Do I need a lubricator in my fuel?

Bop

Active Member
Sep 3, 2013
300
Georgian Bay/Lake Huron
Boat Info
2001 410 Express, Highfield DL350 w/40hp Yamaha
Engines
Cat 3126
Over the past few years, I have been using Lucas diesel fuel additive to my fuel. Now that I have been reading/researching I am not sure if I should be switching to Power Service Diesel Kleen + cetane boost (gets good reviews) and then adding a lubricator. It says it has "slick diesel for maximum lubrication" in it but when I look and smell the product it just doesn't have that slick look or feel. It's almost looks like alcohol whereas the Lucas has that oil slippery look and feel to it (likely means nothing, just in my head).

So, do I add a lubricator to the diesel kleen product or just use it by itself?
 
Thanks. Do you know the answer to my question?
You need three things, Biocide, Lubricant and the Diesel Kleen. Spend the few dollars, become a member and support the forum and read the article. It has very good details and information!
 
Over the past few years, I have been using Lucas diesel fuel additive to my fuel. Now that I have been reading/researching I am not sure if I should be switching to Power Service Diesel Kleen + cetane boost (gets good reviews) and then adding a lubricator. It says it has "slick diesel for maximum lubrication" in it but when I look and smell the product it just doesn't have that slick look or feel. It's almost looks like alcohol whereas the Lucas has that oil slippery look and feel to it (likely means nothing, just in my head).

So, do I add a lubricator to the diesel kleen product or just use it by itself?

According to your info you are Canadian so you have a leg up on us from the states in that you have a better quality diesel fuel that is not only held to a tighter QC tolerance from area to area but more lubricity is added at the refinery to make up for the lubricity that is lost as a result of the process of removing sulfur than they add in the US.
You can’t go wrong IMO adding power service products, and the slick diesel in the power service stuff reduces the wear scar in the Astm test to well below the mandated size here in the states. So it makes sense to me that if you choose to use diesel kleen, along with your better fuel in Canada, that is adequate.
I saw test information a while back that Volvo (I think) compiled some statistics on lubricity failed components US vs Canada and the Canadian failures were significantly less, almost non existent. (these tests were not marine engines, it was trucking and heavy on/off road)
The lubricity additive that is recommended here on CSR does very well in the wear scar testing, better than diesel clean as a lubricity additive and therefore it would certainly seem to make sense that the cocktail of treatment recommended here gives added protection. You have to decide if you want to use additives and which ones.
My personal opinion is that if you are unsure of the quality of fuel you are buying, use the additives.
As an edit, I forgot to add that you should do your research if you want to use an additive other than those recommended on this site. Some of the independent testing that has been done has shown some additives actually reduce the lubricity qualities of the fuel to below the mandated numbers, making things worse.
 
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You need three things, Biocide, Lubricant and the Diesel Kleen. Spend the few dollars, become a member and support the forum and read the article. It has very good details and information!

Thank you very much. I just sponsored. I actually didn't know that was an option somehow after 6 years here.

I also appreciate you not holding me ransom for an answer like someone just did a few posts ago. I've always answered anyone's question that may have been able to assist without doing so. That was the first time since I joined that I have seen anyone be deliberately unhelpful.
 
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According to your info you are Canadian so you have a leg up on us from the states in that you have a better quality diesel fuel that is not only held to a tighter QC tolerance from area to area but more lubricity is added at the refinery to make up for the lubricity that is lost as a result of the process of removing sulfur than they add in the US.
You can’t go wrong IMO adding power service products, and the slick diesel in the power service stuff reduces the wear scar in the Astm test to well below the mandated size here in the states. So it makes sense to me that if you choose to use diesel kleen, along with your better fuel in Canada, that is adequate.
I saw test information a while back that Volvo (I think) compiled some statistics on lubricity failed components US vs Canada and the Canadian failures were significantly less, almost non existent. (these tests were not marine engines, it was trucking and heavy on/off road)
The lubricity additive that is recommended here on CSR does very well in the wear scar testing, better than diesel clean as a lubricity additive and therefore it would certainly seem to make sense that the cocktail of treatment recommended here gives added protection. You have to decide if you want to use additives and which ones.
My personal opinion is that if you are unsure of the quality of fuel you are buying, use the additives.
As an edit, I forgot to add that you should do your research if you want to use an additive other than those recommended above. Some of the independent testing that has been done has shown some additives actually reduce the lubricity qualities of the fuel to below the mandated numbers, making things worse.

Thank you for the detailed response. When I spoke to my fuel provider a few years ago he made a comment similar to what you just stated (i.e. don't need to add anything etc as Canadian fuel is different) but I somewhat assumed he was bs'ing me. I'm going to use additives anyways as the cost relative to engines or just fuel in general is insignificant. Thanks again.
 
I don't think anyone tried to hold you hostage or ransom you to provide you information in the restricted area. It is simple.......those of us who write the technical articles post them in a restricted area. It costs a lot of money to provide all of us access to CSR and the subscriptions/access to the restricted sections are a way for the site owner to recover some of his cost. Those are the rules we must play by. Looking at it another way: Is is fair for you to try an end run around the restrictions just because you want information contained there for free?

As far as the lubricity additives go, I wrote the Diesel System Management article. I don't just make this stuff up. I have 40 years experience running all sorts of diesel equipment and boats and I try to do my homework before posting articles. In the case of diesel additives, I found it very difficult to get access to quantitative testing for lubricity benefits. I have used Power Service Biocide, Diesel Kleen, 9-1-1, for years with great results, but I could not find out just what "Slick Diesel" does to lubricity. On the other hand, Stanadyne is the manufacturer of a large percentage of the diesel injection pumps and injectors installed in diesel engines sold in North America and their dealers have access to their test data.

Along these same lines a lot of the fuel retailers are adding various additives, but all you can get from them, if you are lucky, is "we put a lubricity additive in the fuel" , but they cannot tell you what their additives actually do to the lubricity or what the additives contain.

ULSD fuel was mandated in the US and most of North America in 2006......by early 2007 ULSD was in the fuel supply at the retail level. The engines in your 410EC were produced in 2000/2001, well before ULSD was mandated. Only Caterpillar knows if the fuel handling parts in their engines of that vintage can handle USLD. My Cat dealer is one of the largest in the US and they are pretty much mum on additives, preferring you to use a Cat branded product. The one thing they will tell you is do not use anything containing alcohol.

If you get far enough into the subject to ask your fuel distributor just what he is adding, be sure if isn't just a cold weather additive to prevent fuel gelling and try to find out just what his additive does to lubricity. The members here do have combined years of experience with Power Service diesel Kleen, Stanadyne Performance Formula, Power Service Biocide, Biobor Biocide and Valvetech Biocide, as well as Stanadyne Lubricity Additive. You will need to price out the additives in Canada, but here in the US the most cost effective treatment is a good biocide + Power Service Diesel Kleen + Stanadyne Lubricity Additive..........with the added benefit that none contain alcohol and you cannot over-treat your fuel using any of them.
 
On a drive through Canada I discovered by accident the benefits of non ethanol gasoline.

Now I drive 25 mi one way to fill my truck and several containers for all my motors ... cycle, boat, lawn mower.
 
I don't think anyone tried to hold you hostage or ransom you to provide you information in the restricted area. It is simple.......those of us who write the technical articles post them in a restricted area. It costs a lot of money to provide all of us access to CSR and the subscriptions/access to the restricted sections are a way for the site owner to recover some of his cost. Those are the rules we must play by. Looking at it another way: Is is fair for you to try an end run around the restrictions just because you want information contained there for free?

Thanks Frank. Just to be clear, I wasn't trying to "run around the restrictions" at all. In fact, I gladly donated/sponsored once I found out about it. No explanation on your part required. I'm a paying member on many sites in fact, and I totally agree it's a lot of work and time to research and write technical articles like you do. Thank you for that. However, I simply asked a question which could have been answered in a productive manner by the previous poster. I think we both know he did in fact deliberately not answer the question. If you look at "Steve S" 's response, I think that is a great example of answering my question, and letting me know about sponsoring (thank you Steve).

Anyways, I am a sponsor now and have since read your article. It's a huge help in understanding the fuel portion of my question and I've clearly been doing it wrong for a few years now!
 
I don't think anyone tried to hold you hostage or ransom you to provide you information in the restricted area. It is simple.......those of us who write the technical articles post them in a restricted area. It costs a lot of money to provide all of us access to CSR and the subscriptions/access to the restricted sections are a way for the site owner to recover some of his cost. Those are the rules we must play by. Looking at it another way: Is is fair for you to try an end run around the restrictions just because you want information contained there for free?

As far as the lubricity additives go, I wrote the Diesel System Management article. I don't just make this stuff up. I have 40 years experience running all sorts of diesel equipment and boats and I try to do my homework before posting articles. In the case of diesel additives, I found it very difficult to get access to quantitative testing for lubricity benefits. I have used Power Service Biocide, Diesel Kleen, 9-1-1, for years with great results, but I could not find out just what "Slick Diesel" does to lubricity. On the other hand, Stanadyne is the manufacturer of a large percentage of the diesel injection pumps and injectors installed in diesel engines sold in North America and their dealers have access to their test data.

Along these same lines a lot of the fuel retailers are adding various additives, but all you can get from them, if you are lucky, is "we put a lubricity additive in the fuel" , but they cannot tell you what their additives actually do to the lubricity or what the additives contain.

ULSD fuel was mandated in the US and most of North America in 2006......by early 2007 ULSD was in the fuel supply at the retail level. The engines in your 410EC were produced in 2000/2001, well before ULSD was mandated. Only Caterpillar knows if the fuel handling parts in their engines of that vintage can handle USLD. My Cat dealer is one of the largest in the US and they are pretty much mum on additives, preferring you to use a Cat branded product. The one thing they will tell you is do not use anything containing alcohol.

If you get far enough into the subject to ask your fuel distributor just what he is adding, be sure if isn't just a cold weather additive to prevent fuel gelling and try to find out just what his additive does to lubricity. The members here do have combined years of experience with Power Service diesel Kleen, Stanadyne Performance Formula, Power Service Biocide, Biobor Biocide and Valvetech Biocide, as well as Stanadyne Lubricity Additive. You will need to price out the additives in Canada, but here in the US the most cost effective treatment is a good biocide + Power Service Diesel Kleen + Stanadyne Lubricity Additive..........with the added benefit that none contain alcohol and you cannot over-treat your fuel using any of them.

Like Bop, I've seen the silver and gold and platinum sponsor labels next to Member names since I joined CSR last year but hadn't the slightest clue how they were awarded - time as a member, number of contributions, good looks and charm ?? - until I saw today the link Bop was referred to.

Now I'm a Gold Sponsor, too, and as such henceforth to be accorded the respect this rank demands.

Having bought a 05 420 DA in November, still trapped in Michigan until the border reopens, I have nothing but time to self isolate, self medicate and try to absorb the incredible wealth of information herein, all of which is making me wonder how on earth will I ever leave the dock in Toronto knowing all that can go wrong and how much chit costs to fix !!

PS. CSR should run a banner at the top of pages, "Become a Sponsor - click here, Fool" and bring light to those like me who were in the dark.
 
Sulfur in diesel does provide a lubricating effect but it also is a known pollutant thus ULSD.

I use Marvel Mystery Diesel Additive because it restores some sulfur in addition to other benefits.
But, strictly in non highway applications.
 

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