Fuel Treatment

[gm4106]

With the new type of diesel fuel out there I have been hearing a lot about bacteria growth in the fuel tanks and fuel gelling in the colder weather.  Their are several different products on the market to try to elevate this issue.  I have 8V71TA and just had a overhead done this spring and the motor seems to be running great.  As far as a preventative maintenance injector cleaner I am looking at Sea Foam or Lucas.  I am trying to find out who is having the best luck with each product.  I have heard a lot of good things about Sea Foam, however one of the draw backs is it is a little pricier.  I am not trying to save a little at the cost of having a lot of problems.  I am more than happy to pay the additional cost, let me know your thoughts.

[jjrbus]

 I had a bacterial growth problem, but that was befor the new fuel was out. My bus just sits too much with fuel in it.
I have found there are many people on both sides of the additive issue. Some very passionate about the use or non use of the products. So the age old question is it "snake oil" or truly a great product?  After much checking I decided against any of the truck stop type additvies.
  I dont want to go through the alge problem again so I use Bioguard, it is available at marine type stores. It is also possible to "polish" the fuel, which basicly is running the fuel through an external pump and filter, this is done alot by boat people.

http://www.westmarine.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/producte/10001/-1/10001/21560/377%20710/0/fuel%20additive/Primary%20Search/mode%20matchallpartial/0/0?N=377%20710&Ne=0&Ntt=fuel%20additive&Ntk=Primary%20Search&Ntx=mode%20matchallpartial&Nao=0&Ns=0&keyword=fuel%20additive&isLTokenURL=true&storeNum=6&subdeptNum=169&classNum=764

I should add that the one time I had a problem with bacteria the bus had sat for 6 months without starting, but did have a full tank.


    HTH Jim

[John316]

Howes Diesel Treat, Sold at many Flying J's and Pilots. They have an anti-gel garentee. They will pay for the towing if you gel up.

HTH

God bless,

John

[makemineatwostroke]

you guys are wasting your money on the anti-gel additives there very little wax left in the new fuel to gel in temps above 20 degrees and fuels sold are seasonal the oil compines take care of that for you the stuff is snake oil  keep the water out and there will not be any problems    have a great day

[larryh]

Guys keep tamks full and caps on tight and enjoy and it will fire up when you ready to go. If it's going to sit start it couple of times a month and bring up to temperature and keep it topped off and shouldn't be no problems and you won't need any snake oil.

LarryH

[John316]

MMA2S, I would have to say that a lot of it depends on where gm4106 lives. Florida? no problem. Northern Canada? Problem. I have heard since they have taken a lot of the sulpher out of the diesel that it gels more. I certainly am not a pro, but that is just my opinion. Others might be more informed.

HTH
God bless,

John

[makemineatwostroke]

John; sulfur has nothing to do with gelling it is the wax in fuel and you are right about the ulsd fuel freezing a few degrees before the lsd but it is nothing compaired to the gelling of high sulhur fuels of the past.The ulsd has suspended water and that is what freezes causing what little wax in the fuel to gel.Winter blend fuels are a 50/50 mix of #1 and #2 diesel and are good to around 0 degrees and no way is your fuel going to gel with your 60s or any other common rail engine returning fuel back to the tank at 120+ degrees,it's your money buy what you think is best but it is not needed      have a great day

[lostagain]

Nothern Canada: no problem. The fuel is seasonally adjusted to flow at the expected temperatures.

JC

[Jriddle]

From my experience with gelling diesel fuel happans as the result of not being prepared for the winter months. Late fall with summer blend in tank. I use additive if I have no room in tank for winter blend. The statement of returning fuel to tank is a good one when traveling. Cold start and wrong fuel is where most get into trouble in my experience.

[HB of CJ]

I was lucky with my Crown Super Coaches fuel, it was 7 years old when sold, but all the tests showed it to be fine.  And...it was a winter blend and was 95% full.

What I'm hearing is that the new "funny fuel" is just fine and about the only thing really needed is to make sure you have "winter fuel" when parked for the winter?  HB of CJ

[John316]

MMA2S,

Thanks for the info. It will save me some treatment expense. (Always looking for a better less expensive route!!!)

God bless,

John

[white-eagle]

yeah mma2s, that did help.  i've probably got summer weight fuel and maybe sitting all winter. 

guess i'll have to weigh that potential problem into whether i get to arcadia this NY's.  with diesel at $3 today, i'm hoping it will go to $2.50.  i think that may be my magic number.

i was adding some additives, but for lubricity, not algea.  i'm currently on a full tank of bio, so no additive needed, according to previous topics and discussions.

[busshawg]

I have had bad luck with adding Howes to cheap fuel, did freeze up after sitting for 2 days. I had added more than the recommended dosage. I usually add some sort of additive and always carry a jug of Meld Down for the rare occasion when I do freeze up. I have been caught on the side of he road in January in South Dakota at 2 in the morning. Dumped in all the additive I had, about 100 bucks worth, went through 3 sets of filters and nothing helped although it was running on 2 cylinders. Added the Melt Down , left running for about 6 hours, changed filters one last time and away I went. Have been using a product called 911. Not sure how good it is but so far it's been okay. A couple of gallons off gasoline will get you out of a pickle too, but only in an emergency, just add so ATF after your up and going to lube the pump.

Have fun

[John316]

Busshawg,

Thanks for the heads up on the Howe's treatment. That stuff sure is expensive enough if it doesn't work very well.

God bless,

John

[belfert]

I'm considering fuel additive this winter.  It can get downright cold here in the winter.  Diesel blending generally starts Oct 15th and I filled up a few weeks before that.

I don't generally take the bus anywhere in the winter, but it would be nice to have it start and run if I did want to start it.