Fuel Additives

[RobS]

Just got back from a graduation party at a buds house. He's a diesel mechanic and we got to talking about additives. I currently use Power Service but he says that stuff is bad and their 911 is worse. All they use is Stanadyne. He says this is a much bigger issue with biodiesel as it forms algae much easier than conventional diesel. We didn't get a long discussion but I thought I'd throw this out and see what others have heard.

 

[RalphVa]

My Benz diesel is 25 years old and has about 210k miles on it. I recall using diesel additive 3, maybe, 4 times in its life. Twice, it developed a constant speed ping. Put Chevron Techron (or is it Red Line?). Stopped the ping. First was right after we bought it after sitting on the showroom floor 1 year old with 22k miles on it. Second time was after it had been stored for 4 1/2 years, brown diesel. The other time or two, I got a wild hair up my tail and put some Powerservice in it.

Started off using the PS in my tractor. Almost never use it now. Think its main value might be for old fuel, to counteract any algae possibility, and in really cold winter to prevent wax formation in the fuel. My fuel is reasonably fresh all the time, and our winters don't really get cold enough to have much trouble with wax formation.

Unless you have a problem, I think you're wasting your money to use them all the time.

Ralph

 

[RobS]

A few more things I recall from the conversation...

He said PS911 has a lot of alcohol in it which does well to absorb the water in the fuel. Trouble is, the remaining alcohol dilutes the fuel which reduces it's lubricity for the moving parts of the pump and injectors. Makes sense to me, but to what extent does this happen with a small amount of the additive?

He also mentioned a seminar that his boss went to at a fuel company. They talked about biodiesel. Apparently, it only had a (guaranteed) shelf live of 30 days past manufacture. This would include transportation and storage times. They asked about this and the fuel supplier didn't have a good answer. Sounds fishy to me but who knows?

 

[Skyco]

Well RobS- if your mechanic friend is so misinformed to think algae (it is actually microbes) forms in diesel fuel then I don't think I'd put much stock in what he thinks about fuel additives

 

[chh]

My neighbor had the injection pump and injectors rebuilt on his old Dodge cummins a couple of months ago. The diesel shop that did it really recommended using an additive on a regular basis. Not every tank, but pretty often. They sold Lucas(I think) but generally didn't recommend one brand over another. Their basic advice was "Just get some and use it, it will help."

 

[sixdogs]

About 20 years ago a diesel shop owner mentioned Stanadyne to me and I have used it faithfully ever since in every tank. I have gone thousands of tractor hours for Ford, Kubota and Deere and NEVER had an injector cleaned or taken apart. Never had a failure to start and never had any funny sounds while on the tractor. Well, maybe after baked beans for supper.
Beats me but I used it becasue he used it and it worked for me. I also filter my fuel with a double filter (water separator and filter) before it goes into my machinery.

 

[em14]

I googled Stanadyne to see where it is sold and didn't see any sources near me here in this part of Florida. I live near near Gainesville Fl. Is it sold by any of the "chain" auto stores i.e., NAPA?
Leo

 

[coobie]

Just got back from a graduation party at a buds house. He's a diesel mechanic and we got to talking about additives. I currently use Power Service but he says that stuff is bad and their 911 is worse. All they use is Stanadyne. He says this is a much bigger issue with biodiesel as it forms algae much easier than conventional diesel. We didn't get a long discussion but I thought I'd throw this out and see what others have heard.

Look at this website on additives http://www.hbruns.com/images/LubricityStudy.JPG lower numbers are better,with that said I have been useing stanadyne PF,primrose 405-405 and now schaffers diesel treat in my 2004 cummins diesel,kioti tractor,kubota RTV diesel,and kubota ZTR diesel.I have never had a problem with injectors or gelling.coobie

 

[thatguy]

Look at this website on additives http://www.hbruns.com/images/LubricityStudy.JPG lower numbers are better,with that said,I have been useing stanadyne PF,primrose 405-405 and now schaffers diesel treat in my 2004 cummins diesel,kioti tractor,kubota RTV diesel,and kubota ZTR diesel.I have never had a problem with injectors or gelling.coobie

Is this your website? I went up one level looking for an article to go with the graph/jpg, and saw the 'famous' AR15.com dinner pictures and just wondered..

brian

 

[coobie]

Is this your website? I went up one level looking for an article to go with the graph/jpg, and saw the 'famous' AR15.com dinner pictures and just wondered..

brian

No this is a copy of a independent fuel additive study.It is called spicer fuel additive study.try this website, www.johnfjensen.com/Diesel_fuel_additive_test.pdf