How often do you treat your diesel fuel tank and what product do you use? I think I got some bad fuel and am trying to take care of it.
I get mine at Wal-Mart and add about 1/2 gallon every 6 mo. I drive about 10,000 miles a year.
Detroit recommends that you use no additives.
I will modify that statement though to say that if you live in a high humidity-high heat area, you may want to add a biocide every year or so.
Petroleum eating bacteria live in the interface between the moisture that condenses at the bottom of your tank and the fuel. They have a nasty habit of plugging your fuel filters. Just ask me, I had to stop on the side of I29 between Fargo, NC and KC, Mo. 9 times to clean filters on our last bus. At -22° it ain't a bit of fun!
If you run in minus degree weather you may also want to use No. 1 fuel instead of No. 2 or blended.
Good luck, Do it the way that makes you happiest, but do it safely.
Dallas
GO BUSSING!
I buy and use lots of this wonderful product. I add about 8 ounces per 100 gallons to every vehicle I own. It is the magic elixer. Power Service can be purchased at Walmart. It is in the while container. Power Service has several other products that are also good. My old Cummins 220HP was a little sluggish, when first purchased in Ca. I added about a pint of Power Service to the first tank of fuel. The Crown was used by a smal church school and had zero maintenence. After about 300 miles, the engine had much more power and less smoke on the long hard pull hills. There are many other fuel additives on the market, as Lucas and others. On another long trip, my fuel began to gel. I added Power Service anti-gel and the engine began to run great. California has nearly no fuel additives in the diesel fuel. My old engine needs some fuel lube. Try it you will like it. Frank in Idaho
Quote from: frank-id on May 28, 2007, 02:45:14 PM
My old Cummins 220HP was a little sluggish, when first purchased in Ca. I added about a pint of Power Service to the first tank of fuel. The Crown was used by a smal church school and had zero maintenence. After about 300 miles, the engine had much more power and less smoke on the long hard pull hills.
I'm not an expert, but I would venture a guess that the injectors were dirty. The additive cleaned the injectors thereby improving the spray quality.
I just picked up my bus in January so I don't have a long enough history to compare the good/bad effects, but here is what I have done.
I've ran Diesel-Klien that I find at Wal-Mart, gallon size jug; 2x (every 1500 miles) now to help clean the system. My bus had been basically sitting for a couple of years. Seems like it helped, I was just hoping it couldn't hurt.
I have an old 2 stroke so I have also thrown in a bottle of Marvel Mystery Oil 2x now also (with the new fuel and lower sulfer, I had the same thoughts I was hoping it couldn't hurt, and the engine might find some benefit from it. I'm here in Tennessee where the humidity gets pretty thick during the summer, I try to keep my tanks filled between trips to help with any moisture issues.
Evan
30 years on the 04 and no treatment ever.
nor in any of our other coaches over the years.
Key: Keep the tank full. Less than full tanks are breading grounds for "bugs" and Water contamination from Condensation.
I'll second Dallas on this one!! Fuel addititves are like snake oil at the carnival, just something to part you from your money. DD says not to use them period!! But after spending a day in the street with fuel lines plugged with alge. I don't care what DD says I use Biocide on a regular basis. My bus sits with fuel in the tank for long periods of time.
The commercial snake oil does NOT control alge. I do not care what it says on the lable. You are not going to get 50% percent better milage and have your rings restored and your gout cured.
algecides can be purchased at marine supply stores like West Marine, Boat US ect. I am sure there are other places but I do not know of them.
Update: I drove the coach home yesterday {150 miles] } and it went great. Turbo pushed up to 15 (tops) and had plenty of power. I went to NAPA and bought a product called Soltron fuel treatment. Before the Soltron it would only push to 11 turbo even after the filter changes. This is the first fuel treatment for me in 18 years of busing but it works for me.
If DD doesn't recommend using any aditives, what do they say about removing the bugs, maybe remove the tank and flush then reinstall.
Or drain and rinse, drain and rinse, and drain and rinse again. DD is just covering their @$# for litigation purposes.
What is needed is a believable test. Something that is done by an independent source. We'll probably never see it done ($$$) but it would be nice.
Ed.
I have used Texas refinery additive and there diesel pep product in our diesel tractors and trucks, and since i began we have had no injector or pump problems. Before we had problems every year but then again the quality of our fuel these days sucks its always dirty! Anyways just my opinion from my experience. Also in our diesel pickups it gained about 1.5 miles per gallon with the T.R. diesel pep , have not tryed in my D.D. 6V92 in the bus cause its not road ready yet! hope this helps Chris