Diesel Additive

rnbenton

rnbenton

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Since this is the first "winter" with my little diesel engines I have a question. I know this has been discussed adnauseum before but I'm still not sure I know the best thing to do.

Since I live in Florida and my boat is docked right behind my house winterizing per se is not an issue. However, with this very unseasonable cold start to winter it looks like I may have 2-3 months of very little or no substnatial boating.

So; 1) Do I need to put any additive in my fuel tanks? 2) If so, what should that be? Right now the tanks are about 1/2 full and I plan to take it to the local marina this Saturday and full them. In my mind that would be the perfect time to put in any additive but, I'm not sure if or what that should be.

So, if you more experienced diesel boaters can advise I would appreciate it.

Thanks,
Bob
 
Bob, up here in the great white mid Atlantic I've always used Pri-D for layup. Don't know if it works well but I've never had an issue in the spring with fuel for 9 years. One year we didn't add fuel for over a year and the fuel still was fresh, no smoke or issues. We were running detroits which did turn over a lot of fuel in the racors.
I tried to find how well of a top end/injector lubricant Pri-D was from the manufacturer but they never returned my messages.
 
I never use anything. If you have a fuel problem filter it otherwise leave it alone. Every additive fan says I have used XYZ for years and never had a problem. What does thet prove?? Cold fuel lasts longer that warm looses less cetane. I have come to the conclusion that running them briefly from time to time is good. Not enough to warm them because you really cant do that at idle but just enough to flow the oil and stop the valves and pistons and seals indifferent positions.
 
I've had diesels to take care of since 1986. All of them get a long winters nap. Leave the tanks full (condensation). Also add a dose of Biobor JF to prevent fungus growth. No harm in starting the engine every month or so just to slosh the oil around. you have changed the oil & filters right?
 
I think you should just go and find Boatbum and not worry about it:)

Niles
 
quote:
Originally posted by nwaring

I think you should just go and find Boatbum and not worry about it:)

Niles

Click to expand...


LOL, I've thought seriously about doing just that but the weather patterns are really snotty looking for the next month or so. It looks like he'll get a break this week end but then around the 11th or 12th things are going to go down hill very quickly.

That's why I may be looking at a 2-3 month lay up and was asking about additives. Cold weather and strong NE Winds just aren't my thing. :)

Bob
 
I've been adding 2 cycle oil (1 pt) for every fill-up (35 gal 7.3 Ford diesel) which adds lubricity to quiet my injectors. It really works.
 
I winter with full tanks and add Sea Foam in the spring to break up any water condensaton that may have occurred.
Other than that my diesels get regular filter changes and diesel fuel.
I don't do anything for growth as I don't think it grows real well in freezing temps and in summer I put a lot of fuel thru the tanks.
 
Algae wont grow in a dark tank according to Passagemaker mag. Sludge will form at the bottom of the tank. Keep the tank full for condensation and filter the fuel. Keep it stirred up helps.
 
Valvtek has a good biocide that you can purchase at any marine store. It will kill any critters and will not clog your fuel filters. One bottle treats 480 gallons as I recall.

Good, cheap insurance.

The most important thing is a full tank.

Most diesel engine manufacturers state that the only additive they endorse is a biocide if you are operating in a warm humid climate.

Also most diesel engine manufacturers recommend not starting your diesel engine unless you can run it up to normal operating temperatures for 30 minutes or so.
 
Dave Can you provide some sources for that?
 
if you don't have a specific problem you are trying to fix, additives are as usefull as snake oil. diesel is only going to be usable if it is clean and filtering is the only way to make it clean. if you have algea in the fuel its an indication of water. neither of which will be removed with additives but will with proper filtration.
 
bruce, i cant speak for other mfg's but cummins specifically reccomends placing the engine under a small load i.e in gear, immediatly after starting and always running at approx 150 rpms over idle with a load. absent this the engine does not build sufficient pressure on the burn cycle to seat the rings completely. the result is unburned fuel making its way passed the rings and into the lube oil. over time this dilutes the lube oil which can cause engine damage. this is out of the operating manual of a mechanical 6CTA.

in the case of cummins, if your application requires long periods of very low speed use, it is recoomended changing the 165 T stats to 180 degree stats. the result is a cleaner burn and less soot at low speed. the downside is there is very little room for error on the raw water cooling side of the engine so running at high speed with any kind of fouling on the raw water side can lead to overheat damage before you can reccognize the problem and shut down.
 
quote:
Originally posted by rnbenton

quote:
Originally posted by nwaring

I think you should just go and find Boatbum and not worry about it:)

Niles

Click to expand...


LOL, I've thought seriously about doing just that but the weather patterns are really snotty looking for the next month or so. It looks like he'll get a break this week end but then around the 11th or 12th things are going to go down hill very quickly.

That's why I may be looking at a 2-3 month lay up and was asking about additives. Cold weather and strong NE Winds just aren't my thing. :)

Bob

Click to expand...


Indeed. High winds will kick in this weekend and we are hoping to get around the Whale this week.
 
Does Yanmar recommend an additive? Probably not. Down there, I'd just fuggeddaboutit.
 
quote:
Originally posted by Shadowcruzr

Algae wont grow in a dark tank according to Passagemaker mag. Sludge will form at the bottom of the tank. Keep the tank full for condensation and filter the fuel. Keep it stirred up helps.

Click to expand...


Of all the diesel fuel tanks I have cleaned, they were all dark inside and a very high percentage has algae. Not one fuel tank had a ray of light in them...

As for "keep it stirred up" - most of my boat customers stir up the fuel while underway and clog the filters - then they call me.

The best advise I have given before:
1) keep the tank 96% full or Absolutely empty
2) treat the fuel by the size of the tank (not the volume of fuel on board)
3) do not mix Bio-Diesel and reg diesel
4) get a 6-pac of fuel filter and go boating

Absolute,

"Suckin Sludge & Havin a Gas"
 
It seems many have not read the OP's question & are confusing a cetane booting additive with an additive for long term storage. Two very different products.

First of all he is only talking about a couple of months of no use. Hardly time enough to worry about algae forming,, especially if the tank is left full, IMO. Construction equipment, farm equipment etc. sit far longer with no use & no additives.

Obviously it is best to use the boat, slosh the fuel around, filter it than to let it sit for months in some quiet backwater slip.

For extended storage, no movement to discourage algae & sediment, Biobor is cheap insurance. Been using it since 1986 with no ill effect to any engines. No matter what you should never leave the dock without at least one spare filter onboard.
 
My thinking is, since diesels have a return line and cycles the fuel at a high rate, running the engines and keeping an eye on and changing the fuel filter regularly would help remove water and any growth. Running the engines will heat the fuel in the tank from the returning fuel Depending on your filtering system, adding an extra pre-filter with sufficient size to prevent flow restriction with a 30 micron filter or smaller.

Look at these systems just to get an idea what is needed and how it works.

http://www.algae-x.net/2/1/Fuel Filtration Systems.html

If you're worried about diluted fuel, get it analyzed to see the effects of running without load and change oil as needed.
 
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