The red and the white

blackbeard

blackbeard

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... diesel.
Some while ago there was considerable discussion on the use of either red or "white" (clear, car) diesel in yacht fuel tanks; one of the points at issue was the content of bio-diesel (FAME) diesel as a component in car diesel. The theory was that bio-diesel was much more likely to absorb water and this, in turn, led to a susceptibility to the dreaded "bug". But it seemed that it was never really established whether:
a. whether this was a real problem in practice, and, if so, whether a dose of Fuel Set or similar, in with the fuel, would render all well;
b. whether car diesel actually contains enough bio-diesel to give a problem anyway;
c. whether or not "red" diesel is free of bio-diesel.
Though there was, as usual, no shortage of opinions.

My little boat has a small (25 litre) fuel tank and it's a lot easier to fill a can at a garage and tip the contents in, than it is to go to a fuel berth and fill with red. Also there's no fuel gauge, so the can offers an easy way of making sure there is enough fuel in the tank (it's very obvious when the tank is approaching full, and no, I have never had a drop go overboard). And, despite the occasional can of road diesel in the boat fuel tank, I have never had a problem with "bug". Nor have I ever heard of a car having a problem with diesel bug.

Is there now any consensus, or any real information?
 
Sorry, not really an answer but I have had a few old mercedes diesel cars with the "bug" this may be inconclusive as they may well have had red in them at some point. I can say that I have never had a diesel car which I know that has only had White diesel with the bug... There. I have muddied the water a little more
 
sailorman said:
Try a forum search
Click to expand...
Well. I tried one. As I said, lots of opinions but hard to find a definite answer; you could choose which posts you wanted to find any conclusion you wanted.
I was rather hoping that, some time over the last few months, some sort of reasoned consensus, maybe even a few facts, might have emerged.
 
blackbeard said:
Well. I tried one. As I said, lots of opinions but hard to find a definite answer; you could choose which posts you wanted to find any conclusion you wanted.
I was rather hoping that, some time over the last few months, some sort of reasoned consensus, maybe even a few facts, might have emerged.
Click to expand...
All is as was im afraid
check the RYA site
 
The local marina sells red diesel with no added FAME but with added Soltron. Whether this is just a marketing ploy or a result of researching the options I do not know. If you turn over your diesel as fast as that in a car then you are unlikely to have any problems I would suggest. My diesel can sit in the tank for months so I buy the red from the marina (in cans) because I don't want to take any risks with it.
 
All I can add is first hand experience. Moved the boat to France 6 seasons ago so had to change to white diesel. All normal road diesel bought in cans from local supermarkets and fuel additive added on top up. So far no problems. Engine is Yanmar 2GM.
 
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