Sta-bil for diesel fuel?

Reddog, you might be surprised as to how many use a fuel additive in their big rigs. I know I use Diesel Kleen about evry 3rd fill up. It raises the cetane in diesel and cleans the injector. Improves fuel mileage just a bit and lubricates the injectors more. With USLD, it cannot hurt anything. It is cheap insurance.

On my silverado< i use Startron everytime I fill up the truck. Only takes an ounce or 2 and it is an enzyme that prevents the bad things from happening to diesel fuel. I do not drive the silverado that often, so I use it primarily for the protection.

I have used Diesel Kleen pretty much ever since I bought my F250 used 7 years ago. The few tanks I skipped seemed to get a little poor milage. I use the Winter blend starting about now and the Summer blend starting in the Spring. It raises Cetane rating a little and I can make myself believe that it runs with less rattle when I use it. Yes I carry it with me in small pre-measured bottles that I fill from a large jug at home and I dump it in before I start pumping.

Do I needed it? I don't know, but it is cheap insurance. I have tried several other brands but have always come back to Diesel Kleen, available most everywhere.

hedgehopper wrote:
Is there something I should add to the fuel tank to prevent deterioration of the fuel?

As others have mentioned, the primary thing to be concerned about with long-term storage of diesel fuel is algae growth. If I were storing my truck for an extended period of time I would add an anti-microbial like BioKleen from Power Service.

I used to own a sailboat which was docked in San Francisco Bay. The same fuel was in the tank for years and years. I had frequent (very frustrating!) problems with algae clogging the fuel filter, causing the engine to quit… typically at times when I needed it the most :E Draining/re-filling the tank (plus several filter changes) and adding a biocide resolved the issue.

FWIW, I have been using Power Service Diesel Kleen in every tank for the past several years in hopes of extending the service life of my injectors… only time will tell if it was worth the investment.

Cheers
-Mark

Tickl2, I don't have any idea why that happened but there are lots of things that could have caused it. The always chief suspect is moisture. I imagine it was just a one off thing that got you.. This discussion has reminded me to dose the TDI fuel as it sits unused a lot at a house we are selling and is three hours away.

Over the years, I have found lots of******in my small gas engines and off road machines. Usually it water, rust and particles I could not identify. This was before they messed with the gasoline. I firmly believe it was condensation from the partially full fuel tanks and gas cans. I have seen lots of trash in fuel containers. Only in the last few years have I seen this syrup looking stuff in gasoline.

I have 10 small engines, some only used during the summer months. My Honda 2000 is one of the 10. What I find especially interesting is I have only found the syrup looking stuff in the Honda. I have no idea why, it is filled from the same fuel containers. I do use Stabil in the gasoline.

As I previously posted, I have never had any problem with my diesel truck or tractor.

Not living on the coast of California and with no salted roads, I have never had a rust problem. Had/have rust but not a major issue.

Raften , I think that is correct . I remember working on it outdoors so it definitely wasn't winter , it was several years ago . The tractor would idle but would not take any more fuel . After changing the filter twice with no improvement I dug a little further . Just above the filter on the tank side I pulled out about 6" of striny slim from the fuel line , drained the tank , replaced with fresh fuel , added some biocide and has been good ever since .

Several years earlier my son had a similar problem with his excavator .

I have not had the problem with either of my two diesel trucks . I suspect because they are used more often .

Tickl2, I am guessing your problem happened some time other than winter?

I envy your world . We probably can't talk about rust prevention either .

ticki2, in my world the problem does not exist. I have had my diesel tractor for over 30 years. The only fuel problem I have had is a ruptured fuel pump. I have had my 1996 Cummings since 2001 (13 years). I have used fuel from California, half way across the USA, up to Canada and back. I am of the belief if it was a common problem, I would have seen people putting stuff in their tank. I have not seen that. I will be hard to convince, until I see the problem.

How many big rigs add stuff to their diesel?

Wayne

Raften wrote:
I think a biocide is added to diesel at either the refinery or terminal.

Reddog , if this were the case , the problem would never exist . My diesel tractor had 27 years of carefree operation before the fuel was attacked , have no clue why . All I can say is it is a mess to clean up the fuel system . The biocide kills the stuff but does not dissolve it so you still have a gel like goop to clean out of everything .