diesel additives

[Doug]

Just got our Delica and a neighbour said that I'd get better mileage (kilometreage?) and longer pump and injector life if I used an additive. He said that what they had to remove from standard fuel to help get the sulphur out of it also removed the lubrication component. He runs a diesel Land Cruiser and says he adds a few ounces of 2-cycle oil to every tank full because of this. Does anyone know anything about this? I've never run a diesel before (well, except for a D-6 about 35 years ago).
Thanks,
Doug

[delicat]

Hi Doug and welcome!

You'll find tons of info on this using the search function but yes, your neighbour is right. Go ahead and use same as he does or other additive that you'll find have been discussed previously on this forum.

Enjoy your ride, she'll be perfect for your needs!

[Green1]

Or you could listen to the engineers that design these vehicles, and the companies that sell the vehicles, and the companies that sell the fuel... All of whom agree that additives are not necessary, and some of whom worry you may actually damage things by using them...

I have NEVER seen a company that produces diesel engines outside of North America recommend any additives in the fuel, and in fact I have seen all the major import manufacturers specifically say NOT to use them. (not sure why domestic manufacturers endorse additives, I suspect if you follow the money trail you'd find out though....)

[marsgal42]

It's your van, your money, and, yes, your search function.

I looked in to this when I got Gumdrop. I couldn't see any need, no diesel mechanic I talked to said I needed anything, and even the people whose job it was to sell me additives said I didn't need any. This would seem pretty conclusive.

The primary application of biocide is when diesel fuel tanks sit for extended periods (weeks), allowing Things to grow in them. This isn't an issue with automotive diesels.

...laura

[Aztec Nomad]

Hey,
I thought the additives were for cold weather only. When the temperature gets real cold the fuel will actually start to thicken up almost like gel. There are signs of gelling happening by uneven idling, power loss or the engine will quit entirely. In previous diesels I have owned, fuel conditioner was the only "additive" that I used. If this helps, and you use the conditioner follow the directions on the back of the bottle.
Adam

[Green1]

Hey,
I thought the additives were for cold weather only. When the temperature gets real cold the fuel will actually start to thicken up almost like gel. There are signs of gelling happening by uneven idling, power loss or the engine will quit entirely. In previous diesels I have owned, fuel conditioner was the only "additive" that I used. If this helps, and you use the conditioner follow the directions on the back of the bottle.
Adam

All gas stations in Canada already add cold weather additives to their fuel, they also advertise this fact heavilly ("winter fuel", "fuel line anti-freeze", etc) people usually notice their fuel economy drop slightly when the gas stations switch over each fall.

[Aztec Nomad]

Hey,
Yes that is true, but I'm curious if there's enough when its -25. I would still add it I knew there was some real cold weather coming.

[tonydca]

Or you could listen to the engineers that design these vehicles, and the companies that sell the vehicles, and the companies that sell the fuel... All of whom agree that additives are not necessary, and some of whom worry you may actually damage things by using them...

I have NEVER seen a company that produces diesel engines outside of North America recommend any additives in the fuel, and in fact I have seen all the major import manufacturers specifically say NOT to use them. (not sure why domestic manufacturers endorse additives, I suspect if you follow the money trail you'd find out though....)

**Disclaimer** I'm no diesel mechanic, but I'm not sure I agree 100% with this, strictly from a lubrication standpoint (gelling WVO/BioDiesel is another matter).

The issue for me is that we have 15-year-old engines designed to run on low-sulphur fuel (<500ppm) being fed ultra-low-sulphur fuel (<15ppm), and its the sulphur that helps with the lubrication.

All fuel manufacturers claim that the additives they mix in lieu of the sulphur are "just as good", but it smacks to me a little bit of "trust us, we know what we're doing". My bet is that they are doing whatever works cheapest for them, not necessarily best for the engines.

A bit of light reading:

http://www.johnfjensen.com/Diesel_fuel_ ... e_test.pdf

I certainly plan to stick in a bit of lubricating additives with my fuel, and from this study, looks like a wee dash of the ol' biodiesel is just the ticket!

Tony.

[Green1]

Hey,
Yes that is true, but I'm curious if there's enough when its -25. I would still add it I knew there was some real cold weather coming.

It has always been enough for me, and I've driven down to -40c (never tried any colder...)

As for lubrication, sure the fuel manufacturers say it's enough, and the car companies say it's enough, and the people who designed the engines say it's enough... but the people selling the additives say otherwise... I know which one I will choose to believe...

[drrod]

I like to think that the credo of "....if you do no good, at least do no harm...." would apply here. Is there any harm in adding the commonly available additives?

Rod

[Green1]

I like to think that the credo of "....if you do no good, at least do no harm...." would apply here. Is there any harm in adding the commonly available additives?

Rod

According to who?
According to those who make the additives, no. According to those who make the engines, maybe.

My question is, why spend more of your own money to specifically disregard the advice of the people who make the fuel and the engines?

[drrod]

Well.......let's see.......there was a bottle of it in the van when we got it (so no extra money laid out) and Mardy recommended it.
Other than that, no reason other than I know less than squat about diesels and I thought, well what harm could it do?
Rod

[Blackberry]

A bit of light reading:

http://www.johnfjensen.com/Diesel_fuel_ ... e_test.pdf

I certainly plan to stick in a bit of lubricating additives with my fuel, and from this study, looks like a wee dash of the ol' biodiesel is just the ticket!

Interesting report. Thanks for posting this link Tony. Sounds like a pinch of soy-based bio-fuel is the ticket. I wonder if 2% bio is little enough to not harm/need to upgrade the fuel lines?

[Doug]

Well, thanks everyone. I've just learned a lot. Still don't know what I'm going to do about additives, but I've learned a bunch. Looks like it's going to be fun and very helpful. I appreciate all the input.

Delica Doug