Jake - Fuel additives tests in MBM

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jfm

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Just noticed that in this month's MBM there's a full page review of a diesel fuel additive called Fortron. Cor blimey Jake, this forum has debated Soltron over at least 250 posts and asked for MBM or someone to test, but no-one has, and then out of the blue you go and devote a whole page to Fortron! Can you test Soltron too please?

I saw possible glimmer of hope. The mag mentioned an upcoming full review of several additives. Can you give us advance notice of what this test will cover? Can I be cheeky and ask you to set out here exactly the tests etc you will perform on the additives, so we can all chuck in our $0.02 worth on the proposed testing methods BEFORE the tests are done and the article is written? Also can you say which additives will be tested?

BTW, the article in this months mag said Fortran (in several places) every time it mentioned the product. Yet the photo of the bottle showed the label which said Fortron. Is this a Freudiean slip? You dont run Fortran on the IPC office computers...... do you?
 
Re: fortran/fortron

Ahem, Fortrtan (and dialects eg fortran77 etc) are programming languages, or more specifically, compilers. You can't run computers "on" Fortran, tho you could run Fortran "on" ipc computers.

Anyway, wassit anygood ? Suspect Soltran is better as a proramming app - not so many bugs haha
 
Just want to add my 2 cents worth also. I did notice that there were a few bits missing from this and have tried to phone Mark Turley to no avail so will email him with my comments but will add them here also.

There was no mention of the dosage of Fortron to fuel. so no idea of how much it will cost to dose 2500 litres for example or how long this dose will last.

Also it mentioned that there was a capability of killing the bug, (biocide) now that seems like an easy test to me, grab some bug ridden fuel add Forton to one sample add Soltron to the other, place in a warm dark place for 24-48 hours and pull them out and do a dip test for contamination. These tests are easily available and cheap. Also a test to see how much of the bug, slime, algae or sludge had been broken down, visual or otherwse should be factored in.

You could also test them against each other for water disbursement as this is what Fortron is best at (alledgedly) and see how each product fares in this area also.

We have all been through the facts on how difficult it would be to test any product for fuel economy and power so leaving that test aside a head to head with Soltron on the other properties would be quite easy to do.

Another test easily done on both treated and unreated fuel contaminated or not would be to do a cetane or a combustion test to see what the quality of the treated fuel was after treatment.

If I can perform these tests from home, except for the last one which I have samples sent away to be done, then MBM should be able to do this quite easily.

As mentioned before I had given Jake a litre of Soltron for testing and use as they saw fit when MBM visited Guernsey in May (?) 2001 however if he needs more then I will arrange for a supply to be sent to him or Mark whichever is doing this test. I, if needed will also obtain permission for it to be done. Just to add to this it says in the article 'So when we were approached by a company called Fortran to test their 'total fuel system treatment' we grasped the opportunity.' how comes they didnt grasp the opportunity when Soltron was offered?

What does the forum think, head to head test a good idea? Might give you the opportunity to shut me up if Fortran come up trumps.

Dom


I just want my boat back in the water ;-(
 
Edit routine rescues jfm

Like I said, ahem, fortran runs on computers (brings back memories, I used to do loads of punch cards, then run F77 overnight, as recently as 1985 at Imperial). :-)
 
Re: head to head

of course we think that head to head a brilliant idea, tho very difficult as discussed. But as with auto additives (molyslip etc etc) these things all seem to cost nearly as much as they should save, rather than half what a doubting misery (me) thinks that they might save. Praps they ought to run free samples to get us addicted, and then hike the prices...

Perhaps the MBM soltron you gave them over a year ago has has now gone off, and needs something adding to it? :-)
 
> What does the forum think, head to head test a good idea? Might give you the opportunity to shut me up if Fortran come up trumps.

This part of the forum thinks "give it a go". I'm a raggie so I'm not bothered about the fuel consumption benefits, but I'd like to know that the water dispertion and bug ridding claims work OK. I'd also like to see Fuel Set included in the tests since I can get hold of that quite easily whilst Soltron is difficult to find.

Dave L.
 
Re: head to head

Yes difficult to do economy tests but the thought here is to stop or eliminate the bug therefore Bug killing test, water dispursing test and obviously you need to know what quality your fuel is after these products have been poured into it so you are sure its not going to effect your performance or engine. Fair??

All above tests easy to do ad plenty of places for combustion testing in England which wouldnt cost too much and would give what the punters are asking for.

Dom


I just want my boat back in the water ;-(
 
Re: head to head

Spooky but my first and very own bottle of Soltron arrived a few minutes before reading this. I ordered it cos am worried about my fuel...never was before, but after readin all this stuff its got to the point where its keepin me up at night...would V much like to see it tested.

BTW any tips for administering the medicine?
 
Re: head to head

One litre of Soltron to 5000 litres of fuel. Stick it in before filling up the tank. If you are worried about what crud you may have in the tanks and know it aint to good in there then double dose first.

Dom


I just want my boat back in the water ;-(
 
Soltron already tested?

Artivcle and photos give comparison to another additive (unnamed). Praps this refers to Soltron?

MBM please reveal all.
 
Excellent idea. there has been so much discussion, theories and anecdotal "evidence", that an independent test in this way would be good.
One thing I've often wondered about all this stuff (all types of additives) is, if they are so good, why don't the refiners just sell us fuel with it already in? I know people will say COST, but if your producing millions of gallons of diesel and petrol per day, I'm sure the cost would become minimal. Similarly, if those magnet thingys on fuel lines work (!) why are they not fitted by car manufacturers? Again folks will say added cost, but if they were as effective as we are told, then the increased MPG figures would more than take care of that.

http://members.lycos.co.uk/boaty1965/index.htm
 
Fuel Set and water wetter

I have used Fuel set from liquid engineering for several years I did notice better economy in the perkins, in the volvos I am not sure as I used it from day one.

I have just put water wetter in one engine to see if as claimed it will lower the engine temp and head temp compared to the other engine when we are on holiday to Belguim at the end of the month.

If anyone is interested of course???
 
Just for info, there is a fuel company in South Africa that has taken on Soltron and doses its fuel before delivery by atomisation. It is in talks with various groups and will prob be on sale in blighty shortly. I will release the name when it is not confidential.


Dom


I just want my boat back in the water ;-(
 
Re:Dom - the SAfrican thing

Dom, that seems odd. Why add Solly just before the fuel is put into the engine (if that's what you meant by "dose before delivery"?). Surely if Solly is a bug killer, you want it in the fuel while the fuel hanging around in the tank being stored?
 
Re:Dom - the SAfrican thing

If you put Soltron into the bottom of the tank before filling up then as the fuel rushes in it sloshes it around mixing it in much quicker than adding it after and letting it work its way around. It just saves half an hour for the enzyme to get round the tank. At the end of the day it doesnt make much difference as the rocking motion of the boat will do it anyway.

Dom


I just want my boat back in the water ;-(
 
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