Diesel fuel additives

xhurleyman

xhurleyman

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Anyone got any preferences re Soltron and Grotomar enzyme fuel treatment. I have just had a major engine problem/overhaul and want to ensure I look after my motor to the best of my ability. Cheers!
 
I used to use Soltron/Startron, but found further bug growth. I changed to using Marine 16 and Grotamar (alternate every 6 months or so) and find they are better.
 
An observation is these additives seem to be a UK obsession and those countries which use any old road fuel, so with lots of biodiesel aka FAME, just don't seem to have the 'problems' reported in the UK.

As a small indication of this I compared two near identical boats, mine 10 years old and always wintered in the UK with red diesel since new, and the other 13 years old and kept in Athens which had been filled with any old road diesel and whose tanks had never been inspected, let alone cleaned. Both had done about 2000 hours motoring. The Greek one's tank was much cleaner!

My conclusion is that the best thing is to keep your fuel clean and with no water at all in the tank. Additives are only an imperfect palliative for sloppy housekeeping.

My suggestion for good practice is:
1. On lay-up make sure there's no water in the tank. Open it up and look.
2. Run the tank empty at the end of the season, maybe even throw away old fuel, or use it in the car (see #4)
3. On re-launch make sure there's no water (condensation is unlikely but one might as well be sure)
4. Fill with diesel. Road fuel is best, not the old red diesel which has been ageing in the marina's tanks. It's very probably cheaper anyway since most marinas rip one off even allowing for the 60/40 split.
5. On arriving in a port (or home) after a voyage do not fill the tank just becauee you've used a bit. Wait 'til nearly empty and then refill with new, clean, fuel.

I know it's contrary to what most do, but I genueinely think it better practice.
 
jdc said:
An observation is these additives seem to be a UK obsession and those countries which use any old road fuel, so with lots of biodiesel aka FAME, just don't seem to have the 'problems' reported in the UK.

As a small indication of this I compared two near identical boats, mine 10 years old and always wintered in the UK with red diesel since new, and the other 13 years old and kept in Athens which had been filled with any old road diesel and whose tanks had never been inspected, let alone cleaned. Both had done about 2000 hours motoring. The Greek one's tank was much cleaner!

My conclusion is that the best thing is to keep your fuel clean and with no water at all in the tank. Additives are only an imperfect palliative for sloppy housekeeping.

My suggestion for good practice is:
1. On lay-up make sure there's no water in the tank. Open it up and look.
2. Run the tank empty at the end of the season, maybe even throw away old fuel, or use it in the car (see #4)
3. On re-launch make sure there's no water (condensation is unlikely but one might as well be sure)
4. Fill with diesel. Road fuel is best, not the old red diesel which has been ageing in the marina's tanks. It's very probably cheaper anyway since most marinas rip one off even allowing for the 60/40 split.
5. On arriving in a port (or home) after a voyage do not fill the tank just becauee you've used a bit. Wait 'til nearly empty and then refill with new, clean, fuel.

I know it's contrary to what most do, but I genueinely think it better practice.
Click to expand...

Yes of course draining the tank for winter used to be the norm but if you have tried to keep the tank full draining that much diesel is not always practicable: I just keep the tank full.
 
I use high sulphur red from a major outlet, with a big through put. My tanks have dirt/water sumps, fitted with drains, which I check frequently. I have never used any additives, and I have never had a problem. I use 400 - 500 litres in a year, and the tanks are kept full in the winter, when the boat is laid up. Use whatever method works for you.
 
Nothing. Just keep the water out of the tank and nothing can grow in it. I fashioned a copper tube that goes down one of the unused fuel-take offs on the tank all the way to the bottom, filed a few grooves in the sides and use a Mityvac to slurp up the dregs from the bottom for inspection and removal. Repeat until clean fuel comes up, if there's any water, let it separate out, then I pour the dirty fuel through a paper coffee filter and finally back in the tank. Works well, lets me inspect the bottom of the tank without cutting a lid in, and I know there's clean fuel in there when I'm done.

Here's what came up last time. Minor dirt, not enough to block a filter, and no water:
dirtyfuel.jpg
 
jdc said:
I know it's contrary to what most do, but I genueinely think it better practice.
Click to expand...
Interesting, thanks for your post.

I am in the process of moving my "new to me boat" from red to white, sounds like a good plan for next year.
 
I'm glad to read others are not using additives. I have always kept my tanks full, taking care not to let dirt or water into the tanks and have not an an issue with any of my boats. I keep the tank full at all times.
 
Dont know that I would agree with the idea of changing from red to white diesel unless it was enforced .......but each to his own decision.
For me red diesel , from marina’s, has always been quite a bit cheaper than anything available from a supermarket – and no need to lug it in jerry cans.
I dont see a fuel additive doing any harm regardless of the colour of the diesel.
I have considered ‘Fuel set’ and currently debating whether to give it a go . However Fuel Set works quite differently to Marine 16 so I think mixing the two in the same tank should be avoided. I understand a local marina sells some unbranded additive. I may enquire about that.
I do try to make sure there is plenty of additive in the fuel over the winter. But I have sometimes not bothered with the additive when topping up on a longer cruise and the fuel is to be burned within a short period of time.
using an additive doesn't guarantee no problems . Not using an additive doesn't mean there will be a problem.
Using the boat and therefore consuming/renewing the fuel regularly is probably the best treatment of all.
 
MartynG said:
Dont know that I would agree with the idea of changing from red to white diesel unless it was enforced .......but each to his own decision.
Click to expand...
For me it was an easy decision as I'm on a swing mooring with the nearest red diesel miles away and more expensive than white. Why spend time going to fill up when I can pop into the local garage on my way to the boat with my wee jerry. I used a massive 50 ltrs over the summer to it is not really an issue.
 
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