If you have a diesel, read this.

[vgodenwa]

http://www.johnfjensen.com/Diesel_fuel_additive_test.pdf

This is a test of additives for ULSD since sometimes it doesn't have enough lube added to replace the sulphur. Some worked. Some well known ones didn't. Looks like the Walmart marine 2 stroke is the best deal IF you have a pre-2007.

Von

[indyguy]

Heres my experence as a 30 plus year diesel mechanic.

We have better cleaner burning diesel fuel right now then anything we used in the past. I run several diesel powered trucks of my own along with diesel powered equipment and have yet to see a fuel injection pump of injector fail from the use of ULSD.I use no fuel additives.

I deal with Cummins and Deere engines new and we have had no fuel system problems related to the use of ULSD. If anything we are seeing longer fuel system life and cleaner burning engines.

I have not yet had any diesel engine company tell me they NEED a fuel additive with todays fuel and I have asked at trade shows and such.

My newest truck is a 2010 with a 3 year 100,000 mile warranty on the engine and I was told no additives were needed for the use of ULSD. It does use DEF fluid to meet tier 4 diesel emissions. It uses a gal every 2000 miles @2.75 a gal but this is the future of new diesel engines both on and off road.

Diesel fuel additives are just snake oil.

[keydl]

Old diesel engines can benefit from lube in the fuel, the VE injection pump was designed for a HFFR of 350 - the new ULSD is 520 as a spec. The VE is used on old VW, Dodge and others - it is a rotary. Electronic systems have no problem. I many locations the lube is added in the tank wagon when it is delivered so the amount may be variable.

Thedieselplace.com did a series of lab tests on additives and found most were worse than nothing but to hygrade the results the best common was 2%nbiodiesel followed by 2cycle oil (their ratio was 1:200, the common recommend is 1:128 - oz per gallon). Over 50 were tested and most were paint thinner or worse and made the wear worse.

I've been pulling wrenches since the 50s and remember selling 'upper cylinder lube' and 2cycle looks the same and often boosts fuel mileage - on my Isuzu diesel with a VE pump that lost 3 mpg with the ULSD the 2cycle brought back 2.5 mpg, I will attribute that to the better lube on the upper rings.

[Oblio13]

Well said, Indyguy.

I can't understand the fascination diesel owners have with pouring everything from used motor oil to automatic transmission fluid into their fuel tanks.

[vgodenwa]

Cleaner burning fuel - I guess so!!! That was the point - for emissions.
Several people told you don't worry - then don't worry. Be happy!!
Walmart two stroke marine oil is snake oil..... try not using it in your outboard motor.
Did you even read the article??? The manufacturers wanted a spec of something like 460 and got 520.
Oh, never mind.
Keydl, thanks for trying.

[Oblio13]

The engineers who designed our diesel engines know more about them than anyone else. The "new" ULSD has been in use in Europe for years. If it were causing problems there, they'd know about it.

The owner's manuals of all three of mine specifically caution against using fuel additives.

If you absolutely cannot restrain yourself from pouring foreign substances into your diesel tank, at least use something that was specifically designed for the purpose. Most additives are 99% diesel fuel anyway, so at least they won't do any harm beyond wasting your money.

Thinking heavy oils engineered for gasoline two-strokes are good for newer common rail diesels is close to mental illness. It's asking for trouble, and it'll void your warranty.

[indyguy]

Truck builders big and small are struggling to make MPG.

If a few ounces of some magic formula was capable of better fuel mileage as they claim new trucks manufacturs would include a bottle and instructions how to use with every truck sold or better yet already blended to the fuel you buy.

[vgodenwa]

That proves you didn't read the article.
They specifically said you cannot use the 2stroke in post Jan 2007 (DPF) vehicles.

PS: the same genius engineers are the ones that designed engines like the ford 6.0. Trust them.
PPS: as you stated, you have a 100,000 mile warranty. Any problems before that and you may get a rental, but you don't have your truck. Any problems after that and they just don't care. If you spent $50,000 for 100,000 miles, you might as well have bought a gas truck.

[indyguy]

I have a 6.0 Ford and other than a fuel leak havent had problems with it. As for my 2010 truck it will give me 300,000 plus miles with out the need for snake oil.

FYI..... I saw that article on TDS long ago.

[rodamala]

ULSD destroyed the non-Viton o-ring head seal on my '91 VW's Bosch HPFP. I replaced the leaking seal with Viton... with the fuel pump still on the vehicle... it was tedious, but doable. If anyone needs the procedure, PM me.

[keydl]

The fuel has changed, the engine oil has changed - non of the current fuel meets manufactures specs for the engine and I can find only 2 brands of engine oil that meets spec for flat lifter engines. Like the cash for clunkers there is a part of the country that wants the old iron off the road, esp the dealers - parts are slim for 6 year old cars locally. Getting ranted into not using material that meets spec for the equipment is a poor plan, it would raise the cost of ownership. A DD 500 that regularly beats 7 mpg usually within 250# of 80k, a Dodge that gets over 20 empty and an old Isuzu that will beat 40 mpg empty and still gets 30 loaded.

The manufactures overlook water/methanol or catalytic propane to improve efficiency and chose urea? Catalytic propane (less than 10% mix) cuts particulates radically but raises NOx levels and fuel mileage (up to 20%) - no DPF needed and it makes fertilizer if it rains.

A friend bought a 12 year old truck that cost the PO a bundle for incompetent work - new injection pump $1600+, 5 starters $500 each, a lift pump and a couple sets of batteries. The actual problem - a 10 cent o-ring on the fuel filter! Leaking fuel on the starter. Don't forget the tow bills and cabs when it would not go but the bills in the truck added to about $5k - was the mechanic ignorant, hungry, jealous or a thief?

Rant off.