Diesel fuel and additives

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wombat

wombat

10 Year 15 Year
Joined
Nov 13, 2006
Threads
75
Messages
1,251
Location
Victoria B.C.
I have been working on the 42 for about 3 1/2 years and have started it up about once a month in that time. It has only idled in driveway and not driven on road. I have added about 5 gallons of diesel about 1 year ago and the tank reads just below 1/4 I hoped to have it on the road in the next month or two and my question is what additives and fuel should i put in for the first good run. Please dont tell me to remove and clean fuel tank and flush out lines cuz thats not going to happen. The 3b starts great and runs smooth at idle.
 
wombat said:
I have been working on the 42 for about 3 1/2 years and have started it up about once a month in that time. It has only idled in driveway and not driven on road. I have added about 5 gallons of diesel about 1 year ago and the tank reads just below 1/4 I hoped to have it on the road in the next month or two and my question is what additives and fuel should i put in for the first good run. Please dont tell me to remove and clean fuel tank and flush out lines cuz thats not going to happen. The 3b starts great and runs smooth at idle.
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I buy Esso diesel at the Quadra/McKenzie gas station in Victoria partly cause it's really near to me. Has bio diesel in it apparently which I hear is good for the injection system. Although maybe all diesel has that now. Anyhow, seems to be good diesel. I think the trick though is to buy at a station that moves a lot of diesel. Then you know you are getting fresh stuff.

I use Power Service additive that you can get at Canadian Tire. Maybe not the very best, but seems to work well for me.

Can't wait to see your project on the road. I won't tell you to flush your fuel system, but at least change the fuel filter after running a tank of diesel.
 
I hear horror stories of algae build up in tanks or is that only in marine applications. How would i know if i have a problem,would i have driveability problems and if so what would those symptoms be. Should i run a tank through then change filter or change filter first. should i only put in 20 lt first run in case there is problem i am not stuck with full tank to deal with.
 
seafoam is a pretty good magic snake oil too.

fill up your new fuel filter with it before installing, and dump the rest in the tank.


Other than that, I used to use Howes in some of my cruisers when I bothered, could definitely tell the difference afterwards.
 
I wouldn't bother with a new filter initially unless it's clogged.

Seafoam is good. When I first bought my truck I did what seapotate recommended, and it seemed to clean crap out of my system.

We just bought a 9mm borescope at work. I can drop by with it if you want to peer into your tank and see what is actually in there.
 
wombat said:
I hear horror stories of algae build up in tanks or is that only in marine applications. How would i know if i have a problem,would i have driveability problems and if so what would those symptoms be. Should i run a tank through then change filter or change filter first. should i only put in 20 lt first run in case there is problem i am not stuck with full tank to deal with.
Click to expand...

My 74 has a water separator, which was full of black slime. I used a turkey baster to slurp out the slime when I first got it.
You could run Howe's diesel additive which helps with gelling and algae. I like the Howe's, becaue it is more concentrated than Diesel Kleene that is more widely available. My truck runs better once I have blown out that fuel sitting over the winter, but I keep it full over the winter to minimize condensation.
 
seafoam is the best for all fuels, We tried it at the shop when I was there on some sludge in a cup and it broke it down very fast, I would do a new filter filled with it so the injectors get cleaned and then after couple weeks of driving get a new filter then giver
 
Ya that seafoam stuff was awesome.

Today my little jetta was bogging down on hills on the way home from boston... I figure maybe I got some crappy fuel so I dumped some of that "Howe's" in and along with a fill up seemed to make a big difference... powers back and its running good so I"m going to toss a vote in for Howe's ... and a new fuel filter for both of us.
 
How many people here have VW diesel's anyhow? :eek: Must be at least four of you. I've been thinking of replacing the wife's Maxima with a VW diesel. The Maxi is thirsty in town. What do you guys get for city litres/100km with your VW's?

Whoa, now we're way off topic. Ignore my post if you want...
 
Clunking on bumps is the upper strut bushings. That kit mentioned earlier is a great deal!

I get 850 on a tank without venting and 1000kms with. I don't drive like a Prius owner.
Car has been great other than the usual leaks and burnt out bulbs that plague the vw's. Ours is rated for 15000k oil service intervals (though I don't do more than 10000)
 
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