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Injector cleaners
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Been sticking an additive in mine (when I think about it) since I got it 3 years ago. Was told (Stewart Stevenson) this low sulfur fuel and new injector pumps don’t get along! Ain’t hurt it yet.
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If you read and belive the testing reports, 2% or greater bio is the best “additive” for a 2 stoke like mine. It needs the lubrication.
Let the bio diesel flaming begin.
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One of our members sent this to me today, good timing for this topic…
Lately I noticed that many of the major truck stops had a Biodiesel fuel, B5 -B20, warning on their pumps. My son and I started changing my fuel filters at 2,000 miles because of the contamination we noticed when we did my usual 6,000 mile interval. Last month he had to change his filters(on the side of I-40) on his Volvo rig after only 5,000 miles.Cause – dirty Bio fuel he picked up at a Citgo truck stop outside of Tampa.I spoke to Detroit Diesel in Ocala. They suggested I try to avoid Bio on my 2005 series 60. Ford advised me that if I had a problem with the injectors on my 6.7 diesel as a result of Bio diesel that contained greater than B5 that my warranty on the fuel system would be voided…Ford’s diesel owners manual stated the same as the dealership. -
I have read enough bad about bio-diesel since I asked about it here that I have decided to avoid it if possible. I appreciate the fact that some have had no trouble at all but that’s my decision for now. As Jon says often, each person has to decide for themselves how much tolerance for risk they have. (Very loose quote)
DKO
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I may be totally wrong on this, but my gut tells me that the use of anything other than diesel fuel made from old dinosaurs might not be to our advantage.
To start with the amount of power in a gallon appears to go down as fuel is modified with other than petroleum or oil from the ground. I’m aware that the folks that make diesel have modfied it with chemicals over the years to provide it with characteristics to make it work such as “winter blend”, but now as it’s formula contains “bio” it just seems we cannot go as far on a gallon as before. If nothing else I drive consistently and out of habit I have recorded every single gallon of fuel that has ever been put in my coaches over 23 years.
We had our first coach from 1990 to 2005 when we sold it and the entire time we had it I drive it at highway speeds the same RPM (1800) and during almost all of that time diesel fuel was all from out of the ground. Year after year after year we got 5.6 MPG. I know because I used it for business and I tallied the miles and gallons at the end of the year and it never varied.
When we got our 97 I was equally consistent with the speed I drove. I joked about 62.5 MPH, but the reality was I drove it at a consistent 62 when on the highway and for the first couple of years I never averaged below 8 MPG. Then folks started messing with the fuel. First the sulfur content changed, and then the pumps would have “up to 10%” ethanol. When I sold the coach the last few years I never varied from 7.5 MPG even though my speeds never changed. The entire time I had it we towed the H2 Hummer so even that was a constant. Something done with the fuel cost me 1/2 MPG or the coach was always driving into a headwind.
I don’t have enough miles or data on the current coach, and I am playing with some stuff to get better mileage so none of my data is of value. But my concern about fuel that varies from what it was when Detroit Diesel designed the engine concerns me. I am aware people have run vegetable oil in diesels, I know some owners that have added transmission fluid to their fuel, and others who have put in various additives. I cannot bring myself to do that. I just know if it does not come out of the nozzle, it is not going in my tank. Now I am looking at which trucks stops have lower percentages of ethanol or other stuff in the fuel.
I suspect, but do not know that ethanol and other fuel modifiers might tend to loosen or clean crud that has accumulated in our fuel lines or fuel tanks so I try my best to minimize the use of that stuff. Unfortunately we sometimes have no option but to put whatever is available in our tanks.
I feel the same way about additives for engine oil, coolant, etc. If it is really good I think the folks that make oils, coolant etc. would be already adding it to the product.
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DD says it is fine to use B5 in a 60 series the newer engines are OK with B20 I have been trying to find the article from EPA that mandates all diesel sold in 2014 will be at least B5 if we live long enough in 2022 it be B80 fuel.
I worry about the fuel in these modern common rail engines with such close torlances but a old 2 strokes the tolrances are measured with a yard stick on the fuel system there is not much going to hurt it
good luck
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I am a little confused on the B5 and B20 conversation. Totally understand why neither is a good thing. However if you fill up at major truck stops you are going to get between B5 and B 20 depending upon state mandates. I would guess that all of the fuel in a state is coming from the same pipeline and the only difference is one is delivered by a Loves tank truck and the other by a Pilot tank truck. Change your fuel filters more often and don’t worry about it since it Is out of your control.
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Carguy said, “I would guess that all of the fuel in a state is coming from the same pipeline and the only difference is one is delivered by a Loves tank truck and the other by a Pilot tank truck. Change your fuel filters more often and don’t worry about it since it Is out of your control.”
Since I have been watching closely the last few months I have found that this is not always true. My first fillup with our Love’s fuel card I was nearly full before I realized it was B19 if my memory serves me correctly. Thankfully I ran that tank out in the next few days and filled up with the good stuff as soon as I could.
I kicked myself for not noticing when I pulled up to the pump but I was not used to filling up at Loves’s. That’s when I first posted a question about biodiesel HERE. I found out later you can find the biodiesel blend for each truck stop on the Love’s App. I posted about it HERE.
Many times the Pilots and Flying Js at the same exit as the Love’s with B19 or B20 have no labeling on the pumps which is supposed to mean B5 or less. Although I am sure there are some Pilots and Flying Js that have higher biodiesel blends it seems to be limited to the states that mandate it as such.
As carguy and Mr. Clifford said it will probably soon be out of our control but until it is I plan use non biodiesel as long as possible.
DKO
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If you go to the Love’s web site you will see they list the biodiesel content. It is very easy to see which states mandate B19 or B5 or whatever the state requirements are.
For example if you fuel at a Love’s in TX or AZ you are going to get B19, and if you fuel in TN you will get B5. The point is even though Pilot Flying J does not list the bio content I would bet it is the same.
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From what I am reading anything more that 5% is “supposed” to be labeled.
DKO
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You are right anything ofver 5% bio is required to be labled under fedral law,fwiw blending takes place at the terminal suppliers can order what ever blend they want to try and pass off to the public.
I find QuickTrip the best place to buy fuel they sell both at their truck stops 100% or a blend, the 20% blend kills me on power and mileage
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I like Quick Trips. Their regular stores are great. I wish they had more truck stops. I stopped at the Quick Trip truck stop just west of the Mississippi on the northern bypass (270?) of St. Louis. Lady stuck her head out of the door and said, “Pumps on, you can pay when your finished.” I told her later how nice that was and she said, “We hear that a lot. That’s what we’re here for. Come back and see us.”
DKO
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LOL yea I have knowed the owners of Qtrip for years if I would listened 20 years ago you guys would have been buying fuel from me
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Unfortunately when we travel we are stuck with whatever fuel supplier is along our route and in the place it needs to be when we need fuel.
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