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Post by naughtyfox on Apr 12, 2018 14:49:38 GMT
Also wondered about Marine 16 - has anyone here used it, does anyone here recommend it? So far we have used 'Fuel Set', the greenish liquid additive Made in Australia, in our diesel tank, in the hope it might be doing something - it's supposed to 'emulsify' water and diesel so the water gets attached to the diesel and gets burnt at the same time, ie. it ends up going out the exhaust pipe, and the fuel tank will end up having no layer of water at the bottom.
Can you use Marine 16 in diesel that already has 'Fuel Set' added to it? Marine 16 is supposed to kill 'fuel bug'. Are both products simply 'snake oil' to be ignored?
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Post by Deleted on Apr 12, 2018 15:13:51 GMT
In 2004 I did one of Tony Brookes/RCR diesel engine courses over a weekend, at Reading. Tony was excellent. He suggested Fuel Set as a good preventative measure every time you filled up, but together with buying from suppliers with a high turn over of fuel; keeping the tank full (particularly in winter to cut down condensation); and ensuring the rubber seal is in good order to prevent rain water getting in. Basically good management. If and when a problem occurs with diesel bug, he recommended Marine 16 to kill the bug. He likened it to antibiotics. If you take antibiotics all the time, they lose their effectiveness. So Fuel Set routinely, everytime you top up. Marine 16 to kill diesel bug when you have it. I've used Fuel Set ever since. I've never had a problem, and hope that continues to be the case  Rog |
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Post by Gone on Apr 12, 2018 16:25:21 GMT
I dose my fuel with marine 16 when I winterise the boat. Don't add any during the cruising season. So far (6 years) not had a problem. But then if I had not added the stuff I might not have a had a problem anyway. So is it needed? I don't know. But it reduces risk so shall carry on as I am.
Bit like buildings insurance. The risk of my house burning down is tiny, the consequences if it did are so huge I pay for insurance.
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Post by Telemachus on Apr 12, 2018 16:36:46 GMT
Same as Chewy. I seem to recall that TB changed his recommendation away from Fuel set recently, in the light of hygroscopic biodiesel. Just Marine 16 now.
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Post by Deleted on Apr 12, 2018 19:18:42 GMT
I believe TB did. I know many suppliers (particularly boats) treat their own tanks anyway, so using Fuel Set or some other treatment is perhaps over cautious. On top of that having an aglomerator, and filter makes one appear positively paranoid. Like chewy has said, I have experienced no problems in 13 years using Fuel Set, but may not have done anyway. Good fuel management maybe the key, or simple good luck. But I'll stick with what I know  Rog |
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Post by pearley on Apr 13, 2018 8:16:46 GMT
We have 2 tanks, one conventional for propulsion and the other, flat on the bottom, for generator. Used Fuelset from new in 2007 but started to get black muck in the generator sedimenter in 2013 so had the tank cleaned out, not fuel polished. Since then I've used Marine 16 at every fill in both tanks. The propulsion tank cap is on an upstand but the filler for the generator one is flush on the gunwhale so I always wipe around it before unscrewing the cap and then around the threads, etc inside the filler. I then fit a new O ring, about £7 for 100 on eBay.
And from the other thread, changed to a Fuel Guard last year to make it easier to see any problems.
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Post by Deleted on Apr 13, 2018 8:38:47 GMT
I have a mate who had his boat built in 2003 by Liverpool.
He spends several weeks each summer on extended cruising, but the boat is locked and left for long periods.
He gets diesel in large plastic drums from a friend, which he stores in his garage at home and on the boat, and he fills up from them.
The last time diesel bug was mentioned, he had no idea what it was, consequently used no additives, and had never considered any liklihood of problems.
I do sometimes wonder if it's all just a marketing ploy, or just pure bad luck if you have a problem.
Rog
PS He's still never had any problems, and doesn't use any additives.
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Post by naughtyfox on Apr 13, 2018 10:55:14 GMT
Thanks, Pearley, I will look into getting a Fuel-Guard filter-thingy and some Marine 16. If nothing else, then for my own amusement. We don't have any diesel bug (I don't think so) but I like to be extra fussy.
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Post by tonyb on Apr 13, 2018 19:25:15 GMT
Having found loads of emulsified diesel that mostly settled out when I syphoned the bottom of the tank via a larger bore pipe & hose, despite sucking via a Pella extractor for the past three years, I am unsure what to do.
I am assured from the vendors that the bugs will not build up resistance but they would say that wouldn't they and at least one person in the other place seems to have found "super bugs" in his tank.
For two years I have been using Fuelset during the summer with a view to ridding the tank of the odd bit of water that collected and then nothing for the penultimate fill of the season and in the last fill half a pot of Marine 16 Complete to force water to drop out of the fuel and kill any bug over winter.
Now I found the emulsification after several months of just sitting on the mooring I am not so sure but I must say my filters and water traps were all cleaner that was typical on trucks after two years use. No signs of the emulsification or any other nasties.
I will probably now syphon from the bottom of the tank every six months or so and before venturing onto potentially rough water. Use no additive in the summer and only use Marine 16 over the winter.
From a discussion I had with Eberspacher at the London Boat show a few years ago plus something RCR came across it seems the emulsifiers have been known to cause issues and from my observations I well believe it.
Good housekeeping of the tank, fuel and systems is, I feel, the key to minimising problems as is refuelling at places that have a vested interest in keeping their fuel storage in good condition with a high turnover. I think of additives as more of an insurance that may ro may not "pay out" when needed but for the cost I think they are worth using but I am now wary of the emulsifiers.
The most vital thing is to keep the tank as free of water as you can.
Can't find a way of posting a photo here but I have put one on the other side.
Edited to add - DIY servicing so you an take your time in draining, cutting and inspecting the filetr elements is also vital if you want early warning of fuel problems.
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