Diesel bug outbreak on the horizon?

There doesn't seem to be any upsides to this, according to my Volvo manual low sulpher fuel will reduce the power output by 2-3% and increase fuel consumption by up to 5%. My tanks hold 750litres but if I stay on the river all year I'll only use half that, so 6 months shelf life is a big problem, filters will need changing more often as the bug takes hold and we will have to use biocides all the time. And the price will go up:( I'm filling up with Red while I can so will probably be ok next year if I also fill up on the coast, but this is going to be a big problem in a few years, especialy as they increase the % of Bio.
 
It's still around, just not being flogged on ybw as enthusiastically as in the past. You can get the same product now from Starbrite called Startron. You'll now have dozens of people saying that Soltron/Startron produced under licence in USA is not the same Soltron as comes from Japan, but it essentially is, it's just a marketing argument.
 
BrendanS said:
It's still around, just not being flogged on ybw as enthusiastically as in the past.
Click to expand...

Hmmmm, those were the days though I'm not sure it was 'enthusiastically' .....more argumentatively IIRC- it was certainly BTTF (before the Thames Forum!) and strong views both for and against were much in evidence.

More importantly, did we ever reach a conclusion about its effectiveness? It certainly seemed to work for me.
 
Chris_d -
It could be false security. The article implies that it may be possible to extend the marine (sea) concession to pleasure craft. There is enough volume there to make the supply of that particular blend a practical proposition for distributors.

Inland use however, is another kettle of fish. It's likely that river based suppliers will draw their fuel as an addon to the agricultural / plant hire supply business, and if so the composition will have bio already in it.

So the government will have to consider that use as well as small farmers / plant hire outfits may have the same issues as boaters.

We're definitely not out of the woods yet.
 
boatone said:
Hmmmm, those were the days though I'm not sure it was 'enthusiastically' .....more argumentatively IIRC- it was certainly BTTF (before the Thames Forum!) and strong views both for and against were much in evidence.

More importantly, did we ever reach a conclusion about its effectiveness? It certainly seemed to work for me.
Click to expand...

I used Starbrite for a while after I ruined a set of injectors. It was recommended by the injector repair firm. It didn't do a lot for me; the next year I had to repair them again. It was nasty yellow staining stuff.

I've since switched to Fuel Set, 'cos Midland Chandlers (whose pricing is always keen) said it was their biggest seller. I haven't had the injectors serviced for two years now.

For all I know FuelSet may be snake oil as I've redesigned the tank breather and check both the fuel separator and main tank (no drain off valve, so a pain) much more regularly.
 
Easy enough to plan things right and run the fuel low come Winter, then run the engine till it stops.

Of course, as 40% of your fuel is used for heating purposes, simply turn the Erberdispatcher on until it too runs dry...LOL
 
Right now as you shouldn't have any Biodiesel in there fill it right up to avoid condensation and water which will encourage the bug.

Next year if you have refuelled with Bio (how will we know I don't know) it will be do you want water in the diesel if you leave it empty or do you want old biodiesel that will develop the bug, can't win really:(
 
findpaste.jpg


Water Finding Paste - Brilliant stuff for checking if there's water at the bottom of the tank - a tube lasts for years !
 
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