Who's running fuel lubricant?

[pathfinder_88]

Just curious on who is running fuel lubricant with their fill up's? The last diesel I had was a Dodge Cummins and I used to throw a little lube in with every tank of fuel as that is what the previous owner had done. If that needed it, my older Cruiser definitely does. I have been told that older diesel's were designed prior to low sulphur diesel which does not have the natural lubricant that older diesel fuel used to have, therefore anything rubber in the fuel system begins to break down. Opinions?

 

[Stone]

The question is...who ISN'T running fuel lubricant? LOL.

Howe's Diesel Treat for me...I usually buy it from Lordco. Piers Diesel also carried a different brand that also contained a Cetane Booster that I tried when I had my BJ74. I liked it but had to use more and it was more expensive.

Howe's is a good all in one product that provides the lubrication our pumps need as well as anti-gel and some protection from water.

 

[canucksafari]

Sulphur lubes the metal parts not the rubber seals. Its the aromatics in LSD which keeps rubber seals soft and from shrinking and cracking. The process to remove the sulphur from diesel also removes the aromatics. There is no product available to fix this issue short of changing the seals and hoses ot the viton type material. Biodiesel will also disolve old rubber seals and hoses if the concentration is high enough. If your rig is 1993 or newer, then you won't likely have a rubber seal or hose problem. Most manufacturers started using Viton type materials for seals and hoses then. BTW, bioddiesel or SVO makes for good lube as well. B5 or a B10 is more than enough to get back the lube qualities of LSD.

 

[Towpack]

What about using a small quantity of 2 stroke oil in every fill up as I've seen mentioned on here and other forums? Some of the better quality 2 stroke oils are designed to work in very high dilutions in petrol engines with excellent film strength and lubrication characteristics so should benefit the IP? Cost wise even the more expensive premium 2 stroke oils compare favourably with the diesel fuel additives at the fuel/oil ratio you would be using them.

 

[Stone]

What about using a small quantity of 2 stroke oil in every fill up as I've seen mentioned on here and other forums? Some of the better quality 2 stroke oils are designed to work in very high dilutions in petrol engines with excellent film strength and lubrication characteristics so should benefit the IP? Cost wise even the more expensive premium 2 stroke oils compare favourably with the diesel fuel additives at the fuel/oil ratio you would be using them.

The only thing is I like the added protection that diesel specific additives provide against moisture in the fuel. The anti-gel properties are also good for those who live in cooler climates. Lubrication is only one part of the picture, IMO.

 

[roscoFJ73]

The question is...who ISN'T running fuel lubricant? LOL.

.

Not me,I think its snake oil. I run some injector cleaner 2-3 times a year,nothing else.
Australia has been on low sulpher fuel for nearly 8 years,if it was going to kill my pump it would have done so buy now.
I had it serviced 2 years ago and it was good at 213000 and has now done 250000klms.

I think keeping the rotary pump cool is probably more important

 

[canucksafari]

I think keeping the rotary pump cool is probably more important

But Rosco, wouldn't you agree a well lubed pump is a cool pump.

BTW, in Canada and the US we don't have LSD, we have ULSD. The lubrication qualities of the diesel here is supposed to match that of the LSD. As i understand it, most producers add around 1% or more of bio to achieve this. Also, anti-gell additives do come in handy in some of our weather conditions.

 

[Enigma]

I asked this question to Fantom shortly after I bought my 81, given the amount of miles he puts on his bj60, and he shook his head no.
I'm with Rosco on the snake oil theory, I'm just skeptical of damn near anything like that. But I do run B50 quite often, so that should keep things lubed well enough if it does indeed need it.

 

[kim]

I haven't used any lubricants, 7 years now that I've owned it, 530,000 on the clock, no maintenance to the IP or any rubber seal for that matter.

 

[canucksafari]

Remember that a inline pump is lubed from the crank case. The only lube a rotary gets is from its fuel. Both Fantom's and Kim's engines have inline pumps - apples and oranges. Personally, I wish my Safari had an inline pump. Some of the early ones came with inline pumps. Not sure why they changed to the rotary. Maybe fuel delivery or more money in parts?

 

[roscoFJ73]

But Rosco, wouldn't you agree a well lubed pump is a cool pump.

BTW, in Canada and the US we don't have LSD, we have ULSD. The lubrication qualities of the diesel here is supposed to match that of the LSD. As i understand it, most producers add around 1% or more of bio to achieve this. Also, anti-gell additives do come in handy in some of our weather conditions.

Im not convinced 50 or 100 ml of snake oil can lubricate 90 litres of fuel.
Ill buy the snake oil when they can prove with INDEPENDANT testing that it will benefit me.
To be honest ,Im fairly sceptical of anything in a bottle that says it can make your car do XXXXX

I think the heat problem is a hot climate thing. Long hot roads,combined with the pump being on the hot side of the engine.(opposite to exhaust)
Its seems to get as hot as an oven down on the LH side,painful to the face of you get close.
Its mainly from the fan pulling the air through the radiator in an anti clockwise direction.

Some sort of chimney would help more than an additive

 

[Tofudebeest]

Buy a jug of canola oil. Add a cup or two (or ten) before each fill up. Done.

Yes, seriously.

I mean this in a totally smugless way...I run B100, lubricity is not an issue for me; it's as slippery as it could be.

 

[Stone]

Interesting responses...especially the high miler ones with no lube. BUT...personally I think I'll continue to use a little bit of "snake oil" in every tank. Doesn't cost much and it makes me sleep better at night...lol.

 

[canucksafari]

Interesting responses...especially the high miler ones with no lube. BUT...personally I think I'll continue to use a little bit of "snake oil" in every tank. Doesn't cost much and it makes me sleep better at night...lol.

X2 I put on a lot of kms in a short period of time (over 5000 in the next 3 weeks). I can't afford problems - especially on my work trips in the winter. Snake oil not only helps me sleep but the better combustion is very noticeable on a NA diesel.

BTW, only use dino (no canola or B..) after October. Learned my leason the first winter when I was caught with B40 in the tank and waxed up a filter. Lucky it happened in town and not out in the road at -25C.

 

[Tofudebeest]

Anything at those temperatures above B10 is gonna gel. Even petrol diesel will gel at 25 below. Two cups of vegetable oil in a full tank will not bring the gel point up where you're gonna have issues, but it will dramatically increase its lubricity.

 

[lostmarbles]

The question is...who ISN'T running fuel lubricant? LOL..

........Well I isn't.

I use the fuel exactly as it comes out of the bowser/pump.

I've never used "injector cleaner" either.

And after 240,000 on one set of injectors this way - I didn't even really notice any difference when I recently replaced them with "professionally-reconditioned injectors" (except perhaps in "better fuel economy"). .....It still starts and runs pretty much as it did before -which is "just fine".

 

[roscoFJ73]

X2 I put on a lot of kms in a short period of time (over 5000 in the next 3 weeks). I can't afford problems - especially on my work trips in the winter. Snake oil not only helps me sleep but the better combustion is very noticeable on a NA diesel.

BTW, only use dino (no canola or B..) after October. Learned my leason the first winter when I was caught with B40 in the tank and waxed up a filter. Lucky it happened in town and not out in the road at -25C.

How many Klms has your pump done before and after the rebuild?
The shop I go to says the rotary Zexel outlasts the Denso rotary by a wide margin.

 

[Otterav]

X2 I put on a lot of kms in a short period of time (over 5000 in the next 3 weeks). I can't afford problems - especially on my work trips in the winter. Snake oil not only helps me sleep but the better combustion is very noticeable on a NA diesel.

BTW, only use dino (no canola or B..) after October. Learned my leason the first winter when I was caught with B40 in the tank and waxed up a filter. Lucky it happened in town and not out in the road at -25C.

Hey,
From reading the bio-diesel websites, all diesel sold in Canada is 2% bio. This was to offset the sulphur reduction, and is required by regulations.
eric

 

[MattF]

I've only ever run injector cleaner through mine a couple of times, but never any other additive, and mine is just shy of 200,000Km's with no problems. (Surf with 2LT-E engine). If I did ever decide to use anything for lube, it would be a touch of oil. None of these fancy, (read expensive), additives.

 

[canucksafari]

How many Klms has your pump done before and after the rebuild?
The shop I go to says the rotary Zexel outlasts the Denso rotary by a wide margin.

I think it was at 156,000 kms when I did the rebuild. It really didn't need the rebuild but I got convinced by the shop that I should have it pulled apart and bench tested. I think they only replaced one part and that was likely because they had to replace something. The fuel shop guy said it was only "slightly worn". Like most people with pre-1993 rotary pump diesels, my rebuild was precipitated by a seal pissing out diesel and me not knowing better. I now have an $18 Zexel seal kit on hand, in case my other truck has the same problem or if someone else with a TD4.2 finds themselves heading down the $2000 rebuild road for a simple seal problem.

Still, having paid the money once for a rebuild, the snake oil does help me sleep better. Also, it sure does cut down on the smoke in a NA diesel and gives it a little bit more pep. Yesterday afternoon, I started down the road from Fort St. James back to Abbotsford (about 1,000 kms) and forgot to put the snake oil in at fill-up. I ran that way until I hit 100 Mile House (around 500 kms down the road) where I topped but putting in the snake oil this time. The difference in power and where on the skinny pedal she will start to smoke is quite astounding, especially in the long climb up and out of 100 Mile House.