Thread: Diesel fuel treatments.. wich one? if any?

I've used Redline RL2 and 85 Plus. If you check out Redlines Oz website, they have extensive test data to support their claims, including extensive fleet test data. When I first used it (rough running/blowing smoke in the Patrol and blowing smoke in the 'fender) it cleaned both systems up smartly. I then continued with a maintenance dose for the next 18 months. I've used oil analysis throughout that time, and the results have been excellent. Remember some cleaners are very corrosive, and with the little bit of blow-by every engine has, it is very common to see elevated lead, tin, moly, sodium, etc levels in vehicles using fuel additives. In other words, they may clean your injectors and possibly the chamber and maybe even your ring lands, at the expense of corrosive wear in the bottom end.

After using BP's DieselGo for four-six weeks at a maintenence dose, we had relatively large spikes in wear indicators in both engines. I'm currently running further tests to determine if it is the fuel additive, but it seems far too coincidental.

I've consulted a fuel/oil analysysis expert in the US who has performed extensive diesel fuel additive testing, and while he reckons the Redline RL2 I've been using is good for lubricity (what I was mainly after), there is a product available there that performs far, far better than any other diesel additive at cleaning and keeping clean, without any untoward corrosive effects and has excellent lubricity.
Unfortunately it isn't available here, but I'm going to try and see if I can import it, as Terry is adament it's chemistry is superior to anything else on the (US) market.

Many people think that Sulphur is an additive used for lubricity in diesel fuel. The Sulphur occurs naturally, is of no benefit and only has undesirable affects.

The problems with reduced lubricity are due to the method (there are several) used to remove the Sulphur and how much is in the crude base. The oil companies choose to overlook this problem.

It is more of a problem with the VE type injection pumps as used by Rover. Inline pumps are lubricated by the engine oil.

The early seal issues is a different problem again.

I have heard of using automatic transmission fluid or 2 stroke oil as an additive for improving lubricity.

Other additives are used to prevent problems from water in the diesel.

I use one made by chemtech. It seems fine, but the engine is new. Has anyone had any experience with this one?

Is it my imagination or does diesel treatments and windex smell the same???
I got a bottle of injector cleaner every 4 tankfills and it smells just like windex

Originally Posted by Captain_Rightfoot

I use one made by chemtech. It seems fine, but the engine is new. Has anyone had any experience with this one?

I use chemtech im happy each to their own

Originally Posted by Bush65

Many people think that Sulphur is an additive used for lubricity in diesel fuel. The Sulphur occurs naturally, is of no benefit and only has undesirable affects.

The problems with reduced lubricity are due to the method (there are several) used to remove the Sulphur and how much is in the crude base. The oil companies choose to overlook this problem.

It is more of a problem with the VE type injection pumps as used by Rover. Inline pumps are lubricated by the engine oil.

The early seal issues is a different problem again.

I have heard of using automatic transmission fluid or 2 stroke oil as an additive for improving lubricity.

Other additives are used to prevent problems from water in the diesel.

Distillate is a light oil. I don't see the point in adding more oil to oil. Distillate also contains rust inhibitors, and various other components, some of which are added or removed by refiners, according to season and geographical location. For instance, in very cold climates, more wax may be removed to prevent blockages caused by wax solidifying, and often more butane added to improve startability. Some are contained in the base crude oil which varies widely according to source. In the 1970's, White Farm Equipment and Detroit Diesel were identifying engine failures, in Western Australia, from top ring corrosion. The eventual determination was that this was caused by a high sulphur content in the fuel. The owners and operators manuals warned about fuel standards so there were problems with warranty claims. Apparently the crude being refined in WA had a high sulphur content which continued downstream until it reached the operators and corroded the top rings. I don't recall the outcome but the problem must have been solved.

I use Moreys ( available at Supercheep ).
About $22 a litre bottle and that lasts for 15 or so fills.
Seems to have made a difference to fuel economy and performance over a longer term.

Brian, the problem is that the process/s used to remove the sulfur compounds for ULSD also remove the aromatic compounds responsible for the fuels lubricity, hence lubricity additives are added by the refiners to meet the relevant standard.
Adding a little extra (we are talking very small % here) can only help the pump, particularly VE style ones as John suggested.