Diesel fuel additives

[ohioan55]

I'm always looking at new diesel fuel additives (for tractors and a boat) and with so many products available, it's hard to tell which ones are best for marine use. So, I'm interested in what others use on their boats and why. I've always liked Sea Foam products, and would tend to lean toward them. I use Biobor on the boat, but not in the tractors (fuel doesn't tend to sit in their tanks long). For marine gas, I have always tried to use ethanol free fuel treated with Stabil. My intent is to use the same additive in both boat and tractors. Thanks for any feedback on this topic.

 

[BB marine]

This is a subject that has been discussed several times on this forum. There are probably no right or wrong answers. The only answer that I question is none at all. To answer your question I use PRI D fuel treatment. Is it better than others? I have know idea. I have used in in my C26 since 2016 and I have never had crud in a filter element or water in my tank. I have tested the bottom of the tank for water and have a fuel polishing system and have never had more than a trace of water in the water separator. The fuel for this system pulls from the bottom of the tank. I believe most name brand conditioners will provide the protection that average boaters need.

I can't factually state a conditioner is needed or not. I have formed an opinion that is based on experiences. Gas powered boats. I did a lot of carburetor rebuilds, engine rebuilds (outboards) and fuel system pump outs in the 80's and 90's. My first question to a customer that came in the door complaining about his first fishing trip out in the spring was did you stabilize the fuel when you put the boat up for the winter? Answer: No, best case he/she had a gummed up carburetor, worst case He/she had a damaged cylinder and piston from it running lean. Fuel tanks that had stabilizer I never experienced spring time startup issues related to fuel.

Diesel fuel fuel issues never seemed to be as bad. Probably because I worked on a lot more gas powered boats than diesel. I think more diesel owners bought into the idea that a fuel conditioner should be used. The one bad experience I had with non treated fuel was my father's boat. 29' Roughwater (trailerable Trawler 1981) two fiberglass built in tanks 80 gallons each. the boat was powered with a 80 hp Lehman diesel. Roughwater boasted over 1000 mile cruise range at 7kts. My father had a cottage on the Tauton river in Berkley Massachusetts and used the boat to cruise the waters in that area in the summer and then towed the boat to Gulf Shores Alabama in the winter months where they had a home. He used the boat often but only filled the boat up a couple times a year. And never used an additive. After 3 years of this he started spending some time in the compartment changing filters. A few times dead in the water on Narragansett Bay. He got proficient at changing the filters and priming the fuel system. Use a fuel additive!

My fathers fuel issue went away one day. He went to a small boat yard in Tiverton Rhode Island to fill the boat up with fuel in the hopes that some fresh fuel would help with his issue. (Standish Boatyard) The fuel dock attendant mistakingly fueled with Gasoline instead of diesel. My father for what ever reason didn't realize this. On his trip back to their cottage the engine started making a different noise and he shut it down. A fellow boater towed him back to his mooring. While inspecting the engine and checking the filters he smelled gasoline. He now had to drain 160 gallons of fuel out of his tanks. while doing this all kinds of crud came out of the tank. A lot!! After this his issues went away. He was told the gasoline killed the microbial growth in the tank and polished his tank. He used a conditioner the rest of the time he owned the boat without issue.

Sorry for the long explanation, still not boating in Illinois !