Yesterday while checking my oil etc I noticed that my fuel filter was exceptionally clean. This is a good thing. Usually there is a little sediment but this time nothing in about 6 months!!!.. The last couple of times that I've added diesel it has been ULSD. I added some lubricant/cetane booster and a bacteriocide but I've always done that. I'm thinking that when they wash out the sulfur they may be washing out other stuff that the bugs need to grow such as phosphorus and nitrogen. Anyone else noticing cleaner filters with ULSD???
Ulta Low Sulfur Diesel
- Thread starter MoonSailer
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friends who have recently changed filters on their Yanmar engines. In both cases, the primary filter (10 microns) was much dirtier than both expected. The secondary (2 microns) was pristine in both cases. Both have been adding ULSD fuel in small increments since last fall and so most of their fuel is now mostly ULSD. Like you, we all add a bit of biocide, cetane booster, and stabilizer. Since ULSD is known to dissolve a lot of built up crud on the innards of your fuel tank and in the fuel lines, we presumed the dirtier than normal primaries was due to the ULSD cleaning this stuff out. I would hope and expect that whatever the ULSD dissolves would be trapped by the filters and that over time, once this stuff is gone, the filters would be cleaner than they have been.
friends who have recently changed filters on their Yanmar engines. In both cases, the primary filter (10 microns) was much dirtier than both expected. The secondary (2 microns) was pristine in both cases. Both have been adding ULSD fuel in small increments since last fall and so most of their fuel is now mostly ULSD. Like you, we all add a bit of biocide, cetane booster, and stabilizer. Since ULSD is known to dissolve a lot of built up crud on the innards of your fuel tank and in the fuel lines, we presumed the dirtier than normal primaries was due to the ULSD cleaning this stuff out. I would hope and expect that whatever the ULSD dissolves would be trapped by the filters and that over time, once this stuff is gone, the filters would be cleaner than they have been.
Been running it a little longer here in CA,
I believe and my experience on a Perkins has been exactly as you described Warren. First couple tanks had an alarming increase in the black "crud" in the primary bowl, then back to cleaner than before. I haven't had to add anything as the boat is run pretty consistent year round and fuel doesn't have much chance to sit around. Something new I've noticed is more soot expelled from exhaust on the first start after a couple days not running, and less soot stains on the transom after long motoring runs.
I believe and my experience on a Perkins has been exactly as you described Warren. First couple tanks had an alarming increase in the black "crud" in the primary bowl, then back to cleaner than before. I haven't had to add anything as the boat is run pretty consistent year round and fuel doesn't have much chance to sit around. Something new I've noticed is more soot expelled from exhaust on the first start after a couple days not running, and less soot stains on the transom after long motoring runs.
Bio diesel
Is anyone runnig bio diesel? It is my understanding that the sulpher lubricates the engine the same way that lead used to lube the valves in a gas engine.
Is anyone runnig bio diesel? It is my understanding that the sulpher lubricates the engine the same way that lead used to lube the valves in a gas engine.
Very Different IMHO
Lead came out after the gasoline was burned and was deposited on the valves as metallic lead. This was supposed to protect the valves and valve stems. The diesel lubrication is needed to prevent excessive wear on the injectors and occurs while the diesel fuel is still liquid. I don't know if it is actually the sulfur compounds doing most of the lubrication or other compounds that are removed when they "wash " the diesel to remove the sulfur. Biodiesel is an ester of a fatty acid and an alcohol...forming essentially a bipolar molecule that sticks to metallic surfaces better than diesel which is mostly a nonpolar molecule and provides better lubrication. Biodiesel is highly detergent due to being bi-polar like soap. FWIW the whole reason to make biodiesel rather than just burn vegetable oil and other fats is to get rid of glycerol a 3 carbon sugar that can gum up an engine. Fat is three fatty acids joined to a glycerol. In making biodiesel you exchange the glycerol for three alcohols that burn without gumming up your engine.
Lead came out after the gasoline was burned and was deposited on the valves as metallic lead. This was supposed to protect the valves and valve stems. The diesel lubrication is needed to prevent excessive wear on the injectors and occurs while the diesel fuel is still liquid. I don't know if it is actually the sulfur compounds doing most of the lubrication or other compounds that are removed when they "wash " the diesel to remove the sulfur. Biodiesel is an ester of a fatty acid and an alcohol...forming essentially a bipolar molecule that sticks to metallic surfaces better than diesel which is mostly a nonpolar molecule and provides better lubrication. Biodiesel is highly detergent due to being bi-polar like soap. FWIW the whole reason to make biodiesel rather than just burn vegetable oil and other fats is to get rid of glycerol a 3 carbon sugar that can gum up an engine. Fat is three fatty acids joined to a glycerol. In making biodiesel you exchange the glycerol for three alcohols that burn without gumming up your engine.
Sulpher not the lubricant
What I have heard is that the lubricant is washed out, or whatever, like MoonSailor says. ULSD seems to have been raising hell with engine in the International truck we have for deliveries at my business. Latest has been dried & cracked o-rings. Injector pump was previous. Our Mitsubishi has fared better. We have started adding Stanadyne Lubricity to both, as I have to the Yanmar in my Pearson 34.
What I have heard is that the lubricant is washed out, or whatever, like MoonSailor says. ULSD seems to have been raising hell with engine in the International truck we have for deliveries at my business. Latest has been dried & cracked o-rings. Injector pump was previous. Our Mitsubishi has fared better. We have started adding Stanadyne Lubricity to both, as I have to the Yanmar in my Pearson 34.
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