Should we be adding a diesel fuel additive

Submitted: Sunday, Feb 02, 2003 at 07:10
ThreadID: 3204 Views:1621 Replies:5 FollowUps:9
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A mechanic tell me that we should always run a fuel addditive in diesel fuel. His reason is that because of environmental issues and reduced sulphur content injector pumps are not recieving adequate lubrication which is supplied by the sulphur in the fuel.

Anyone got more info on this and what additives are good, better, best........
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Reply By: Member - Karl - Sunday, Feb 02, 2003 at 11:42

Sunday, Feb 02, 2003 at 11:42
I used to use additives such as the Wynns and Mobil products, but I was told to stop by my mechanic because he said that they removed the lubicant in the diesel as well as the muck, so I have stopped using them. It would be good to get the right answer/opinion!!
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Reply By: Truckster - Sunday, Feb 02, 2003 at 15:13

Sunday, Feb 02, 2003 at 15:13
Im with Karl, a truthful answer would be good!

Ive been running Nulon Diesel Treatment for over 12 months with no ill effects..

when I first put it in, 30 mins after filing up, there was black crap coming out the back for around 1klm then clear ever since.

but for the low sulphur, no idea, look at what happened with BP in Qld!!! Lots o engine rebuilds.
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Follow Up By: Savvas - Sunday, Feb 02, 2003 at 21:30

Sunday, Feb 02, 2003 at 21:30
Truckster...

I read on BP's website that they were trialling 10% ethanol in diesel in Queensland. Do you reckon that may have had something to do with the engine rebuilds up there?
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Follow Up By: Savvas - Sunday, Feb 02, 2003 at 21:38

Sunday, Feb 02, 2003 at 21:38
.... and do you think that I can find the story on their website now????

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Follow Up By: Savvas - Sunday, Feb 02, 2003 at 21:46

Sunday, Feb 02, 2003 at 21:46
.... never mind me, I had a mental failure. The trial was in ULP and PULP.
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Reply By: Peter - Sunday, Feb 02, 2003 at 16:11

Sunday, Feb 02, 2003 at 16:11
flesh,
from what i know your mechanic is part right. with the new low sulphur fuels, engines that are built prior to the early 90's (from 1994 depending on who you believe) will have problems with fuel seals collapsing. thus injector pumps will need to be overhauled.
basically the sulphur acts as a lubricant and now that all diesel is low sulphur the older engines suffer.
you need to put in a lubricant or rebuild your pump. i use either morey or lucas. but i do know that nulon and a few other brands do the same job. just need to read the bottle to see if it contains a lubricant.
shell has a good bit of info on their website about the new low sulfur diesel. as did bp but i couldnt find it again when i looked.bp also have brochures they can give you at their servos.
when it was first introduced into qld (since 2000)it caused havoc.injector pumps were being rebuilt like no tomorrow.even racv was warning members to be wary of the new low sulphur diesel in qld.
apparently those initial refining problems have been fixed and the fuel companies dont expect any more problems.but they still warn you to service your vehicle if it is an early 1990's model or earlier. in other words, the low sulphur diesel will damage your seals if you have an early 1990.s or earlier engine.
so like i, i would suggest putting in a lubricant and saving up money for an injector pump rebuild.mine is a 1984 troppy.
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Follow Up By: Truckster - Sunday, Feb 02, 2003 at 20:04

Sunday, Feb 02, 2003 at 20:04
in other words, the low sulphur diesel will damage your seals if you have an early 1990.s or earlier engine.

I think that stinks! Typical tight ass large company. and they get away with it..

Cause they cant get it right, we pay up...

Am I missing something here?

What if you dont have the net, or this thread like 10,000's of others? how would you know?? Wait for your donk to blow up?
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Follow Up By: Flesh - Monday, Feb 03, 2003 at 06:09

Monday, Feb 03, 2003 at 06:09
Thanks Peter,

I had a look on the Shell site, here is the link for those interested.

Click here
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Follow Up By: Flesh - Monday, Feb 03, 2003 at 06:41

Monday, Feb 03, 2003 at 06:41
Here is the stuff on the subject from BP.

There are about 28 documents on the topic on the BP site.Click hereand type low sulphur in the search box.

From what I've read here so far it seens that the oil companies are putting in lubricating additives. Which is how it should be.

Cheers,
Flesh
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Reply By: StephenF - Monday, Feb 03, 2003 at 09:14

Monday, Feb 03, 2003 at 09:14
If you read the stuff on the Shell site, I think we're worrying over nothing. The problems in Queensland in 2000 were caused by the process used to extract the sulphur affecting other components of the fuel, and mainly affected only "pre 1994 2-3 tonne vehicles that used a rotary pump fitted with nitrile seals." Since then the process has been altered and a lubricant added.

Stephen.
AnswerID: 12418

Follow Up By: Truckster - Monday, Feb 03, 2003 at 10:03

Monday, Feb 03, 2003 at 10:03
2-3 ton vehicles......

Lots of 4wds died, pre 94 or not, most people out there have pre 94, majority of people out there would never had know, also what about the people that just 'fixed' the problems themselves at their own cost?

how do people find out about the companies stuffups? They arent going to broadcast it thats for sure - are they?

Ive been using a BP up the road here thats 6cpl cheaper than the other BP 3klms away from it. There has to be a reason why, but I get figure it out! one is in the new BP colors and signage (the cheaper one!)...

What if it rooted my fuel pump etc due to dodgey fuel? I had a quote a while ago to rebuild mine, and injectors, was $1800-2200! I dont have that laying around to dish out !!


BP
B odgey
P ricks....
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Follow Up By: Stephenf - Monday, Feb 03, 2003 at 15:17

Monday, Feb 03, 2003 at 15:17
How many vehicles "died"? I thought it was only leaky seals. I'm not in Queensland, but I thought that if thousands of fuel pumps were going at $2000+ each there would have been a much bigger stink (like the Avgas problems a few years back).
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Follow Up By: Truckster - Monday, Feb 03, 2003 at 15:25

Monday, Feb 03, 2003 at 15:25
I dont have exact figures, but guy in the Nissan club in Qld was mentioning in high numbers. First time in a week hes not on ICQ to ask!
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Reply By: David - Monday, Feb 10, 2003 at 17:17

Monday, Feb 10, 2003 at 17:17
My GQ Patrol (1991) developed a slight leak from the pump from the low-sulphur BP diesel. BP came to the party and paid the cost of my pump repair without any quibbles at all.
Most impressed!
AnswerID: 12815

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