Diesel additive

I have never added anything to the fuel as we use it monthly (Rv'ing since 2007). We drove the first coach to almost 70,000 miles and now have 22,000 on the current one.

I would check the engine manual to see if they have anything to say about an additive.

Congrats on the new Diesel pusher!

MM.

I have the same engine - in my normal operations I don't run any additives.

I do have a clear bowl on the bottom on my main fuel filter at the rear of the DP that I watch for water and other contamination. I carry a jug of Power Service that will treat 250 gal of fuel if needed. When I had it in Alaska and there was the possibility of needing to start it in the winter, I treated the fuel before storage. If you needed to do this, make sure you also start the generator so the treated fuel is in it also.

There are several types of Power Service - this is the white bottle with the red top.

There are biocides that can be used if bacteria starts growing in your fuel tank. Some people will use this as a precaution when storing their DPs in warm climates for long times. I haven't so far.

Bill

The following link is a test they did back in 2007. They did it soon after the switch to ULSD fuel.
Clicky

A lot of good info. Thanks guys. Ours never sits for more then 2 months. We usually try to camp once a month.
I will have to look for that clear bowl. I assume its towards the back. We just bought it last week, so I am still trying to figure everything out on it.

Here is a link to a thread that I started awhile ago which resulted in some very good information from other posters about diesel additives that I think that you and others may find useful.

THREAD REGARDING DIESEL ADDITIVES

Your C7 I assume is a post ULSD designed engine. If so, then it is designed to run with this fuel.

So additives for specialty reasons (winter storage, solving a problem from contamination, more power for extended hill climbing or heavy pulling, etc.) is all that is needed.

We have an engined designed for pre ULSD. I run OptiLube in every tank. Usually Summer Blend, which has had improvements since the above linked click study. We also well Amsoil Cetane if we know we're climbing mountains for extended periods.

I add Biobor JF if storing parking for longer periods in high humidity areas.

And we travel with extra filters and Power Services special products in case we pick up a bad batch of fuel.

Best to all, be safe, have fun,
Smitty

I am not sure. Its a 2005 model year.

I did own several diesels in pickups and cars, some of them exceeding 300,000 miles and never add anything.
ULSD is not doing much for cleaning, but CA was always adding some cleaners to fuel and lately all states add bio-diesel.
Bio-diesel is having good cleaning characteristics and few years ago I could find it in my travels for less than diesel, so I was filling it up few times a year. Common advise is to carry extra fuel filter for such occasion as bio can dislog gunk in fuel tank, but I never had such experience.
Lately bio seems to vanish from California pumps, but then if you read, regural diesel can have up to 10% of bio in it. Good enough for me.
Than some states add up to 20% bio and that create problem in new diesels, that are design up to 5%.
Final conclusion, check how much bio you are pumping. The detailed info should be available at gas station.
When you have more than 5% of bio in fuel anyway, why worry about anything else?

Ford3316 wrote:
A lot of good info. Thanks guys. Ours never sits for more then 2 months. We usually try to camp once a month.
I will have to look for that clear bowl. I assume its towards the back. We just bought it last week, so I am still trying to figure everything out on it.

You should complete your Profile with they type of MH (make, model, year, etc) that you have, this will help members with the same type of rig to give better answers.

In my picture collection I don't have a real good picture of the fuel filter with the bottom bowl. These are on my 2005 Fleetwood Excursion 39S with a 350HP Cat C7. If you look closely you'll see the bowl on the bottom of filter mounted at the radiator.



This is the bowl at the bottom of the filter. It has dust on it that needs to be wiped off to view anything that might be in the bowl. Note the black drain valve on the bottom of the bowl.



And since we're talking about fuel filters - I don't trust most shops to use correct fuel filters. By correct, I mean the right micron ratings. It seems that a lot of the filter cross reference books they use are only cross referencing if the filter will screw on to the filter head. When they do this, their book that may show that a filter without a drain and without a bowl is a direct replacement for a filter with a drain-able bowl. It's not in my opinion. I always take my own filters to the shop so I know what's going to be used.

You should be carrying extra filters in case you run into some bad fuel on the road.

For Primary fuel filter at the radiator, here's what I'm using. Per Freightliner they installed an Alliance / Racor #ABP N122 S32FRT04 - 30 micron rating
- Uses same Cat bowl.

Cat #198-6378 (7-3/8" height x 3-3/4" dia. wo/bowl) and Cat Bowl #146-6696 (the Racor bowl # might be RK30051?)
4/19/12 cost was $31.86 for filter and $39.79 for bowl from NC Machinery / local Cat dealer.

I'd swear the Alliance and Cat filter are made by the same people. When you hold the two of them next to each other, everything is exactly the same - sizes, spot weld marks, oil flow holes, filter material, etc.

I'd carry an extra bowl also just in case the mechanic drops the filter and cracks the bowl.

For the secondary fuel filter on the engine, I'm using a Cat #1R-0751 filter.

Bill

Ford3316 wrote:
The wife and I just purchased our first diesel pusher. We have 25 yrs of RVing under our belt. This is our 6th RV. We final stepped up to a diesel pusher.
This is a new learning experience for both of us.
This may be a loaded questions, I apologize if it has already been asked before. What is everyone using for a fuel additive, how much and how often to you add it?
I have the 350HP Cat C7.
Any help would be appreciated.

Ford3316,
Both the CAT manual and, CAT itself recommends NO ADDITIVES for any of its engines, PERIOD. We have the almost identical engine to yours. Our coach, an '04 Itasca 36GD with the C-7 330HP version, has never had any additives added, for any reason and, at present, its pushing 65,000 miles and, runs like a top, noisy one but, a top.

I use Delo 400 15-40 oil and, Wix filters. Granted, we don't put the mileage per year like many folks do but, I still change it pretty much annually, even though it's way early on the time/mileage schedule. That's no biggie to me at all. A few bucks extra in oil changes to help preserve a well running C-7 is well worth it to me.

Anyway, those engines, all three versions, the 300HP, 330HP and, the 350HP are great engines and provide lots of happy owners with good quality service. Good luck with your new coach.
Scott