#1 diesel year round

[nyone]

I burn home heating oil in my early 1990 and 2000 era machines. I do use additive. Never had a gelling issue and I bought my fuel in 2020.

 

[MHarryE]

Many years ago, as an engineer for Caterpillar, the smaller machines at our plant in Brooklyn Park, MN, needed to switch from Cat engines to Perkins rebadged Cat when Caterpillar bought Perkins. With the change, we found we couldn't pass our cooling tests. Perkins engineer over to MN to find out what could be the reason. He ran through our test parameters and learned we used fuel from the plant's supply. Being in Minnesota, the plant used a winter blend - half #1, half #2. Turns out that due to the lower heat content of #1, more fuel is used to reach peak power (needed for our cooling test) and subsequently more heat rejection into the cooling system. Add special tank for testing and easily pass our cooling test. It looks like you don't use that much fuel in a year so not a major problem but for those who think it is only a lack of lubricity, I'm sure you are aware that fuel usage with #1 is much higher, but did you also realize that your engine will need significantly more cooling?

 

[can do]

I have found that an additive and running #2 will still gel when it gets near zero. If you have a tractor made before they took the sulfur out of diesel you might worry about the lubrication factor. Anything made recently I think people worry too much about the lubricity of diesel. That said I probably wouldn’t run straight number 1. That for north they are almost certainly blending in number 1 so I’d just make sure you are getting recent fuel and you should be good.

Your right on the age of the diesel engine, & the age of older tractors. I personally don't do anything to the diesel fuel I just run what they have at the pump, & it's sad to say I only fuel twice a year; So that would be late fall, & late spring I just make sure to change the fuel filter once year regardless of the hrs. used. I have never had any issues with the engine which is a 2018 Iseki 3 cylinder that requires low sulfur diesel. I might add that I always make sure the tank is full, & I never let it sit with just a 1/2 tank of fuel for more than 2 to 3 weeks, & I never have added fuel treatments.

 

[dieselscout80]

Many years ago, as an engineer for Caterpillar, the smaller machines at our plant in Brooklyn Park, MN, needed to switch from Cat engines to Perkins rebadged Cat when Caterpillar bought Perkins. With the change, we found we couldn't pass our cooling tests. Perkins engineer over to MN to find out what could be the reason. He ran through our test parameters and learned we used fuel from the plant's supply. Being in Minnesota, the plant used a winter blend - half #1, half #2. Turns out that due to the lower heat content of #1, more fuel is used to reach peak power (needed for our cooling test) and subsequently more heat rejection into the cooling system. Add special tank for testing and easily pass our cooling test. It looks like you don't use that much fuel in a year so not a major problem but for those who think it is only a lack of lubricity, I'm sure you are aware that fuel usage with #1 is much higher, but did you also realize that your engine will need significantly more cooling?

Thanks I did NOT know that about increasing fuel consumption.

 

[Saucymynx]

My fuel is delivered in bulk and it is mixed with the appropriate additives for the appropriate season. I am in the upper peninsula of Michigan so deal with those cold weather things as well. I always use power service in addition and keep my tanks full.

 

[HAR]

This is an interesting page, by Shell, on the subject

 

[rScotty]

This is an interesting page, by Shell, on the subject

That's a link to a credit card company.

 

[Sawyer Rob]

I live in Minnesota. We have temps to -30f, and occasionally go days never getting above zero. That means that I may have to blow snow when it seriously cold. I realize the issue with #1 having less lubrication so I was just looking for some insight from people who know more about this issue than I do.

Just add a QUART of 2 stroke oil per 50 gallons of diesel and don't worry about it.

I lived where guys did this year after year without any problems.

SR

 

[RayIN]

That I'm sure would be better than nothing ... I remember someone did a test on "lubricity" in diesel fuel additives, with measuring "wear and tear" on some metal ... One of the things they tested was 2 stroke oil ... I don't recall how that faired, or the mix ratio ... What I do remember is the standard dose recommended by HotShots was near the top, but not the best ... So that's why I figured I'd give it an extra half dose of just the LX4 they use in there regular additives ..

https://www.dieselplace.com/threads/lubricity-additive-study-results.177728/

If you're into detailed technical reading: https://apps.dtic.mil/sti/tr/pdf/ADA326098.pdf
BTW, HotShots was not sold when those tests were performed.

 

[HAR]

That's a link to a credit card company.

Yup, but it also says "A Member of the Shell Group", so still possibly Shell????