Diesel fuel additive shelf life?

[HomerOz]

G'Day Fella's,

About 25 years ago, I was lucky enough to be given a 15 liter plastic drum of ChemTech, diesel fuel additive. The place I was working at, changed oil brands for their Gen-Set, and fuel additive as well.

I generally add 30ml (two Table spoons) of this to my TLC fuel tank, every second fuel refill.
When I recently replaced my fuel filter, I noticed some amount of water and rusty "bits" in the bottom of the fuel filter? I was under the impression, that this fuel additive would disolve any water, in the fuel system?

So I was wondering, after 25 years, has this ChemTech fuel treatment gone off, or is no longer doing what it is supposed to?

Any advice on this matter, would be very much appreciated.

Regards
Homer

 

[roscoFJ73]

Get a litre of diesel , put it into a clear plastic container add a small amount a of water and add the Chemtech. Observe results Professor Homer and get them peer reviewed.

 

[HomerOz]

G'Day Rosco,

D'OH! (just edited by Homer).

Thanks for this Common Sense solution, to my problem.
Mate, it must be too early, on a Sunday morning....... LOL!

Regards
Dopey Homer

 

[JuanJ]

Hello,

I might be stating the obvious here: water and oil/fuel no not mix. Stirring turns water into droplets that will disperse temporarily in oil/fuel, only to separate again in time.

Over time, moisture trapped in any container becomes condensation. Water is denser than oil and therefore goes to the bottom.

Quite likely, on the trip home the container shook and water broke into many droplets. Some found the way to your spoon, coalesced in your tank, separated from the fuel and headed for the bottom again.

Apologies for this late night rambling... Hope it helps.







Juan

 

[roscoFJ73]

Juan , it was my understanding that these fuel additives make the water mix with the fuel (emulsification?)and allow it to be burned with the fuel. The water is still there but it no longer sits on the bottom. Thats the theory, how well they work I do not know. I guess its similar to adding detergent to the dish washing water to dissolve the grease.

 

[PAToyota]

Pretty much. I remember using "Dri-gas" back in the 70's before they got into all the sealed systems for emissions and condensation was more of an issue. It was basically alcohol - which would absorb the water and allow it to be burned.

I'm not familiar with ChemTech, but I use PowerService in my diesels to improve lubricity with the ULSD. With that, I use about 1oz for every 2 gallons of diesel, so I'm not sure how much good 2 Tbs per tank is really doing. I could be wrong if it is very concentrated.

 

[HomerOz]

G'Day Fella's,

Thank You to you all for your comments and advice on this subject.

I did as Rosco suggested suggested ........... well kind of (see images).
I placed about 10 parts Water in a plastic container and added about 1 part Chem Tech, and then left it outside (but undercover) overnight.
Despite it getting down -3* C this morning, all looks to be as it should be.
Maybe I just need to up my dose of Chem Tech, and at each and every fuel re-fill.

Hope that helps

Regards
Homer

 

[HomerOz]

G'Day Fella's,

I just thought, to prove this theory, I should now add some Diesel fuel to this same container of Water/Chem Tech, and see what happens?
Stay tuned...........

 

[roscoFJ73]

I would have added the water and diesel, then the chemtech and watched the reaction. If its working ,the water should magically disappear

 

[HomerOz]

G'Day Fella's,

As Rosco suggested, I started from scratch.
This time, I placed some Water in the container, then added Diesel, then added some Chem Tech.
I then mixed it all up together, into a white looking emoulsion.

I then let it sit over night (it got down to -4.7* C. Brrrrrrrr GloBULL Warming Sux!).
And this is what it looks like now.......

You can now see, three seperate/seperated levels, of different fluid types.

I think it is safe to say, that the Chem Tech, may be beyond it's Use By Date.

D'oh!
Homer

 

[roscoFJ73]

I then mixed it all up together, into a white looking emoulsion.

Maybe this is how its supposed to work. It emulsifies while you are driving along when it gets stirred up and the fuel gets used up and then you buy fresh fuel.
Try the experiment with the new additive, it may or may not do the same thing.

 

[HomerOz]

Yes Rosco, I'll give that a try, and report back.

Regards
Homer

 

[PAToyota]

Well, there is only so much water it could absorb. Generally, you're dealing with fairly trace amounts of water. It's not like you're even seeing a quarter of the volume of the diesel.

I was able to turn this up: http://www.chemtech.net.au/Diesel Power Features & Benefits NOV09.pdf

It does mention water emulsification, but I also see that they're recommending a ml per litre - 300ml treats 300 litres. As 30 litres is about 8 gallons, I'm guessing you need to be adding quite a bit more to a tankful.

 

[HomerOz]

G'Day Fella's,

Thank you PAToyota, for your comment and that attachment.
Yes, I agree, maybe I need to do the test again, and use only a small amount of water.
Also and given that information, I probably need to add 120ml to the 90 liters of fuel, that the fuel tank holds.

Regards
Homer

 

[HomerOz]

G'Day Fella's,

OK, test number 2......

I placed about 100 mls (1/4 of a cup) of Diesel fuel, into the same (but flushed and cleaned) clear container.

I then added 1/4 of a tea spoon of Water (please note the bubbles of water around the bottom of the container and also, some still on the top surface).

I then added 1/4 of a tea spoon of Chem Tech fuel treatment
You can see how the Chem Tech has already/instantly mixed with/disolved (?) the water, in the bottom half of the container

I then wisked this up and this is what it looks like now

I sat it to one side, to see what it looks like tomorrow.................

D'oh! and Avagreatweekendeh!
Homer

 

[roscoFJ73]

Always wanted to know if those water dispersants worked and thanks to Professor Homer its a known fact they do.
I wonder if its capable of causing corrosion in this state.
Water left sitting in injector pumps for long periods can destroy the fine tolerances.
Might be good idea to only to use these emulsifiers if you are using the engine all the time or before you embark on a long drive.
If you have to store the vehicle, have only fresh diesel in the tank.

 

[HomerOz]

G'Day Fella's,

Thanks for your glowing praise there Rosco, I no longer feel quite as dopey now (thanks to your advice), as I did at the start of this thread.

After yet another minus 5* C night, I just went out and had a look at the container of Diesel, Water and Chem Tech blend.
The brew has cleared a little (compared to the last image, it is no where near as milky) but most importantly, it is still one liquid, and the individual elements have not seperated out, which is good.

Good question (regarding corrosion in the fuel system) Rosco.
That one is way beyond me Cobber.
I imaging a Diesel Mechanic or another suitibly qualified or experienced person, might be able to answer that one for us.

So going back to the start of this thread, what have I learnt?
1) It appears that 25+ year old Chem Tech fuel treatment, is still doing what it was designed to do.
2) I need to add about 90mls per tank of fuel (90 Liters), or 1ml of Chem Tech/Liter of Diesel fuel.
3) The participants on IH8MUD, are a great and knowledgable bunch of people!

Best regards
Homer

 

[HomerOz]

G'Day Fellka's,

I had a look earier today (after a minus 6* C start to the day) and this is what the container of Diesel, Water and Chem Tech blend, looks like today.
As you can see, it has lost all of the milkness, and now looks just like Diesel fuel again.
Which I assume, is what it is supposed to look like.

FYI, this same Chem Tech, has spent most of it's last 25+ years, stored in a garage or shipping container, so out of direct sunlight

Regards
Homer

 

[PAToyota]

I suppose that the issue with it being so old would be that it would absorb water before being mixed with the diesel - limiting its effectiveness. But clearly it still absorbs a certain amount of water, so it is still "good" to some extent. You may want to transfer it to a smaller container so that there is less airspace in the container - allowing humid air to enter and the solution to absorb that moisture each time you open it.

 

[HomerOz]

G'Day Fella's,

Thanks for that tip, PAToyota.
I did do that a number of years ago, and the remaining 2 ish liters of C/Tech, is now in a smaller container.
Luckily, we have very low humidity, where I live. So that may have some bearing on the life of this batch of C/Tech?

Regards
Homer