Diesel fuel treatment

Richey rich

Richey rich

Active Member
Sep 23, 2012
393
Lake St Clair
Boat Info
2010 Sea Ray 450 SunDancer
Engines
Twin 480 Cummins w/Zeus pods
Hey guys, so I have purchased my first boat with Diesels. My question is do you guys treat each tank of fuel with a fuel additive like this one that Cummins recommends. Do you do it every time or just once per season? Nothing wrong and everything is running fine, I’m just trying to keep it that way!
TIA.

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I don't use the DieselKleen (or similar) because my Cummins common rail engine says not to add such stuff.

However, I ALWAYS use BioborJF every time I add fuel. I don't want any nasty critters growing in the tank.

Good reading is Frank's treatise on diesel fuel management. Note that you have to be a Gold-level member to access this section. IMO, it's worth the funds to get this article. http://www.clubsearay.com/index.php?threads/diesel-fuel-management.84670/
 
You have to be a silver sponsor (not Gold...but Gold is better :)) to access Frank Webster's formula to treating your tanks....worth every penny
 
b_arrington said:
I don't use the DieselKleen (or similar) because my Cummins common rail engine says not to add such stuff.

However, I ALWAYS use BioborJF every time I add fuel. I don't want any nasty critters growing in the tank.

Good reading is Frank's treatise on diesel fuel management. Note that you have to be a Gold-level member to access this section. IMO, it's worth the funds to get this article. http://www.clubsearay.com/index.php?threads/diesel-fuel-management.84670/
Click to expand...

+1 on Franks diesel fuel management writeup

@b_arrington
Where does cummins say NOT to add the Power Service additive?
https://www.cummins.com/news/releas...ommends-power-service-diesel-kleen-cetane-and
 
@Shaps

I just searched through a bunch of manuals on Cummins QuickServe. Most of the manuals were silent on using fuel additives. However, in the "Fluids for Cummins® Products Service Manual" (document 5411406), I found the following in the Diesel Fuel section:

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This supports the link you posted, and further endorses using Diesel Kleen as safe to use. It doesn't say what the "certain conditions" are where Cummins would recommend using it.

Thanks - I learned something today!
 
b_arrington said:
@Shaps

I just searched through a bunch of manuals on Cummins QuickServe. Most of the manuals were silent on using fuel additives. However, in the "Fluids for Cummins® Products Service Manual" (document 5411406), I found the following in the Diesel Fuel section:

View attachment 103143

This supports the link you posted, and further endorses using Diesel Kleen as safe to use. It doesn't say what the "certain conditions" are where Cummins would recommend using it.

Thanks - I learned something today!
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So it not recommended or needed but under some “unknown” circumstances it can help? Hmm. I’m just as confused as before on weather to use or not. They endorse it on one line and say it’s not needed on the next. Typical
 
Richey rich said:
So it not recommended or needed but under some “unknown” circumstances it can help? Hmm. I’m just as confused as before on weather to use or not. They endorse it on one line and say it’s not needed on the next. Typical
Click to expand...
Yeah. Clear as mud. I have a feeling that the Captain's Briefing document was not updated with their Diesel Kleen recommendation. It was provided to me by the local service agent. Being in a business where we send documents to dealers, I would guess they've downloaded the document and just print it on demand, and are not regularly updating to a new version.

I think the take away is that Diesel Kleen is officially endorsed by Cummins, where others are not. If you feel you want/need to use an additive, using Diesel Kleen would be a "safe" choice.
 
As I was preparing the Fuel Management article, one of the information sources was a Cummins Mid-Range engine dealer who also runs a rebuilding service for all types of pumps and injectors.

His view is that many additives are alcohol based and alcohol is the kiss of death for some seals and gaskets in pumps and injectors. None of the products, specifically Power Service Diesel Kleen, recommended in the fuel management article contain alcohol.

Furthermore, this dealer referenced above also has a 20 bay shop where they service and repair all types of diesel equipment. I took a fuel pump pump from a Case backhoe over there to drop it off for a rebuild and noticed that nearly every bay in their shop had a "new-ish" Cummins /Dodge diesel in it. I asked the owner about it and he said every one had a bad injection pump due to running ULSD fuel without any lubricity additive in the fuel. He said, you already understand that ULSD has inadequate lubrication properties because you are buying your Stanadyle Lubricity additive from us by the case. But we recommend that additive for every diesel using ULSD (which is all you can buy these days). This is a Cummins dealer and fuel systems is all they do and they have worked on my diesel equipment for about 30 years.

I wouldn't tell you not follow what your Cummins publications recommend, but the company I referenced above is a Cummins dealer, works on fuel systems daily, and has nothing to gain with his recommendations (he doesn't sell any Cummins additives except for cooling system additives.)
 
Thanks @b_arrington appreciate you digging deep.

~100hrs last season (my first). I used a biocide and the diesel kleen every tank.
No idea if it helps, but like you said, it cant hurt.

Edit:
started using the lubricity additive mid season.
 
Last edited:
I guess based on all these comments I will be using both diesel kleen and biober each time I fuel up. Anything I can do to keep things running smooth!
 
The cetane rating of diesel fuel is the combustibility at less than optimal temps so use of a cetane booster may actually have a negative effect in certain conditions.
I have always used a biocide and marvel mystery diesel additive. It restores the the sulphur content that used to be in diesel fuel at higher levels. ULSD vs LSD. Sulphur is good for lubricity and some reviews indicate it increases the btu content.
I started using it in my Ford 6.0 and I realized approx a 1mpg increase.
 

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At a minimum, you need to add biocide every time. I add a "shock" treatment when I fill up for the winter, and then a maintenance dose the rest of the year. But I don't burn much fuel. I had some gunk in the Racors when I first bought the boat but no issues since.

I also add Diesel Kleen at every fill up, roughly following this schedule, except I use BioBor biocide.

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Great lakes pirate said:
This place has the best price that i have seen so far for Diesel Kleen:

petroleumservicecompany.com
Click to expand...



If you really want to save $$ on Diesel Kleen, you can buy it in a concentrated formula instead of the commercial sized sold at retail.

Power Service part number 3850-02 treats 1500 gallons of diesel and only costs $0.13/gal of treated fuel. The problem may be that you have to buy 2-2.5 gal jugs at a time. Amazon was selling it for $196.87 with free shipping for prime members the last time I bought some.

This compares to $0.33/ treated gallon of fuel for the commercial sizes in pints, quarts of 80 oz jugs.
 
fwebster said:
If you really want to save $$ on Diesel Kleen, you can buy it in a concentrated formula instead of the commercial sized sold at retail.

Power Service part number 3850-02 treats 1500 gallons of diesel and only costs $0.13/gal of treated fuel. The problem may be that you have to buy 2-2.5 gal jugs at a time. Amazon was selling it for $196.87 with free shipping for prime members the last time I bought some.

This compares to $0.33/ treated gallon of fuel for the commercial sizes in pints, quarts of 80 oz jugs.
Click to expand...


Never knew that. Great advice. I didn’t even see that on their website.

Just checked, that price is still valid!
 
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