sailorman
Well-Known Member
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Road diesel in boats
- Thread starter chiefeng
- Start date
Refueler
Well-Known Member
[ QUOTE ]
I have been reading else where that the sailing mags etc are starting to advise not using road diesel in boat tanks as the bio-diesel content (soon to be increased) will make it more susceptible (sic) to the bugs.I've been using it for years with a splash of soltron for good measure. Is it now time to think of a change?
Rgds
Bob
[/ QUOTE ]
We are blending to specs at present ... 5% UK, 7% France and up to 10% in other areas.
You would not know difference and we have not had the expected review of specs - so present levels we will continue with. The one spec that will change is greater reduction of sulphur.
Bugs with Bio ........... I have no idea where this idea came from originally. I have read and heard it in various places / mags etc. I cannot find basis for the statement - BUT that does not mean it's not true. We just have no evidence to support it in our lab.
Various articles that I have read ... RYA / Cruising Assoc. to quote 2 ... are based on non-Independent parties info. I have contacted various editors highlighting errors in articles and informing from a totally independent aspect. For me - it makes no difference whether Bio is in or out of diesel - as my work is what is current market.
There is no definitive answer to the OP ... simply put. IMHO as a blender - carry on as you were ...
I have been reading else where that the sailing mags etc are starting to advise not using road diesel in boat tanks as the bio-diesel content (soon to be increased) will make it more susceptible (sic) to the bugs.I've been using it for years with a splash of soltron for good measure. Is it now time to think of a change?
Rgds
Bob
[/ QUOTE ]
We are blending to specs at present ... 5% UK, 7% France and up to 10% in other areas.
You would not know difference and we have not had the expected review of specs - so present levels we will continue with. The one spec that will change is greater reduction of sulphur.
Bugs with Bio ........... I have no idea where this idea came from originally. I have read and heard it in various places / mags etc. I cannot find basis for the statement - BUT that does not mean it's not true. We just have no evidence to support it in our lab.
Various articles that I have read ... RYA / Cruising Assoc. to quote 2 ... are based on non-Independent parties info. I have contacted various editors highlighting errors in articles and informing from a totally independent aspect. For me - it makes no difference whether Bio is in or out of diesel - as my work is what is current market.
There is no definitive answer to the OP ... simply put. IMHO as a blender - carry on as you were ...
smeaks
Well-Known Member
With all the additives that must also go into our road fuel, detergents and cetane swag etc... would this not offset any risk of bugs? I would have though it to be a pretty sterile mix?
Refueler
Well-Known Member
Who told you that there are a a lot of additives ? There are a few in it but they are steady recognised normal additions.
As to reduce bugs ... reduction of Sulphur itself has a greater effect than many realise.
As to reduce bugs ... reduction of Sulphur itself has a greater effect than many realise.
Vara
Well-Known Member
[ QUOTE ]
reduction of Sulphur itself has a greater effect than many realise.
[/ QUOTE ]
Please expand, is it better or worse as regards bug culturing?
reduction of Sulphur itself has a greater effect than many realise.
[/ QUOTE ]
Please expand, is it better or worse as regards bug culturing?
Refueler
Well-Known Member
Better.
SRB's are significantly reduced ... Sulphur Reducing Bacteria.
So many carry on about water interface and bugs - and ignore that that is only one of the forms of YMB's - Yeasts, Moulds and Bacteria.
Also that the type of fuel is not the worry - it's the storage and contamination that is. Also that ALL fuels have bugs of some description. Even your Lubricating Oil.
SRB's are significantly reduced ... Sulphur Reducing Bacteria.
So many carry on about water interface and bugs - and ignore that that is only one of the forms of YMB's - Yeasts, Moulds and Bacteria.
Also that the type of fuel is not the worry - it's the storage and contamination that is. Also that ALL fuels have bugs of some description. Even your Lubricating Oil.
chiefeng
Well-Known Member
Thanks for all the input, things are alot clearer.
I've been in the shipping industry for years and we started using soltron in our marine diesel fuel last year, not to clean the system of bugs but to get a better combustion properties in the engine. It has made a difference with cleaner combustion and more even exhaust temperatures. I doubt if it would clean a fuel system of bugs but it does keep the system clean.
The comment about sulphur is interesting.
Rgds
Bob
I've been in the shipping industry for years and we started using soltron in our marine diesel fuel last year, not to clean the system of bugs but to get a better combustion properties in the engine. It has made a difference with cleaner combustion and more even exhaust temperatures. I doubt if it would clean a fuel system of bugs but it does keep the system clean.
The comment about sulphur is interesting.
Rgds
Bob
Refueler
Well-Known Member
Hang on a mo .... MDO is not same as yottie red fuel. MDO is a heavier grade. With MDO - any dispersed solvent would improve it's combustion properties.
chiefeng
Well-Known Member
Ok, fair point.
As an earlier poster pointed out, there's no real reason to put it in a tank of white/clear diesel, or is there?
Rgds
Bob
As an earlier poster pointed out, there's no real reason to put it in a tank of white/clear diesel, or is there?
Rgds
Bob
Refueler
Well-Known Member
[ QUOTE ]
Ok, fair point.
As an earlier poster pointed out, there's no real reason to put it in a tank of white/clear diesel, or is there?
Rgds
Bob
[/ QUOTE ]
Again back to storage facility. If it's a regular turnover outlet then fuel should be relatively clear, NOTE - relatively, because ALL diesels have bugs. It also depends on rate of use on your boat. If you are a frugal user, ie sailboat that only uses a litre or so to exit / arrive on mooring and fuel stays stagnant in tank for long periods - then it may be good idea to give OCCASIONAL doses. I do not believe in constant or regular dosing for sake of it.
Ok, fair point.
As an earlier poster pointed out, there's no real reason to put it in a tank of white/clear diesel, or is there?
Rgds
Bob
[/ QUOTE ]
Again back to storage facility. If it's a regular turnover outlet then fuel should be relatively clear, NOTE - relatively, because ALL diesels have bugs. It also depends on rate of use on your boat. If you are a frugal user, ie sailboat that only uses a litre or so to exit / arrive on mooring and fuel stays stagnant in tank for long periods - then it may be good idea to give OCCASIONAL doses. I do not believe in constant or regular dosing for sake of it.
brianhumber
Well-Known Member
Once again, thanks for independant info Nigel.
I try to keep tank full and drain off all water as often as possible, so far no signs o bugs in 13 years with Ronhilda.
Interesting that commercial chaps are now using Soltron as a combustion improver.
Does the industry still have grades of MDO, I remember having to bunker better grade MDO ( class 1 or was it class3) for the likes of the Paxman alternator engines rather than the heavier brown stuff used for flashing up etc. Sometimes it was years before we rebunkered.
On the other hand I have seen rapid bug growth in some avgas, by the time we got down to the falklands we had to isolate a complete cargo tank and keep it on board till we got back to
Scotland and pumped it somewhere deep into the tanks in Cambelton loch. Wonder if it is still there.
Brian
I try to keep tank full and drain off all water as often as possible, so far no signs o bugs in 13 years with Ronhilda.
Interesting that commercial chaps are now using Soltron as a combustion improver.
Does the industry still have grades of MDO, I remember having to bunker better grade MDO ( class 1 or was it class3) for the likes of the Paxman alternator engines rather than the heavier brown stuff used for flashing up etc. Sometimes it was years before we rebunkered.
On the other hand I have seen rapid bug growth in some avgas, by the time we got down to the falklands we had to isolate a complete cargo tank and keep it on board till we got back to
Scotland and pumped it somewhere deep into the tanks in Cambelton loch. Wonder if it is still there.
Brian
Refueler
Well-Known Member
MDO is still alive and kicking ... I have a few litres of it in store. It's often sold as Black Heating Oil as well. I believe that it is being phased out in time ..
chiefeng
Well-Known Member
Thanks Refueler, for all the information.
Rgds
Bob
Rgds
Bob