Diesel Fuel Additives

[mjf]

Hi,

This is my first diesel anything (car/boat). Twin Volvo TAMD63's

I have now run a total of 50hrs and fuelled for the first time (to my account) since hand over from the builder.

I intend to keep the boat tanks full when left on the mooring especially over the winter when usage will be less due Wx etc.

I would appreciate the forums consensus on the use, or otherwise, of the fuel additives that I see some boaters use to stop bugs / water / whatever contaminating the fuel.

I should add that I fully intend to use only my marina as sole fuel supplier unless I am away on major cruise in which case the fuel will be burnt soon after loading so will not , by definition, sit around too long.

Await advice - Thanks

Michael

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[Deleted User YDKXO]

Prepare to be Soltronised

There is a concoction called Soltron flogged by a certain member of this forum from whom you will doubtless hear shortly which is supposed to have all sorts of beneficial properties
I use the stuff and my boat lies unused for weeks on end and I have never experienced the dreaded bug so thats a testament of sorts

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[tcm]

Re: Soltron - the state of play

Soltron is a diesel-bug preventative. Deleted User has used it as have many others, and haven't had fuels "bug" problems.

Other fuel additives have been tested, many of which gave better results. But soltron is one of few that aim to kill the gloopy organic "bug" that exists in the watery confines of a fuel tank. Soltron is loved by some, but not by scientific orgainsations: MAN, for example, the inventors of the diesel engine, do recommend many additives, but not soltron. But they don't advise against it.

I had fuel problems, but it may not have been a bug: we cleaned the filters, refuelled, and put soltron in, and have not had problems since - but the boat hasn't done the same duty cyccle as when the problem occurred, namely 3+ hours of running. Another testament of sorts.

So soltron certainly doesn't harm things. But it is not a vital item: most diesel engines have no fuel problems and no soltron in their tanks.

With a previous boat, i kept full tanks over winter and had no soltron and no problems. As did everyone in the world prior to the arrival of Soltron. There are no war stories mentioning lorries, ships or tanks getting stuck due due to diesel buggery (?) or lack of soltron.

Finally, others on the forum are also (more secretive) sellers of Soltron.

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[ians]

Re: Soltron - the state of play

I used soltron last season with good effect, I purchase a another boat this season and investing in some QL Fuel Decontaminators which after 100 hours of use the fuel is still crystal clear.

Well worh a look at

ian

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[rogrog]

Re: Soltron - the state of play

Perhaps I'm missing something here, we bought our boat in Holland 2 years ago, it spent the first winter over there we then filled up with fuel and brought the boat back to England. We have since filled up once on the Thames and once in Ramsgate, we hold over 2000 litres, and in the course or 1000 miles of travelling have never had a problem. Is a de-bug additive needed? or am I just lucky.

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[Fingers]

MotorBoats Monthly did a piece a few months ago about addetives.
They ran some pretty comprehensive tests on a number of different makes and made a number of recommendations.

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[DepSol]

So comprehensive that it missed out the filtrtion test! The most important bit of all!

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<A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.soltron.co.uk>the website</A>