Diesel Fuel additives

[skipm]

How often & what do you use for injector cleaners & tank cleaners.

[Anonymous]

cummins really like power service from wal-mart , don't forget to put some cheap 2 stroke oil in for added pump lube

[Anonymous]

and when you change your fuel filter , fill the new filter with sea foam , do it with the engine warm to de-carbon

[Mistress]

I like my Redline RL3. Been using it for years in my trucks. I've found it to be one of the most economical to run and is very concentrated.

[Pedlyr]

I'm with joc on additives. Don't really believe in them unless needed.

A biocide to kill algae may be needed once a year, as in the end of the summer before any winter layup. Make sure you will go thru a tank of fuel to clean out any dead stuff before storing the boat for any length of time. Bring at least couple of extra fuel filters and monitor them carefully.

I would not use a water dispersent, however. Water in the fuel, in any state, can damage injectors. Especially with newer diesels that have high injection pressures.

A good secondary fuel filter such as a Racor can be very valuable. It will filter most dirt and seperate any water in the fuel. The filters are easy to change. You can see what is going on and even drain any water or crud out without removing the filter if the need be.//Ed

[skipm]

Thanks for the heads up ,guys. Cummins pretty much says the same.

[Anonymous]

This is not speaking to additives, but I like to keep my tanks full. I get to half on each side , and then fill.

Question? Is this a good practise? A good habit, etc?

Keep in mind I'm in Fl and use the boat 12months.

Thanks for any ones advise.

Len

[Pedlyr]

Len-

A very good practice.

[skipm]

Len , I do the same since all my trips are under 40 miles one way.

[Scratcher]

I wonder about never running the tank below half. If there is sludge in your tank you may not find out about it until your tank is mostly empty and the sloshing from rough weather stirs it up off the bottom. The next thing is your filters clogging. That would not be a good scenario. I prefer to run my tanks down near empty so I know that last 1/4 of a tank is useable fuel, and if it loaded with sludge or water I want to find out about it sooner rather than later. I put a bulk separator with a spin on element ahead of my racor to remove the big stuff. It is easily changeable and it reduces loading on the racor. I monitor filter condition with a vacuum gauge.

[Pedlyr]

Scrather-

You are right about sucking up muck in the bottom of the tank. All the reason more to keep it full. The bottom of the tank is a better place for it than your injectors.

I work with vessels that use 1000+ gals of diesel everyday. Never have problems 'cause we keep the tanks "pressed".

Sounds like you have a pretty good set up as far as" fuel management " goes. But just remember that when you get into vessels 40 ft or less in length, the crud can get mixed up pretty easily in most normal operations or weather. This is where a good filtration set up comes in. With a diesel, you want to REMOVE contaminants, not burn them. Anyway, last time I checked water don't burn.

I get nervous in my 20 fter when my gasoline gauge (stick!) gets below 1/2.
The less fuel in the tank, the less you gots.

[Anonymous]

I built new fuel tanks last year, and decided to draw the fuel right off the bottom in the low rear corner. All the books recomend the intake inlet be kept off the bottom, but I think that any crud in the tanks needs to be swept into the filters, and not be allowed to accumulate in the tank. I hope I'm right about this, its working well so far. I have taken on a couple loads of "dirty" fuel and though it cost me a few filter cartriges, I am confident that there is not a layer of residue in the bottom, waiting for a long rough trip to bite me.

[Anonymous]

As I read yr comments, I'm a little baffled. The junk on the bottom that we all fear, doesn't that stuff get sloshed as we motor along?

I can't help but get a visual of the junk in the tank getting sloshed and mixed as we bounce along. This stuff isn't glued to the bottom. Or am I missing something?

So do I fill at half, or do I go pretty near empty before refueling?

Len aka i fish

[skipm]

I don't think it does , cause the only time it shows up in my filter is if I let the tank go way down.I fill almost everv trip.