Fuel additives - yes/no?

[Mr smokey]

Perhaps we need a new thread on "Der, that's bleedin obvious" or "you haven't searched the forum properly" but if so I can't find any links.

D4 MY13 SE - do I believe the advertising hype or not. Additive in the fuel for round town driving and/or towing? Will it give me the bulletproof protection & vastly reduced fuel consumption as promised?

Btw - speaking with a chap last night. "used to have a LR. D1 Series". He said.
"only had it for 16 years. 300,000ks before it blew up" . Collapsed after towing his 30ft yacht from one end of Aust to the other.

Trevor

[Disco4SE]

Hi Mr smokey, I have been adding Penrite TC-W3 2 stroke oil to each tank of fuel at a rate of 3.2ml per litre of fuel, for just over 12 months.
My mechanic cannot believe how clean the engine oil stays, so much so that he had the oil tested. All results came back excellent. He is now running it in his Prado.
Keep in mind that I have changed my brand of vehicle, but it does have a 3.0Lt V6 turbo diesel.
It had done 142,000 Klm's when I bought it and it is now sitting at 190,000 Klm's.
The 20Lt drum cost me $120.00 and it has lasted just over 12 months.

Cheers, Craig

[Mr smokey]

Thanks Craig. I have been using a basic "diesel additive" in my other vehicles but had not really noticed ant difference and was curious as to whether I should be treating the Disc differently.

Trevor

[Disco4SE]

Hi Trevor, some claim that they have noticed a reasonable change in fuel economy with adding the 2 stroke. To be honest, I haven't really noticed.....maybe slightly. Problem with doing up a 4WD is that you add so much crap onto it which adds to wind drag, weight and fuel economy.
The biggest difference to me was the quietness of the engine and the cleanliness of the oil.
I had a 'GDE Eco Tune' done on my vehicle (prior to adding the 2 stroke), which increases power & torque by about 15%. The tune also cuts off the swirl motor and deletes the EGR valve. The engine noise increase is quite noticeable once the EGR valve is deleted. By adding the 2 stroke it not only quietens it down, but more so than before the EGR delete.

My father in law is a retired diesel engineer / mechanic and he told me that they used to add 2 stroke to stationary motors to make them run quieter and last longer.

Cheers, Craig

[giskard]

Curious to know if anyone else is adding 2 stroke to their fuel. I'm new to the Diesel engine thing, so any more experiences appreciated.

[jonesy63]

There are two separate reasons why you would want to use a fuel additive:
1) kill algae which may grow in your tank and
2) clean fuel intake from EGR crud and clean injectors for better performance.

Something like Chemtech and similar products will do 1 and 2; two-stroke oil will do 2.

The big advantage of two-stroke oil is the cost, so I use a dose of Chemtech every few tanks and two-stroke oil every tank.

[SBD4]

Have a read of these threads (one has exactly the same title):

http://www.aulro.com/afvb/d3-d4-rrs/171595-fuel-additives-yes-no.html
http://www.aulro.com/afvb/d3-d4-rrs/168021-tdv6.html

[Basil135]

I would not add anything in the way of additives to a new vehicle, that was not recommended and/or endorsed by the guys that make it...

You mention bullet proof protection, but from what?

If you use good fuel, service it regularly, and generally take care of it, what to you hope to improve by adding "extras"?

FWIW - I had a 2004 D2a. I tried the 2 stroke in the fuel for nearly 12 months, and there was no measurable difference in economy. For tax, I have to keep a record of my milage, so had all the figures of every full up for 5 years or so.

I noticed no difference in "smoothness" or "power" or anything else. Basically, for 12 months, I added 2 stroke, and it was a waste of time and money. BUT - that is my car, and I know other people have had different results.

If your in doubt, why not ring the dealer & ask what they recommend? After all, they probably know more about what will work in these vehicles better than most people.

[Disco4SE]

Lets face it, no dealer or car maker is going to recommend adding 2 stroke oil to a diesel engine.
Prior to adding 2 stroke oil to my vehicle, I spoke with a chemist from one of Australia's leading oil companies and discussed my intended to use their TC-W3. As expected, he couldn't recommend it for my intended use.......however he did comment that it's cleaning and lubricating properties can only do it good.

Cheers, Craig

[CaverD3]

Two stroke needs to be mineral not synthetic. The synthetic ones don't mix well with diesel.

[rick130]

Two stroke needs to be mineral not synthetic. The synthetic ones don't mix well with diesel.

I keep reading this here and it's absolute BS !

The best diesel additives use ester (synthetic) ashless lubricants !

As for adding two stroke, get a decent diesel additive such as Redlines RL2 which contains detergents as well as lubricants and has been tested and certified as an approved Cummins fuel additive.

[CaverD3]

Not just on here. I suspect it depends on which 2 stroke.
That synthetic is not 2 stroke. But should be better.

[AndyG]

Umm,
Am getting a new Defender that will be parked up for several months at a time, i was going to add a marine antibacterial diesel agent, & fill the tanks to the brim to prevent condensation. am i on the right track?

[rick130]

Not just on here. I suspect it depends on which 2 stroke.
That synthetic is not 2 stroke. But should be better.


The point is that the best syn two stroke lubes are ashless ester based and mix easily, their solvency is at least as good as a mineral oil.
I suspect this old missive stems from the four stroke world where PAO's are the basis of most syn oils and usually need the additive package 'delivered' in a mineral oil or ester 'package' for best solvency with the base oils.

Redline basically uses their two stroke lube in their RL2/3 and 85Plus !

[Disco4SE]

The Penrite TC-W3 that I use is a low ash, low smoke premium mineral oil, not synthetic.
The chemist that I spoke to prior to adding the 2 stroke to my fuel, advised that if I was going to use it for my intended purpose, to use a mineral oil.
BTW: The chemist was not from Penrite.

Cheers, Craig

[Plane Fixer]

AndyG
It is always a good move when leaving the car to ALWAYS fill the tank. This fills most of the air space and helps prevent condensation and as the fuel is slightly hygroscopic it will absorb same and then there will, after a while be then free water in the bottom of the tank.
This is then why an antibacterial is then necessary as the algae then forms a thick black scum which has sharp teeth and will eat a metal tank as well as blocking filters.
Having seen the results in aircraft fuel tanks I always use a fuel antibacterial and keep the tank full if left for a length of time.

[AndyG]

Thanks,
I have a boat that takes 3,000 liters and has Gardner 6lx engines (2), and that's what I do there. Love those donks at full bore at 1,100 rpm:p:p

[Redback]

Jeez, I dunno how my TD5 lasted 320,000ks, must have been lucky:p

Still going strong last I heard!!

Baz.

[jonesy63]

Baz - it didn't run the same PSI as the HPFP in the Euro4 D3/D4/RRS. Mind you, after having FOUR of the buggers replaced under warranty, I might be just a bit gun shy!

[Mr smokey]

Thanks to Sean for pointing out the previous posts - I couldn't spot them. Guys, this wasn't a troll, just a genuine query as to whether I should be using any of the proprietary products. Some interesting info here
http://fleetowner.com/site-files/fleetowner.com/files/uploads/2012/09/Fleet%20Owner%20rebutal%20article%209-1-12.pdf

Haven't had a chance to go through it in detail

Trevor

[jonesy63]

That article from USA is about as useful as teats on a bull! I don't believe USA has low sulphur diesel yet - which is why they run only trucks on diesel over there.

[rick130]

That article from USA is about as useful as teats on a bull! I don't believe USA has low sulphur diesel yet - which is why they run only trucks on diesel over there.


The US has ULSD ;)

[Mr smokey]

That article from USA is about as useful as teats on a bull! I don't believe USA has low sulphur diesel yet - which is why they run only trucks on diesel over there.

Whoops. My bad. I mistook "interesting" as being " totally accurate for all regions of the world from an infallible source".

Sorry :(

[Redback]

Baz - it didn't run the same PSI as the HPFP in the Euro4 D3/D4/RRS. Mind you, after having FOUR of the buggers replaced under warranty, I might be just a bit gun shy!

I totally understand your situation Rob, I'd be looking for anything to help also after what happened to your Disco.


Thanks to Sean for pointing out the previous posts - I couldn't spot them. Guys, this wasn't a troll, just a genuine query as to whether I should be using any of the proprietary products. Some interesting info here
http://fleetowner.com/site-files/fleetowner.com/files/uploads/2012/09/Fleet%20Owner%20rebutal%20article%209-1-12.pdf

Haven't had a chance to go through it in detail

Trevor

Using an additive is fine, I have tried them, did they help, don't know, I really did not notice any difference at all, I only used them now and again and that was only in the D2, haven't used anything in our D4 as yet.

I probably will though, but like with the D2 only now and again to clean the injectors.

My prevention idea is this, get it before it gets in;)
Home (http://www.mrfunnel.com/Mr._Funnel/Home.html)


Baz.

[Grant052]

Perhaps we need a new thread on "Der, that's bleedin obvious" or "you haven't searched the forum properly" but if so I can't find any links.

D4 MY13 SE - do I believe the advertising hype or not. Additive in the fuel for round town driving and/or towing? Will it give me the bulletproof protection & vastly reduced fuel consumption as promised?

Btw - speaking with a chap last night. "used to have a LR. D1 Series". He said.
"only had it for 16 years. 300,000ks before it blew up" . Collapsed after towing his 30ft yacht from one end of Aust to the other.

Trevor

A diesel mechanic mate recommended 'Diesel Power' years ago. I used it in the TD5 in my D2 and again in my D3. I reckon it makes a difference, and it's easy to use, one mil per litre of fuel, i.e. 50 litres of fuel = 50 ml of the additive, 80 litres = 80 ml. I add it every two or three fill-ups, it's good stuff.

[rick130]

The problem with some additives is that they are corrosive to soft metals, eg. bearing shells and you have no idea unless doing used oil analysis.

I tried BP's Diesel Go years ago, thinking it's formulated and sold by the fuel company so it should be ok, but lead, tin, aluminium and copper numbers spiked markedly while using it.

People claim all sorts of things when using xyz product/additives, and I'm including two stroke in here, but It's all placebo unless you are doing testing.

[disco gazza]

What about the products from cost effective maintenance.

I bought a 3 pack which I'm using in my old 200tdi every other tank full.
It certainly stops the smoke from blowing out the exhaust when taking off from the lights.:D
Havent really improved mpg or oil usage,but drivability is better.

cheers