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Deisel fuel additive ..........Question

we_dig_itwe_dig_it Member Posts: 6,614 ✭✭✭
edited November 2009 in General Discussion
I was talking to a friend of mine this weekend, and we both own tri-axle dump trucks and the subject came up about deisel fuel additives. He told me the best additive was chain saw bar oil. He said he puts a half gallon in 85 gallons of fuel. Some nationally well-known deisel mechanic swore by it. Said it has the same properties as Lucas products at a fraction of the cost. Ive never heard of this in my 23 yrs. of working around deisels. Anybody heard of this? Thoughts and comments.......

Comments

  • fishkiller41fishkiller41 Member Posts: 50,608
    edited November -1
    2 cycle, ashless TCW3 rated oil would be better.Kerosine and even gasoline is used in northern areas, in winter to combat jelling.
  • A J ChristA J Christ Member Posts: 7,534
    edited November -1
    Having been around and working on diesels for 40 years, I'l come out and say that unless you are addressing a particular issue such as cold weather gelling or treating for an algae bloom, anything you add is a waste of money.

    Diesel fuel right out of the pump should be all that you should have to put in your fuel tank.

    Adding some stuff will increase smoke, pollution and add ammunition to the tree huggers that want to add all sorts of devices to your diesel engine to make it "cleaner"
  • shootuadealshootuadeal Member Posts: 5,230 ✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    an over the road trucker up here buys a 30 gallon drum of atf about once a year that he mixes in with his fuel, says it lubricates the injectors.

    also when they switched from low sulfer to ultra low sulfer alot of the lubricity diesal fuel had was lost. so adding fuel additives or switching to a soy diesal is a good idea. most additives have/say on the bottle "upper cylinder lubricant"

    someone mentioned gelling which switching over to #1 diesal instead of #2 gets you down to below zero however in many parts it gets even colder and if you add in the wind chill you will need an additive. take this from a north dakotan semi owner[;)]
  • AlpineAlpine Member Posts: 15,041 ✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    quote:Originally posted by A J Christ
    Having been around and working on diesels for 40 years, I'l come out and say that unless you are addressing a particular issue such as cold weather gelling or treating for an algae bloom, anything you add is a waste of money.

    Diesel fuel right out of the pump should be all that you should have to put in your fuel tank.

    Adding some stuff will increase smoke, pollution and add ammunition to the tree huggers that want to add all sorts of devices to your diesel engine to make it "cleaner"




    That is your best answer. Additives are not needed, unless you have a problem.
    ?The problem with socialism is that you eventually run out of other people's money.?
    Margaret Thatcher

    "There are three kinds of lies: lies, damned lies and statistics."
    Mark Twain
  • FWAdditFWAddit Member Posts: 918 ✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    Are you sure he said chain saw bar oil? The bar and chain just need something reasonably slippery; the formula is not critical. Some brands consist of recycled engine crankcase oil. Some, but not all, have a substance like STP added to reduce the tendency of the oil to sling off the chain. Seems more likely that a person would recommend the 2-cycle oil added to chain saw gas, which is designed to mix with fuel and has to meet rigid specifications.

    I don't know anything about diesel engines--just thinking you ought to check with the guy to make sure you heard right.
  • n/an/a Member Posts: 168,427
    edited November -1
    We have several million dollars worth of equipment that is diesel powered.

    The ONLY additves we use to fuel is an anti-gel additive. Anything else is asking for trouble.
  • savage170savage170 Member Posts: 37,446 ✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    I only add to the older engines in the fleet the no sulpher fuel was killing the injectors and injector pumps I just add 2 cycle oil to help lube the pumps and injectors
  • we_dig_itwe_dig_it Member Posts: 6,614 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    quote:Originally posted by FWAddit
    Are you sure he said chain saw bar oil? The bar and chain just need something reasonably slippery; the formula is not critical. Some brands consist of recycled engine crankcase oil. Some, but not all, have a substance like STP added to reduce the tendency of the oil to sling off the chain. Seems more likely that a person would recommend the 2-cycle oil added to chain saw gas, which is designed to mix with fuel and has to meet rigid specifications.

    I don't know anything about diesel engines--just thinking you ought to check with the guy to make sure you heard right.



    No, Im sure. He is talking about bar oil. He said the mechanic was comparing the properties in Lucas to the properties in a quality bar oil, and they were similar. My friend is a "straight shooter", he uses it in his truck. Ive never heard of using it.
  • select-fireselect-fire Member Posts: 69,453 ✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    Nah.. he was talking about Marval mystery oil. I use 6 oz or so per tank to keep the injector pump lubed up. New epa fuel has no lubricants in it.
  • HandLoadHandLoad Member Posts: 15,998
    edited November -1
    The Injectors and Injector Pump were manufactured to such close tolerances that if you took them apart and held the parts in your hand, the differential heating would make it impossible to reassemble them. Many Engineers worked many hours to get the parts to be compatible with the fuel. Are you an Engineer? Do you know better than the Manufacturer? Better than the Fuel Engineers?

    Adding anything will cost ya.

    I maintained and operated 70,000 Horsepower Diesels, down to little 3-71s, (even on my VW Rabbit Diese)l for a large part of my 30 years in the Maritime Industry.
  • select-fireselect-fire Member Posts: 69,453 ✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    Well then my 06 Cummins is set up for the low sulpher fuel. Why the pump stickers for use in 07's up?

    http://www.greencarcongress.com/2006/10/ultra_lowsulfur.html
  • wittynbearwittynbear Member Posts: 4,518
    edited November -1
    I've heard of adding a bottle of Jack Daniel's to bring out a little more power, but never heard of putting chain saw bar oil in the fuel. I have heard of people using lucas fuel additives though.
  • HandLoadHandLoad Member Posts: 15,998
    edited November -1
    I just Fart into the Intakes...
  • A J ChristA J Christ Member Posts: 7,534
    edited November -1
    quote:Originally posted by Alpine
    quote:Originally posted by A J Christ
    Having been around and working on diesels for 40 years, I'l come out and say that unless you are addressing a particular issue such as cold weather gelling or treating for an algae bloom, anything you add is a waste of money.

    Diesel fuel right out of the pump should be all that you should have to put in your fuel tank.

    Adding some stuff will increase smoke, pollution and add ammunition to the tree huggers that want to add all sorts of devices to your diesel engine to make it "cleaner"




    That is your best answer. Additives are not needed, unless you have a problem.


    Exactly!
  • FWAdditFWAddit Member Posts: 918 ✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    quote:Originally posted by wittynbear
    I've heard of adding a bottle of Jack Daniel's to bring out a little more power, but never heard of putting chain saw bar oil in the fuel. I have heard of people using lucas fuel additives though.


    I added less than a bottle of Jack Daniel's to my personal tank once, and it took away my power.
  • we_dig_itwe_dig_it Member Posts: 6,614 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    quote:Originally posted by HandLoad
    I just Fart into the Intakes...



    [:D][:D][:D]
  • jimdeerejimdeere Member, Moderator Posts: 25,583 ******
    edited November -1
  • shilowarshilowar Member Posts: 38,815 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    I use Power Service cetane boost in my 06 dodge Cummins and notice a difference, but I run a programmer too. It gets a mile or two more when I use the cetane boost, I mostly use it int he winter to avoid gelling. I buy it at Advance Auto
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