Diesel Fuel Additives
- Thread starter Seevee
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Woodland Hills
Guru
Irregardless, I’m sticking with my Technol. I have grown accustomed to the smoke free starts and clean transom. Perhaps when I use up my current supply I’ll go without for a tank or two and see if the smoke returns.
caltexflanc
Guru
Never had an issue with either from 8v92Ti's on a Hatteras 56MY.
FF
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One thought for nervous folks with aging engines is today in shore most diesel has at least 5% bio gunk added .
AS the bio seems to be among the best sliding lubricants perhaps a 5 gal can from the shore added to every 100G or so might be a fuel help?
Only lo$s would be the road tax added to the road diesel, a buck or two.
Underway it might be worthwhile , but I would never let a boat sit with bio gunk in the fuel, it loves water.
AS the bio seems to be among the best sliding lubricants perhaps a 5 gal can from the shore added to every 100G or so might be a fuel help?
Only lo$s would be the road tax added to the road diesel, a buck or two.
Underway it might be worthwhile , but I would never let a boat sit with bio gunk in the fuel, it loves water.
catalinajack
Guru
Most has bio? Never heard or read anything like that. Do you have an authoritative source for your assertion?
Not to pre-empt FF, but I buy a lot of highway diesel, and am accustomed to stickers on the pump announcing that the product contains X percent biodiesel. Five or ten percent is pretty common. Have never seen it at any commercial filling station in any greater proportion than 20% bio.
FF
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"Most has bio? Never heard or read anything like that. Do you have an authoritative source for your assertion?"
As noted the source is on the diesel pump . Caviat Emptar!
As noted the source is on the diesel pump . Caviat Emptar!
caltexflanc
Guru
It's going to a pretty rare case these days where there are differences in formulation between on and off road fuel, other than the red dye for tax purposes. Ask the truck driver or his company sometime.
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I use nothing. My fuel generally does not have a long stay in my tanks. Also, the majority of the fuel I use is bought at my marina....which sells Valvtect branded fuel(additives).
My reality is that fuel for my boat is delivered through a pump that has no stickers on it or nearby, so I have no idea of its % of Bio, unlike shoreside pumps that have to display such stickers and usually say "may contain up to...% Bio". You get what the vendor has in the tank, without any choices.
caltexflanc
Guru
Like Scott said. The fuel that pump dispenses was delivered by a truck owned by a company that services your fuel dock. The owner of the fuel dock should know what is being delivered, and if not, refer you to the fuel company.
And it easy enough to take a fuel sample and send it off to a lab, and see how it lines up with your engine manufacturer's guidelines.
Bigsfish
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Know your supplier. I buy from the same fuel delivery service and I and his thousands of customers have confidence in him. I’ve bought fuel in the Bahamas that was rolled down the dock in 55 gallons drums (Baja Filter time).
silentfaith
Senior Member
For those that want to inspect their fuel tanks through the inspection plate one important trick is to use a red lens flashlight as only red let you see to the bottom through the fuel.
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Baker
I know for a fact that is not true. I have word that some Flor de Cana has made it to your tank.
See you in Ft Pierce.
Yep Hopefully we will make it this year. I was very disappointed in missing it this last year. We shall make it this time!!!
And yes, it is an old pirate's trick!! A little splash of rum in the tanks keeps that funky algae at bay!!! It doesn't kill it....just paralyzes it....
FF
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"Ask the truck driver or his company sometime.
Some small fuel delivery companies have one tank trucks and deliver house fuel as diesel.Hopefully they change the filter in their yard and on the truck more often."
Some small fuel delivery companies have one tank trucks and deliver house fuel as diesel.Hopefully they change the filter in their yard and on the truck more often."
mdstrum
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Big fan AXI AC-705....have used for the last 10 years with NO issues, had issues with other products leaving slung at bottom of tank
https://www.defender.com/product.jsp?path=-1|2285701|2349053|2349055&id=3862833
https://www.defender.com/product.jsp?path=-1|2285701|2349053|2349055&id=3862833
Gypsyjon
Veteran Member
BIOBAR at every fill up. Keeps the bugs from growing at the fuel water interface.
Photoman41
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I buy ValveTech fuel which already has the additives mixed in.
grandbanksbayfield
Senior Member
Diesel Conditioners.
I too use Diesel Power Service Kleen in my 83 Ford 6.9 liter truck and now in my Grand Banks 32 with the 135 Lehman. Through the years, I have gone through periods without any additives and noticed no problems, but I give it the product the benefit of the doubt and use it most of the time. Perhaps far more important is to be very, very fastidious about changing your filters to keep the muck out of the system. Having a trawler that gets almost 4 Nm per gallon, it is easy to end the year (here in MI) with fuel in the tanks that runs over into the next near. Diesel being more stable than gasoline, should not have many problems if it sits for six months, but in the fall and especially when I am out cruising and fill up at various marinas away from home, I use a fuel drier. "Heat" now makes a diesel-compatible product. So, in the fall I do NOT fill tanks completely full to keep condensation down. It just makes for more, older fuel. Instead, I put in half a jug of conditioner in each tank and a couple cans of heat in each side, hopefully keeping the water in solution and then fill up right away in the spring. Also, when cruising and filling up, a couple bottles of Heat in each tank -- you never know who has water in their tanks when go get away from home. And fill up at big marinas that have a lot of business. So far, no problems, just good cruising.
I too use Diesel Power Service Kleen in my 83 Ford 6.9 liter truck and now in my Grand Banks 32 with the 135 Lehman. Through the years, I have gone through periods without any additives and noticed no problems, but I give it the product the benefit of the doubt and use it most of the time. Perhaps far more important is to be very, very fastidious about changing your filters to keep the muck out of the system. Having a trawler that gets almost 4 Nm per gallon, it is easy to end the year (here in MI) with fuel in the tanks that runs over into the next near. Diesel being more stable than gasoline, should not have many problems if it sits for six months, but in the fall and especially when I am out cruising and fill up at various marinas away from home, I use a fuel drier. "Heat" now makes a diesel-compatible product. So, in the fall I do NOT fill tanks completely full to keep condensation down. It just makes for more, older fuel. Instead, I put in half a jug of conditioner in each tank and a couple cans of heat in each side, hopefully keeping the water in solution and then fill up right away in the spring. Also, when cruising and filling up, a couple bottles of Heat in each tank -- you never know who has water in their tanks when go get away from home. And fill up at big marinas that have a lot of business. So far, no problems, just good cruising.
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skipperguy
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Additives
Used Biobore per “maintenance” mix ratio for 26 years with every fill-up. Older Perkins twins had 5500 hrs & ran like silk.
Used Biobore per “maintenance” mix ratio for 26 years with every fill-up. Older Perkins twins had 5500 hrs & ran like silk.
Symphony
Senior Member
Howes Lube products sells Diesel Defender and guarantees better than 5% increase in fuel economy. they have a nifty calculator on the Diesel Defender page. If you use a lot of fuel in a year it makes sense.
I haven't used it yet (been shocking the new boat with Biobar JF) but a very experienced mechanic sailor friend has used it for decade.
I haven't used it yet (been shocking the new boat with Biobar JF) but a very experienced mechanic sailor friend has used it for decade.
greatpapabear
Senior Member
The main threat is from diesel bug. If it's going to be a problem, it will be when you are in sloppy seas, causing the tanks to stir up any dead bug from the bottom of the tank to clog filters and pipes. Just at the time you really don't need enine failures.
In over 30 years of boating, I've used an additive specificlly to kill bug, at every fill up plus at the start and end of the season.
Bug comes from many sources. Possibly, the main source is from a refuelling point which is frequently used so its fuel has been dormant and able to brew bug. Another favourite is where a refuelling point has just been re-filled causing the rubbish at bottom of the tank to be stirred up. It needs time to settle - maybe 24 hours.
So, careful choosing of refuelling points, and regular anti-bug dosing helps ensure your engines will keep running in emotional seas.
In over 30 years of boating, I've used an additive specificlly to kill bug, at every fill up plus at the start and end of the season.
Bug comes from many sources. Possibly, the main source is from a refuelling point which is frequently used so its fuel has been dormant and able to brew bug. Another favourite is where a refuelling point has just been re-filled causing the rubbish at bottom of the tank to be stirred up. It needs time to settle - maybe 24 hours.
So, careful choosing of refuelling points, and regular anti-bug dosing helps ensure your engines will keep running in emotional seas.
FF
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"BIOBAR at every fill up. Keeps the bugs from growing at the fuel water interface."
Practical Sailor recommends changing brands every few uses , so the bugs don't learn to live with brand A.
Practical Sailor recommends changing brands every few uses , so the bugs don't learn to live with brand A.
Sharpseadog
Senior Member
I use "Diesel Kleen" AND Biobor. The ultra low sulfur diesel does not adequately lubricate injector pump and injectors. Fuel.supplier MIGHT add additives. Why take a chance. The Biobor prevents growth of algae. My common rail diesel runs at 30,000 PSI. Hard to believe, but verified. Need all the lube it can get. ??
SteveK
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"Lubricity
The most immediate concern with ULSD, certainly the one that has received the most publicity, is lubricity. When diesel fuel is refined to make ULSD, it is reacted with hydrogen to remove the sulfur. This process also removes much of the fuel's lubricity. (Many people mistakenly believe that it's only the sulfur that supplies lubricity.) Lubricity is essential in diesel fuel to reduce friction at finely machined pumps and injectors; without sufficient lubricity, a diesel would grind itself to a premature death.
Minimum lubricity is a requirement of the ASTM-D975 standard, which means oil companies must use either soy biodiesel or a synthetic additive to return fuel to its pre-ULSD lubricity levels. Soy biodiesel has the potential to loosen built-up gunk in the tank and clog filters, but not to the extent that ethanol does with gasoline tanks. Note, however, that a synthetic additive is more likely to be used, as it’s less expensive and more stable than soy."
from link https://www.boatus.com/magazine/2012/june/do-we-need-to-worry-about-ultra-low-sulfur-diesel.asp
Biobar claims
"adds lubricity back to low sulfur diesel fuel
Exceeds ASTM Standards, MI-S-53021A, EPA approved and U.S. Coast Guard Certified."
Since 2006 ULSD was introduced and now it is everywhere. Before 2006 maybe it was not a concern, engines built after 2006 were designed to use the stuff the same as newer car engines can use increasing amounts of corn.
"ULSD will run in any engine designed for the ASTM D-975 diesel fuels."
It is not relevant what you have done/not done over the last 30-40 years, things change.
The most immediate concern with ULSD, certainly the one that has received the most publicity, is lubricity. When diesel fuel is refined to make ULSD, it is reacted with hydrogen to remove the sulfur. This process also removes much of the fuel's lubricity. (Many people mistakenly believe that it's only the sulfur that supplies lubricity.) Lubricity is essential in diesel fuel to reduce friction at finely machined pumps and injectors; without sufficient lubricity, a diesel would grind itself to a premature death.
Minimum lubricity is a requirement of the ASTM-D975 standard, which means oil companies must use either soy biodiesel or a synthetic additive to return fuel to its pre-ULSD lubricity levels. Soy biodiesel has the potential to loosen built-up gunk in the tank and clog filters, but not to the extent that ethanol does with gasoline tanks. Note, however, that a synthetic additive is more likely to be used, as it’s less expensive and more stable than soy."
from link https://www.boatus.com/magazine/2012/june/do-we-need-to-worry-about-ultra-low-sulfur-diesel.asp
Biobar claims
"adds lubricity back to low sulfur diesel fuel
Exceeds ASTM Standards, MI-S-53021A, EPA approved and U.S. Coast Guard Certified."
Since 2006 ULSD was introduced and now it is everywhere. Before 2006 maybe it was not a concern, engines built after 2006 were designed to use the stuff the same as newer car engines can use increasing amounts of corn.
"ULSD will run in any engine designed for the ASTM D-975 diesel fuels."
It is not relevant what you have done/not done over the last 30-40 years, things change.
