be used with additives?

Why would one use additives in the fuel?

For the winter live-aboard, ordering up a fill of #1 Diesel or Stove Oil is sufficient to allay any sub-zero fears?

RB

 

[Searios]

I would assume that the problem is the burners..

I don't know much more about the problem (if it is a problem) as this was just a statement in a marine hardware catalog..

Why use additives....that's another thread.

 

[psneeld]

My Wallas doesn't seem to care.

The thermocouple does soot up every 500 or more hours, but that may be normal for plain diesel and the way I run it.

 

[Cigatoo]

"additive" is a pretty general term. I am sure that there are some chemicals that might harm the internals of the heater. I read someone's post somewhere that stated they added a "little" acetone to their fuel. Acetone is some pretty strong stuff. Why they would add acetone is a mystery to me. But that's another post.

 

[psneeld]

"additive" is a pretty general term. I am sure that there are some chemicals that might harm the internals of the heater. I read someone's post somewhere that stated they added a "little" acetone to their fuel. Acetone is some pretty strong stuff. Why they would add acetone is a mystery to me. But that's another post.

Wallas advised to use alcohol if you suspect water....it also helps in lighting off too I think.

Acetone may be believed to help with water, ignition, and keeping the injection parts cleaner.

I would have to investigate further, but I sure wouldn't add it to my main tanks that the engine/genset draw from.

 

[TJM]

My Toyotomi Laser diesel fireplace runs fine on low sulfur diesel fuel straight from my main tanks.
Acetone in tanks ? Yikes, I would think it would evaporate very fast. Maybe as a spot cleaner during a service call because of the flash point and BTU output being better than diesel.....

 

[twistedtree]

My heater works fine and I treated the fuel with Standyne.

That statement sounds like a catch-all get-out-of-jail-free card for a manufacturer so they can blame problems on fuel additives. It's like electronics vendors blaming everything on "power surges". It's a total load of crap.

 

[Searios]

Ok, it seems like a "no problem" so I'll stick with my current setup - inclusive Stanadyne....

 

[Lepke]

Current diesel doesn't burn well in some stoves/heaters. Usually the problem is more soot. Using #1 diesel or home heating oil helps. I use a stabilizer and catalyst in #2 with no problems.

 

[MurrayM]

My Toyotomi Laser diesel fireplace runs fine on low sulfur diesel fuel straight from my main tanks...

Interesting. Never heard of them before. *Land home thread drift alert* On demand hot water heater for the home? Hmmmmm...

 

[Nomad Willy]

After taking my Wabasto in (to Sure Marine) for two fixes not related to soot they were going to clean and charge me but said it was so clean they didn't do or charge. Only about 30 hrs on the heater since last clean but they said it was spotless. The switch from diesel fuel to kerosene seems to work. Now if I can keep the water out of the fuel and not tighten wire retainer screws clockwise (wrong way) I'll be fine .... and warm. The winter is waiting for a test.

 

[MVDarlin]

Additives are likely in the main fuel tanks. Heaters seldom have their own fuel tanks and draw their fuel from mains.

 

[kapnd]

Current diesel doesn't burn well in some stoves/heaters. Usually the problem is more soot. Using #1 diesel or home heating oil helps. I use a stabilizer and catalyst in #2 with no problems.

"Current Diesel" is formulated to burn much cleaner than your Dad's diesel was.
If it doesn't burn well in your (old?) heater, it could have somewhat to do with the low sulfur content of modern fuel.
Additives probably have little to no effect in your stove, but the alcohol usually contained in them can raise hell with your engine's injector system.

 

[Portage_Bay]

"Current Diesel" is formulated to burn much cleaner than your Dad's diesel was.
If it doesn't burn well in your (old?) heater, it could have somewhat to do with the low sulfur content of modern fuel.

I had a conversation with ScanMarine in Seattle yesterday regarding Wallas heaters. The 40Dt is not currently available because it does not work well with some of the "current diesel" fuels on the market. This is due to the fuels being a bio blend which fouls the 40Dt. Apparently the 30Dt and 22Dt are not affected by the "current diesels".

There was no mention of additives causing any issues.