Change in diesel treatment

Piers

Piers

Well-Known Member
Joined
2 Jun 2001
Messages
3,598
Location
Guernsey, Channel Islands
www.playdeau.com
Every five years I change fuel treatments just in case any bug becomes resistant. I've used Soltron - Fuel Doctor - Grotomar 82 and now it's time to change again for which I have two questions:

- Do I actually need to change?
- Which treatment is recommended?

Happy Christmas!
 
I cant see any particular logic in changing treatment in case the bug becomes resistant.
I have changed treatment but not for that reason.
I thought Marine 16 Diesel Fuel Complete was very good and seemed to reduce smoke on start up and have a subtle improvement in engine smoothness.
http://www.marine16.co.uk/acatalog/Diesel-Fuel-Complete-500ml-60.html
I am presently using Clearwinner LA88 . Not convinced it is quite as good at reducing smoke on start up but its early days for me with this product.This product causes any moisture to be absorbed while marine 16 causes moisture to drop out of the fuel.
https://www.clear-winner.co.uk/products/marine/

Never having had any bug issues I cant say whether the treatments have saved me any problems or not.
 
I have also been using Grotamar 82 for the past 4 years but as of December 1st it is no longer available to the public - change of classification apparently ? Can’t help with a recommendation Piers but will be watching with interest.
 
ICTM said:
I have also been using Grotamar 82 for the past 4 years but as of December 1st it is no longer available to the public - change of classification apparently ? Can’t help with a recommendation Piers but will be watching with interest.
Click to expand...

Not available to the public? Interesting. Bandit of this parish is the supplier in Guernsey so I hope he'll see this post and reply.
 
Piers said:
Not available to the public? Interesting. Bandit of this parish is the supplier in Guernsey so I hope he'll see this post and reply.
Click to expand...

I wanted to buy new Grotamar just after 1st of December, and was told the same
- and their website say It is available for the Marine Industry only….

Merry X-mas

:encouragement:
 
I tend to think as a prophylactic measure the idea is to somehow absorb/ mix / evenly and safely - any water into the diesel .
Done in such a way so,s not harm anything mechanical like the injector pump and injectors etc , ie the engine does not see this aledged water ?
What I,am saying there’s no actual antibiotic or antibacterial effect in the sense any “ bug “ is killed .

If so there’s logically no resistance issue - right ?

Theses agents work by eliminating the water / diesel interface .
So in theory if there’s zero water there’s no chance of any “bugs “

If that’s true then there’s no merit in changing to resistance.

Obviously each boats fuel system has different potential water contamination sources, faulty tank deck seals , condensation + others like already contaminated at the fuel dock .

You have your primary and secondary filtration one of which may be a centrifugal type like Racor and indeed have “ glass “ inspection bowls and Water In Fuel sensors ( WIF )
You may ( we have ) drain cocks as well at the bottom of each tank which you can periodically open to let a bit off .

I have been using Startron since day dot 2005 and make sure it’s done end of Oct ( Med moored ) .That fuel will sit until May with the odd periodic engine run up .

So far zero issues .It all might be snake oil I just don’t know all I can say every year the paper racors 30 micron primarily filters come out sqeeky clean .

Anecdotally ( there’s a thread on this ) I discovered my long range tank of some from memory 600 L had been full for over 3 1/2 years dosed with Startron and completely untouched.

Here’s a pic of some 3. 1/2 y old Startron ed fuel next to new .Collected from the bottom of the tanks .
.View attachment 74971

After 3 days waiting for sediment nothing happened so I just connected up the old fuel and burned it off .
Felt great a free windfall batting about like madman :)without an eco thought in mind :)
 
Piers said:
Every five years I change fuel treatments just in case any bug becomes resistant. I've used Soltron - Fuel Doctor - Grotomar 82 and now it's time to change again for which I have two questions:

- Do I actually need to change?
- Which treatment is recommended?

Happy Christmas!
Click to expand...

Piers, surely after 5 years you have completely refreshed the contents of your tanks? Anyhow, Marine 16 is another one to try (I use it as do some others hereabouts) http://www.marine16.co.uk/acatalog/Diesel-Bug-Treatment-1-Litre-43.html#SID=5.
 
petem said:
Piers, surely after 5 years you have completely refreshed the contents of your tanks? Anyhow, Marine 16 is another one to try (I use it as do some others hereabouts) http://www.marine16.co.uk/acatalog/Diesel-Bug-Treatment-1-Litre-43.html#SID=5.
Click to expand...

Hi Peter, I think the reason I change products is that I always have and haven't really questioned why. It's just something I've always done. Maybe, if I can continue buying Grotomar 82 in Guernsey (Bandit - where are you?) becasue it's not part of the EU, I can just carry on using it.
 
Marine 16 is good, but I'm currently using Wasp biokem (Both did well in the PBO test!)

No issues, although the Wasp appears to minimise sludge in the CAV water traps!

Wasp available on eBay for £17.99 (250ml) which treats 2500 litres on a preventative basis, to 750 litres of heavily contaminated fuel, so it's cheaper than Marine 16 by some margin.

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/WASP-BIO...h=item3d30f85d87:g:hr0AAOSwnbZYGeDX:rk:4:pf:0
 
Piers
Bandit is in the mountains, back in office on the 2nd Jan.

Give me a call then,I saw Play d’Eau In st Helier last Wednesday looked all shut up?
 
Congratulations on the birth of your new Grandson.

I only use Grotomar as it was the one you recommended on here years ago. Your views are highly respected and therefore please let us know which product you decide to go with next. A supplier is never going to understand the sales blip they have.

Happy New Year

Regards




Andrew
 
admillington said:
Congratulations on the birth of your new Grandson.

I only use Grotomar as it was the one you recommended on here years ago. Your views are highly respected and therefore please let us know which product you decide to go with next. A supplier is never going to understand the sales blip they have.

Happy New Year

Regards




Andrew
Click to expand...

Hi Andrew,

Thank you fo the congratulations! Yes, if I change products I shall announce it here. Have a great 2019.
 
Changing every n years relies on the product maintaining the specification. I expect manufacturers to be making ongoing product development tweaks to the formulation as diesel profiles and their associated bugs evolve. Some of those changes will show up in the MSDS, others might not.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Other threads that may be of interest

W
Budget diesel polishing
2
Replies
26
Views
653
Iliade
Iliade

Share this page

Top