Mixing Petrol and Diesel

J

Jemmie

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Just a reminder prompted by the paraffin bomb post. Adding 10% unleaded petrol to diesel at this time of year is a very good idea. The lead substitute acts as an extremely effective biocide and also aids starting when very cold ... and if its extremely cold will inhibit waxing.
 
The problem with doing this is that you then have a mixture with all the hazards associated with petrol. Adding paraffin to diesel is a well known way of preventing waxing in cold weather though without creating a dangerously flammable mixture or vapour.
 
Warning, she is going to blow (up). I like the idea, if it works, but I can't see the diesel brigade doing this or they would have to eat there safety helmets!

Personnaly I just add more petrol say 100%! See you in space,

Paul
 
I like this idea. It is also a good test of the integrity of the diesel installation. Fear need only be associated with an unknown, old or knackered set-up. If your diesel line etc is good then petrol is only really a mythical bogeyman.
Just another thought which is often missed when slagging off petrol engines in boats; my little twin cylinder 12hp Dolphin from 1965 powers my 3 ton Apache 29 at a comfortable 5.5-6 knots at about 3/4 throttle, and last summer working hard rounding the Lizard against the tide (ermmm this is an embarassed Bristol Channel sailor here who became a little complacent about tides and managed to arrive off the Lizard at LW +1hr on the way to Newlyn. 11 hours Falmouth to Newlyn!) used 3 gallons of fuel motoring all the way. Come next year with taxation of diesel even the increased cost per unit is significantly offset. It also does not stink for the next ten years if spilt, and in a very trim, weight sensitive boat has the amazing all-up weight of 200lbs including prop, shaft, fuel tank and fuel. Another bonus is that it is made in Bodmin by a bloke who makes the engines in his workshop and can be found evry day on the end of the phone. Not all bad in my opinion. Just make sure the copper part of the fuel line is re-annealed every couple of years.
Bit of a rant, sorry.
Nicki
 
Additives ......

They add .... actually Companies such as mine do it for them ! - CFPP, Cloud Point, Lubricity and Biocide to Oil Traders requirements.

EN590 for Road Diesel has specific stipulations for all above.

Normal Export 0.2% Diesel has specifications depending on season .... which means addition of CFPP to reduce the cold water properties to cater for lower temps.

The addition of a small amount of gasoline into diesel is an old trick that works .... I would be careful about levels such as 10% though .... as gasoline is too volatile a fuel for diesel engines and could have a pre-ignition or knock effect. Levels of 2 - 5% are more common from the old farmers days etc.

There are various "folk-lores" etc. about diesels ... and to be honest very few would do any harm ... but generally - you can use diesel as it comes from the pump .... just remember that if ambient temperature drops below -7C .... your summer red will start to cloud up where parafins and wax's are starting to drop out of the diesel ....
 
Re: Additives ......

I agree the small Dolfins a wondeful engin as long as it starts easly then the crankcase seals are fine and in which case the engin tends to woerk well forever (unlike my old Stuart Turner 8hp for which i have a full gasket set still!!and the engin)

When i drained my diesel tanks on my hillyard (volvo MD32 D) the muck that came out was worrying and i thanked my double fillter system.

With petrol engins they are quite smell free easy to service light reliable and very economic. I used less than 20liters in 4 months and several hundred kms
 
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