Sulphur Additives

[josh]

Does anyone know of an additive that will help with lubicity, as this will be an increasing problem with our older model diesels.

It seems as though the additives that are out there are all mixed with different detergents and what not... I just dont want to keep putting all that gunk in the system. Any alternatives? Or has anyone found a good product?

Josh

[argo]

Just the other day I was discussing this with the technical services manager for Esso. I was assured by him that the latest lubricity additives for low sulpher diesel are far more reliable than they where at first. There where plenty of problems a few years back but they seem to now have this sorted out.

I buy my fuel from chevron whenever I can but haven't had much luck getting answers from them.

More than anything else the fact that these pumps are 15 years old contributes to them leaking. It doen't help that most of these vehicles have sat in storage for a year or three. I'm hoping to get some info from Napa about thier fuel filter's Micron and Beta ratings. Rotary style pumps are comparatively not very forgiving. And I'm still not too keen on having only one filter in the system.

[delicanuck]

Hi Josh,
I'm running Bio Diesel. I'm not an expert, compared to those who are but one of the reasons that heavy fleet managers are switching to biodiesel is higher lubricity, resulting in lower engine wear. I don't know if it addresses your specific problem and biodiesel does come with its own set of problems like it goes solid at low temperatures and you should change your fuel lines over to Flourel or Viton. Still, if lubricity is what your after, biodiesel or even waste veggie oil will give higher lubricity than even high sulphur fuel. Let me know if you want more info.

[argo]

The napa [wix] 3128 has a 10 micron rating.

[elbosque]

Just had the pump on my Nissan Safari start leaking. Spoke with few fuel injection places in the Fraser valley. They all told me that they have been real busy with pump leaks and pump failures because of the new (Sept 2006) Ultral Low Sulphur Diesel (ULSD). Sulphur is the lubricant which many injector pumps (IPs) rely upon. Some IPs are lubricated through crank case oil. The fuel injection guys all told me that they do not believe that the producers adding lubricant to the diesel are adding enough. Check out N.W. Fuel Injection for an information page on this. Good news is that there are a number of quality lubricant additives - in addition to biodiesel. The process used to remove the sulphur also removes the aromatics which pump using rubber seals (pre-1996) need to stop from cracking. Biodiesel does not have these aromatics. In fact, biodiesel will eat away at your rubber seals. Sadly, there is no additive on the market which will replace the aromatics. You only option is to have all the seals on your IP replaced with the newer viton seals.

[josh]

My dad adds a litre of tranny fluid to every 500 litres of diesel fuel. He said that helps with the lubricity. (He runs about 7 older cummins trucks, I asked him this christmas). Has anyone else heard of that?

Josh

[Pete and Jackie]

Yeah I just heard that last night too, And another noisy drunken beggar said that Canadian Aircrane (the guys with the big dragonfly lookin' rig) uses 2 stroke oil for their fuelpumps. It all sounds just too loud for my head this morning.

[elbosque]

Personally, I would not risk putting lubricants for other applications in my diesel. Two stroke oil does burn well - that is because it actually has octane in it! You do not want this in a diesel motor. A product like Standyne will give you the cetane (what diesels like) and the lubrication. AFAIK, there is no porduct which will replace the aromatics taken out in the process to make ULSD. No biodiesel will not replace aromatics.

[surferboy]

hey elbosque, what do you reccomend as a preventative upgrade thing to do to not run into problems caused by the new low sulfur diesels? i don't think that my van has started leaking from the fuel pump yet,(not that i know what the simptomes of a leaky fuel pump would be besides actualy seeing fuel drip from underneith the van somewere, since nobody that had a leaky fuel pump will tell me what to look for!) but should i change all the seals to a different kind of material anyways? are there other things or gaskets that could be affected by the low sulfur fuels that should be changed as well?

[elbosque]

Surferboy, I recommend that you put in a good lubricant additive like Standyne with every tank of fuel and to run a tank of biodiesel (say a b20) every now and then. This should help the loss of aromatics somewhat without beginning to disolve rubber seals. Now, I am not sure when the Delica pump was switched to the new Viton seals. Most pump makers went to Viton by 1996.

Usually, when a pump starts to leak you will smell it first - unless it is really pissing out. On my paved driveway, I did not notice any oil slick but I did notice that the diesel had lifted the sealer off it in spots. My pump was not leaking a lot. However, once it starts leaking the only option you have is to replace the seals. If you have gone to all that work of removing it and getting the seals done, you might as well have the pump checked for wear.

I would not panic and sell the van. If you really enjoy it - keep on enjoying it and realize that maybe within a few years you might have to do the pump. Heck, some tires cost more than putting new seals on a pump or even rebuilding it. Even if you have to eventually do your pump, realize that this investment will make it easier to sell you van in the future.

[jwfchase]

We just got our Delica on Monday. It's a 1990 w/ 42,000km (probably sitting for awhile!), and there's a small puddle of diesel forming on the driveway under the rear fuel tank. Is this where the pump is? I'm hoping the leak is just coming from that little drain plug at the botom of the tank, but...?

[EnviroImports.com]

for you who has the diesel leaking on the driveway, check the fuel filter , it could be loose or your pump is leaking , either one you can see whats wet when you lift the engine cover under the passenger seat,
FOR those looking for Lubricant for your injection pump, try the Racor fuel additive I cant keep enough of it in stock, that and you are also forgetting to add your Biocide, to kill the bacteria in the fuel that grows from any condinsation build up, LIKE we all get lining the fuel tank when the tank is left at night and the warm fuel cools.
I sell it and so do many other places, but its important so even if you dont get it from me, get it from somewhere.
Noel

[jwfchase]

Mine is leaking way further back than can be seen from the engine hatch. It's the fuel tank furthest to the rear of the vehicle.

[rdub]

Ive been using Hows Lube for about 6mths now but ive also used stanyadyne if thats how you spell it,wich i get from BD Diesel in Abbotsford ,they also carry a cocentrated version of it that they've recommended ,i put about 80ml in every fill,icant see that it would harm. I know Howes is more of an anti gell aditive but ive talked to many long haullers with older diesels who swear buy it.There is so many additives out there its hard to tell without long term results. As fare as the Biocide what outher distributers in the Valley carries it does anyone know,im willing to try it out,is there a procedure for using it?

[ghmorris]

There is a ton of misinformation and snake oil salesmen about the lubricity issue in ULSD.
I've been watching this for quite a while before committing to change out both our vehicles for older diesels.

Suggest you have a look at:
http://dieselplace.com/forum/showthread.php?t=177728

and for several very good discussions about lubricity do a search on the Escapees RV forum. Lots of smart retired people running big, expensive, older diesels there. They have a huge investment in keeping those engines running well.
http://escapees.infopop.cc/eve/ubb.x

The short version is that a liter or two of 100% biodiesel in every fillup will help a bunch, either that or run 2% all the time. Auto trans fluid is bad.

George