Diesel additives

N

Neil

Well-Known Member
Joined
6 Apr 2004
Messages
7,518
Location
Ireland
Visit site
Can anyone point me to a resource on the pros and cons of the various diesel additives? There is much confusion in my mind over the various types. I had some diesel from the marina pump once which went somewhat cloudy, so I toddled off the the local chandlery to buy some biocide additive. They had none, but I was sold an alternative (can't remember the name) which claimed it reduced bacterial growth by dispersing the water into microscopic globules that denied it to the growing bugs (amongst other things). On the other hand, I usually buy Dipetane for the car, to make sure it gets through its annual emission test, but it's not something that I have associated with marine use, yet both engines are diesels. Pre and post-combustion cleaners, additives and conditioners, it seems a bit of a minefield. How to sort the wheat from the snake oil?
 
I add a bit of petrol in the diesel which is poisonous to bacteria, never had any problems and to help to keep the injectors clean I dilute the diesel with parafine; this is an anathema to many, however, its on his own. I also use fully synthetic oil to keep the engine clean and well lubricated, and again, I do not suggest that this is what others should, it is only what I do which suits my 43 year old volvo engine.
 
The additive often added to our boat fuel tanks is aimed to prevent / stop bug from clogging up your fuel system.

In the automotive world bug is fairly rare (but not unheard of) because the tank content is used much more often.

In order to meet Emission Legislation, a Selective Catalytic Reduction process is often employed. This add urea (quite similar to urine!) post combustion.

For very low winter temperatures, additives are sometimes put into the fuel (by the people that produce it) to reduce temperature related waxing.

Most other additives advertised in go-faster magazines are snake oil by another name. Except, of course, RedEx. I got my first licence as a 16 year old in the 1970s. My first Lambretta ran on almost neat RedEx......but that's a different story. Ah....nostalgia.....it's not what it once was :)
 
Well, I'm thinking that there are two sides to this coin: inhibition of bacterial growth and the cleaning of 'deposits' from injectors and valves - the two mutual aren't exclusive, it's the avoidance of hype and false claims........
 
I overdose with Startron every time I add diesel, have been doing so for the last 12 years since we got the boat. Boat tankage is 36 years old. I've had no problems but who's to say it's the Startron that's doing it? I'm not going to stop in case I find out.
 
I think it's wise to add a biocide routinely whenever you add fuel. But I also think it's worth changing the biocide from time to time. I've used Startron, Marine 16 and Grotamar.
 
Has anybody tried adding non-synthetic outboard oil to older diesel engines to negate the lubricative properties of bio diesel? Some road vehicle user groups have advocated it (at 200:1) and I understand Mercedes Benz did some apparently favourable tests, but stopped short of recommending its use.
 
Davegriff said:
Has anybody tried adding non-synthetic outboard oil to older diesel engines to negate the lubricative properties of bio diesel? Some road vehicle user groups have advocated it (at 200:1) and I understand Mercedes Benz did some apparently favourable tests, but stopped short of recommending its use.
Click to expand...

There have been a few threads on this here and very many vehicle websites, e.g. Range Rover and other 4WD types, have pages of enthusiastic reports of doing it. IIRC the Mercedes one was written by somebody involved in the factory testing and his report gets copied all over.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Share this page

Top