Red diesel fuel additive for Eberspacher? Fultron?

CaptainBob

CaptainBob

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Our Eberspacher is fine (for now), but we're running it a lot now its got cold. And as it's probably a bit overpowered for our small cabin it's just ticking over most of the time. Seems like this is the worst scenario for these heaters ie red diesel + running on a low setting. Eberspacher suggest the use of a fuel additive in their FAQ which I quote below. They recommend "Fultron, which is available from all good chandlers and stockists" but I can't find "Futlron" anywhere. Any suggestions where I can get some? Or an alternative product which does the same thing? Presume it assists in getting rid of carbon buildup?

TY!

Here's the quote from Eberspacher's own FAQ from this page:

http://www.eberspacher.com/support-and-downloads/faq.html

Eberspacher said:
Q7: Will my Eberspacher heater run on red diesel and how often will it need servicing?

Answer:
"Our heater products are designed to run on fuel to specification BS EN 590 as stated in the Technical book that accompanies all heaters."

It is commonly thought that red diesel is road diesel with a red dye in it. Unfortunately, this is not always the case. There are two types of red diesel available, one is Gas Oil with red dye, and the other is Low Sulphur Gas Oil (City Gas Oil) with a red dye. The latter meets BS EN 590 and has the same specification as road diesel.

We have contacted a couple of Fuel Suppliers to ascertain "what exactly is it in the fuel that makes it different".

The main differences between "Gas Oil (non BS EN 590)" and Low Sulphur Gas Oil (to BS EN 590), is the former has a lower 'Cetane rating' 46 against 52, higher sulphur %Wt 0.2 against 0.005, higher Flash point 82 against 67 and Carbon residue, on 10% distillation residue, %Wt .12 against <0.001.

The fuel commonly found on the canal system is unfortunately "Gas Oil". The other "Red diesel" available is called "City Gas Oil" (ultra low sulphur gas oil) (Linton Fuel Oil Ltd Stock code 103). This meets BS EN 590 and apparently costs the marina only 1.5 pence more per litre. Our contact was quoted saying "why anyone chooses to buy normal gas oil, I don't know!" another supplier was challenged to why it was not always offered he said "surprisingly no one asks for it but it is readily available."

We have found boat owners using the better quality fuel to have a longer period between servicing, therefore what is needed are people like you demanding this far superior fuel. I am sure you would be happy to pay a few pence more for better fuel.

In answer to your servicing questions our heaters have a service interval of approximately 2000 hrs, this can be adversely affected by the use of Gas Oil (non BS EN 590), bacterial or water contamination. We have many customers who have taken onboard the advice we have given in the past regarding additives and now have far longer service intervals. Additives such as 'Fultron' are available from all good chandlers and stockists.
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I had a lot of problems with carbon build up on our D2 Airtronic. I fitted a seperate tank and run the heater on road diesel - 5 years on all is well ! I used a go-kart fuel tank, 10 L from ebay, with the added benefit of being able to see how much fuel is left.
 
CaptainBob said:
Our Eberspacher is fine (for now), but we're running it a lot now its got cold. And as it's probably a bit overpowered for our small cabin it's just ticking over most of the time. Seems like this is the worst scenario for these heaters ie red diesel + running on a low setting. Eberspacher suggest the use of a fuel additive in their FAQ which I quote below. They recommend "Fultron, which is available from all good chandlers and stockists" but I can't find "Futlron" anywhere. Any suggestions where I can get some? Or an alternative product which does the same thing? Presume it assists in getting rid of carbon buildup?

You say they recommend "Fultron", but then you say you can't find "Futiron". Maybe a clue there.
Click to expand...
 
The info from Eber is actually not strictly correct.

BS EN 590 is ONLY road fuel specification and has nothing to do with any red fuel whatsover.

Red Diesel is based on Industrial Diesel stock of 45 and higher Cetane depending on intended use. Normally it would be found to be 45 Cetane.

Here is quote from internal industry paper ...

Quality of Red Diesel
Red Diesel is produced under BS2869 and is generally available as grade A2 with a cetane rating of 45. A higher cetane rating provides a better ignition quality and in comparison road diesel is produced to meet EN590 and has a cetane rating of 51.

For Ebers - I would recc'd NOT using Red Diesel of any kind - not only because it is lower quality, but also it has dye in it that could help coat the heating element ? Most who speak to me on this - I advise to use standard 'White' Road Diesel and that way you get better heat output, cleaner burn and less sulphurous compounds produced ... For the amount of fuel needed - surely that cleaner burn is worth it ? Less servicing, less repairs and again - less sulphurous compounds produced.
Use Red if nothing else available as back-up ...

Additives are usually solvents only and I'm surprised that Eber should recc'd any TBH. What effect would they have that gives advantage ? IMHO a waste of effort to find additive, waste of money to use ... spend the money on White Road Diesel ... You know it makes sense !!
 
Had the same problem for two years with the Eber, cost me a fortune in new flame tubes, they lasted about 4 months and would carbon up, always had lots of soot and coloured discharge out of the exhaust as well, the problem here is the cetane rating of red diesel being around 6 lower than road fuel, as a last resort spent ages on the net searching for a cetane booster and came across millers diesel sport 4. this boosts the cetane factor by 4, you can dose stronger to bring red diesel up to road fuel rating but my eber is transformed using the recomended dose which brings it up to 50, it has stopped all the soot/discharges from the exhaust, the Eber has now run over 18 months sweet as a nut and always starts first time, I cant praise it enough. Give it a try.
http://www.fasteronline.co.uk/Millers-millers-diesel-power-sport-litre-size-p-3588.html
This company has also started a similar Cetane Booster at a great price if you bulk buy.
http://www.oilybits.com/additives/bioboost-1000-cetane-improver/prod_704.html

Try it it solves the problem.
Mike

PS. it has also stopped my Volvos from smoking and they start instantly now in the cold.
 
CaptainBob said:
Our Eberspacher is fine (for now), but we're running it a lot now its got cold. And as it's probably a bit overpowered for our small cabin it's just ticking over most of the time. Seems like this is the worst scenario for these heaters ie red diesel + running on a low setting. Eberspacher suggest the use of a fuel additive in their FAQ which I quote below. They recommend "Fultron, which is available from all good chandlers and stockists" but I can't find "Futlron" anywhere. Any suggestions where I can get some? Or an alternative product which does the same thing? Presume it assists in getting rid of carbon buildup?

TY!

Here's the quote from Eberspacher's own FAQ from this page:

http://www.eberspacher.com/support-and-downloads/faq.html
Click to expand...

I wrote to eber a while back and received the following, it may help

pbo thread link
 
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