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Old 04-01-2010, 18:53   #1
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Fuel Additives for Lubrication

Two diesel mechanics in our area (one of them does my tractor repair) both suggest that modern diesel (low sulphur) has pretty poor lubrication qualities compared with the old 500 ppm sulphur stuff. I had a tractor engine the other day with a sticky injector and the recommendation was to throw a couple of quarts of transmission fluid into the 20 gallons of diesel in the tank. I did this with the troublesome tractor (85 HP Perkins 4-cylinder diesel) and it has run perfectly ever since. Once in awhile I use injector cleaner in a car, tractor or truck engine but I understand this stuff can be hard on injectors if over used. But lubrication is important, too.

Does anyone used additives in the fuel for their boat engine? I'd never heard of transmission fluid as a lubricant, but it seems to work well, burns fine, causes zero smoke, and results in no loss in power.
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Old 04-01-2010, 21:44   #2
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Check your waranty

If your engine is still under waranty (doubtful, waranties are not long) unapproved fuel addatives may void it. I'm no expert but it may lead to carbon build up in your rings as well. Hopefully someone with more knowlege will chime in.

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Old 05-01-2010, 07:34   #3
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I have a Dodge Ram 3500 with a very expensive diesel in it and the only additive I would consider is Power Service in the Silver jug, get it at WalMart of all places for about $15.00/gallon. It DOES make a difference in easy starting and smoke control and it DOES NOT void or compromise any warranties. (I pick up about 1-2 MPG as well when I use it and it will help a bit with carbon buildup)
I use it in the Bene's enginine as well without any problems.
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Old 05-01-2010, 08:51   #4
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Fuel Additives

I agree with the silver jug stuff from wally world. I use the injector cleaner every other fill up. The alternate fill ups I use a biocide. Works well for me, and no problems.
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Old 05-01-2010, 08:56   #5
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the new fuels (supposedly) have additives already in them to solve this problem.
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Old 05-01-2010, 14:16   #6
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I understand about injector cleaners and so on, which I use too. The issue is lubrication of the moving parts in the fuel injection pump and the injectors themselves. Before roughly 2007, diesel fuel contained 500 ppmw sulphur. New environmental regulations set it at 50 ppm. High suphur diesel and biodiesel are good lubricants. Low sulphur diesel is not. So want (if anything) are you adding to your fuel to lubricated moving parts? [Regarding biodiesel, it has too high a gel point for my liking and I won't use it.]
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Old 05-01-2010, 14:32   #7
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AT Fluid

I have been told basically the same thing by a mechanic that only works on diesel trucks. He told me that all the truckers he knows are adding a quart of AT fluid to 100 gal. of fuel at fill up.
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Old 05-01-2010, 15:07   #8
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fuel additives

We used the bio-killer additive and STP injector cleaner / lubrication enhancer. Both seemed to do their work very well. Engine 30 y.o..

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Old 05-01-2010, 15:26   #9
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