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Post by twiggy on Dec 31, 2020 15:30:24 GMT
HNY TBs
A friend of mine said I should consider putting an additive into my diesel tank to prevent mites. I had a look into this and the additive appears to be for 'treatment' but also says it can be used as a preventative measure. I'm undecided, feels like yet another cost and boat job, which I will gladly do if needed, but is this really needed?
Info I can find is its a bacteria that forms if condensation gets in the tank, as this makes a prime breeding ground, especially when the diesel is stored. So I am thinking that while my tank is never really going to full to the brim, thus there will be space for condensation no matter how hard I try to keep refilling it, maybe, there is some sort of circulation as my engine, webasto and Reflleks are in use. My engines is on for 3-5 hours atm and the Refleks never turned off. The webasto works when it decides.
So, what are your thoughts? Does anyone add this additive? Has anyone lived to regret not doing it? Are mites a myth? T.
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Post by Jim on Dec 31, 2020 15:38:42 GMT
It brought a Renault laguna I owned to a halt once, blocked the fuel filter! I can't see any harm in using it. Heard of one called Marine 16. Probably cheaper in the long run than having fuel scrubbed.
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Post by Deleted on Dec 31, 2020 15:47:13 GMT
I've never added any fuel treatment in countless thousands of hours of engine running.
It is possible I am just lucky (people do quite often say this) but it is also possible that it's a snake oil situation. I really don't know.
I've also never been one of those people who keeps fuel tanks full.
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Post by Mr Stabby on Dec 31, 2020 15:53:47 GMT
I put some Miller's EcoMax in from time to time but I don't think it prevents bug. It supposedly cleans the injectors but whether it does or not I have no way of telling. My car is also diesel and every so often it develops a flat spot, I believe because the MAF sensor gums up and half a tank of premium diesel ( about 25ppl more than regular diesel) definitely shows a marked improvement.
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Post by Deleted on Dec 31, 2020 15:56:58 GMT
One thing that does make me wonder about it is that Tombstone Ted who made Dulcinea left some little bottles of fuel additive on the boat. Everything else is so well done that I begin to wonder if it actually is worth using the stuff. The bottles are part used and I am retaining them as future hairlooms for family members. TonyDunkley knows about this topic. Hopefully he can get on here and comment without us having to wait 3 weeks.
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Post by Telemachus on Dec 31, 2020 15:59:29 GMT
HNY TBs A friend of mine said I should consider putting an additive into my diesel tank to prevent mites. I had a look into this and the additive appears to be for 'treatment' but also says it can be used as a preventative measure. I'm undecided, feels like yet another cost and boat job, which I will gladly do if needed, but is this really needed? Info I can find is its a bacteria that forms if condensation gets in the tank, as this makes a prime breeding ground, especially when the diesel is stored. So I am thinking that while my tank is never really going to full to the brim, thus there will be space for condensation no matter how hard I try to keep refilling it, maybe, there is some sort of circulation as my engine, webasto and Reflleks are in use. My engines is on for 3-5 hours atm and the Refleks never turned off. The webasto works when it decides. So, what are your thoughts? Does anyone add this additive? Has anyone lived to regret not doing it? Are mites a myth? T. Well not really mites, which are animals. But some kind of growth, commonly known as βdiesel bugβ. Yes it definitely exists and yes it grows at the boundary between water (typically from condensation) and diesel. I believe it is worse with modern diesel that has more capability to have water dissolved in it. Remedies against the bug are: 1/ Keep a good throughput of diesel (ie use lots and refill lots). 2/ Remove any collected water and other gunge in the bottom of the tank from time to time, every year or two. Since the outlet to the engine etc is normally above the bottom of the tank, this usually means going into the tank with some sort of suction pipe to suck out a few litres from the very bottom of the tank. 3/ Use a biocide like Marine 16 From the sound of it you will probably be OK because of 1/, but if in doubt, or for peace of mind, implement 2/ and or 3/ as well.
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Post by Deleted on Dec 31, 2020 16:02:44 GMT
That is an interesting tier based approach.
4./ Don't do anything. Stay inside. Avoid anyone. Hands, space, face and grace. And pace.
And Dace. It's always worth doing a spot of angling in this sort of situation.
And Mace.
So to sum up
Hands, face, space, grace, pace, dace and mace.
Be.A.Survivor
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Post by Deleted on Dec 31, 2020 16:34:56 GMT
For what it's worth, I did a diesel engine maintenance, three day course with Tony Brookes (from CWDF) in 2004 when we bought the boat. He explained about diesel bug and advised to keep the tank full to minimise condensation particularly in winter ... regularly changing the filler cap seal to ensure no rain ingress ... buying diesel at places that have quick turn over of diesel supply ... and being careful with storing diesel in cannisters. He also recommended using Fuel Set every time one fills with diesel ... and use Marine 16 if ever the boat suffered with the bug. The Fuel Set attracts moisture particles and 'burns them off' with the diesel (routine diesel treatment) Marine 16 kills the bug (specific treatment for an existing problem) I understand TB's view has changed these days due to bio fuels greater water content and now recommends Marine 16 regularly. TB likened his advice to anti-biotics in humans ... should not be generally used but reserved for essential treatment for best effect. I have used Fuel Set at every fill whilst I've owned the boat. Not had any problem ... of course I may not have without the Fuel Set Rog
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Post by greenman on Dec 31, 2020 16:54:33 GMT
I use Marine 16, fuel system had diesel bug when I bought it. Not had any problems while I've been using it.
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Post by Mr Stabby on Dec 31, 2020 17:01:08 GMT
For what it's worth, I did a diesel engine maintenance, three day course with Tony Brookes (from CWDF) in 2004 when we bought the boat. Is that where you learned how to start one without the key?
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Post by greenman on Dec 31, 2020 17:06:53 GMT
Read a short article about Hydrotreated Vegetable Oil. It's not hygroscopic and is free flowing down to at least -25c. Apparently used in Finland. Anybody else heard anything about it.
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Post by Jim on Dec 31, 2020 17:22:06 GMT
Read a short article about Hydrotreated Vegetable Oil. It's not hygroscopic and is free flowing down to at least -25c. Apparently used in Finland. Anybody else heard anything about it. Where's naughtyfox when he could actually be useful? Come on lad, put down the dully fail and do some proper research.
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Post by Deleted on Dec 31, 2020 17:32:42 GMT
naughtyfox is probably knocking down a local forest for his wood fired heating system. I know he uses a chainsaw (against advice) but it still takes time to get it done.
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Post by quaysider on Dec 31, 2020 18:00:54 GMT
I have to admit, I've not added ANYTHING to Ellis's tank - now a little over 4000 hours and both pre and main diesel filters always look ok when I change them. I DO fill the tank more than most I suspect - rarely get down to lower than 3/4 of a full tank and I rotate my emergency 100 litres in containers each month. SO far, so good.
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Post by brummieboy on Dec 31, 2020 18:17:01 GMT
The only problem I ever encountered was when bio content started to appear in red diesel and a product called Exocet which was widely sold to agricultural outlets by the fuel suppliers. I bought a litre from a local farm store, and dosed up with each fill. Eight months later I had serious contamination in the agglomerator and the fuel filter which, thankfully, appeared to starve the injector pump. I cleaned it out and never used it since.( 3 years).
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