coombm
Active Member
What are the pros and cons of this chemical treatment, does it affect fuel consumption and / or speed?
Soltron diesel treatment
- Thread starter coombm
- Start date
D
Deleted User YDKXO
Guest
I have used Soltron for some years until I moved my boat to the Med after which I started using Startron which is found more easily there. There has been some discussion here on the forum whether Soltron and Startron are the same product but I believe that essentially they are, although they look and smell different. I have found that neither product makes any noticeable difference to performance or consumption but I have never experienced the dreaded diesel bug since I've been using the product and my fuel filters remain very clean. I can't say for sure whether this is due to using Startron/Soltron but I do continue to use the product
stuartwineberg
Well-Known Member
Ditto to Deleted User - it's hard to say if these things work so I am treating it as a (fairly) low cost form of fuel insurance until it doesn't work - if that makes sense.
hlb
RIP
It's like taking any cure, if it aint broke, it cant mend it.
It turned an old pick up we had into a racing car and cured the bug in the boat a few times, also reduced smoke.
It turned an old pick up we had into a racing car and cured the bug in the boat a few times, also reduced smoke.
whisper
Well-Known Member
We used it for approx 3 years. No noticeable improvement in speed or fuel consumption and no "bug" problem. Then we got the dreaded critter and changed to another additive - too early to tell whether this is the right one /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif
Andrew_Fanner
Well-Known Member
Well, I gave Jedi's tank a heavy dose a week or so ago and while the S/H engine's smoke didn't really reduce, the changeover between main and reserve tanks did for once!
hlb
RIP
Yep, but you actually have to burn some fuel to see a difference. A run of around 100 miles at 20 or so knots. Do this three or four times in a week, then you might see a difference.
peterandjeanette
Well-Known Member
I've used Soltron for all the time I've had the boat.
At the last service - by a well known forumite - the fuel pre filters were so clean we didn't bother changing the secondary filters. Must say something.
Can't guarantee that it works, but no problems yet so I'll keep using the stuff.
At the last service - by a well known forumite - the fuel pre filters were so clean we didn't bother changing the secondary filters. Must say something.
Can't guarantee that it works, but no problems yet so I'll keep using the stuff.
Refueler
Well-Known Member
Retail additives all talk about dosing the fuel tank. Very few about the system itself.
Commercial additives on the other hand - many talk about filling fuel filter system as well as dosing tanks with the additive. So you see here we are talking a reasonable amount over the squirt in a tank. Then run engine or go for a drive (trucks etc) that is 15 miles or more. The filter full then cleans the system ready for the tank crud that should haopefully have been broken down.
But beware - that many additives do not break down the dead residue, in fact only kills the bugs .. it drops to tank bottom and forms the jelly like crud there. That will block the best of systems quickly. Enzyme or solvent based will break down the residue and are supposed to allow it to burn off in engine.
Personally - this is a matter I do not trust and prefer to empty tank .. treat system with additive and fresh fuel. The old left with additive in to settle out the residues. Siphon of clear fuel leaving dead crud behind.
Having had 2 injection systems blocked by tank crud - I have no wish to repeat the error.
For those who use additives regularly - hopefully you are keeping crud levels down by not allowing bugs to multiply .. but I would caution that periodic emptying of tank may be a good idea to avoid build up.
Commercial additives on the other hand - many talk about filling fuel filter system as well as dosing tanks with the additive. So you see here we are talking a reasonable amount over the squirt in a tank. Then run engine or go for a drive (trucks etc) that is 15 miles or more. The filter full then cleans the system ready for the tank crud that should haopefully have been broken down.
But beware - that many additives do not break down the dead residue, in fact only kills the bugs .. it drops to tank bottom and forms the jelly like crud there. That will block the best of systems quickly. Enzyme or solvent based will break down the residue and are supposed to allow it to burn off in engine.
Personally - this is a matter I do not trust and prefer to empty tank .. treat system with additive and fresh fuel. The old left with additive in to settle out the residues. Siphon of clear fuel leaving dead crud behind.
Having had 2 injection systems blocked by tank crud - I have no wish to repeat the error.
For those who use additives regularly - hopefully you are keeping crud levels down by not allowing bugs to multiply .. but I would caution that periodic emptying of tank may be a good idea to avoid build up.