Isn't Dino oil and it's derivatives all just chains of hydrocarbons?
Lots of people swear by adding auto trans fluid at 200:1.
I never bothered with any thing when I had diesels. Unless you're in a third world country, or know for sure they're issues with v fuel available, not sure there's much to be gained
Hello,
Not all hydrocarbons are created equal.
Usually, hydrocarbons that are used for fuel are linear molecules. Some have little branches, but in general their structure remains line-like. They are viscous but not enough fro proper lubrication.
Hydrocarbons used for lubrication have molecules with ring structures on them. You can think of these rings like small bearing balls that tend to adhere to some surfaces and help them slide. I am oversimplifying a bit here but that is a general idea of what they are and how they work. They can be complicated to manufacture.
Then there are special use hydrocarbons, whose molecules can include rings, a mix of linear chains and branches and even elements like fluorine, sulfur and metals. Some are aircraft/rocket fuel, some are lubricants, some are raw material for other compounds. And some are additives.
Manufacturing all three types requires refineries and special equipment, as well as proprietary technology. Even diesel production from crude oil requires some fine tuning, particularly sulfur removal; keeping the right cetane number can be complicated.
A proper additive can do its work at small concentrations, hence the name. A small but adequate number of molecules can, for instance, assist with the properties of the thin film that is at the heart of lubrication.
That some companies take advantage of this to extract money from people is another story. The trick is to have a closer look at the ingredients. Yes, proprietary compounds cannot be disclosed, but by law companies are obligated to state the chemical type of the compounds they use. That is the reason why Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS) exist. So, if you know where and what to look for, you can tell snake oil from a proper additive.
Hope this helps.
By the way, I swear by engine oil with the right concentration of fluorinated copolymers. It is available from your supplier of choice. MSDS are your friends.
Juan
www.hotshotsecret.com
) i do use additive it in all diesels that ive had. I dont use fuel treatments for any potential mileage gain (although thats nice if/when it occurs) is use them for added lubricity and/or anti-gel when it gets cold. Now that ive rambled enough, i cant see that additive being anything but a benefit for you.
