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Road_Runner_644

Hi Mike

That's very interesting, and I never realised that diesel varied in this way.

For what it's worth, I have always used a diesel additive, it's the next to the redex petrol treatment stuff in your local gaage and I can't remember what it's called, it's probably redex as well.

I also put redex petrol treatment in the genny, as the unleaded petrol is a devil for evaporating and leaving a scummy substance on the carb. I spent a whole day cleaning out a genny carb, which had a yellow scummy substance plastered all inside it a couple of years ago, and redex has stopped that happening.

The diesel treatment was advised to me by the guy that does our MOT'S. He said that it helps stop the buildup of sooty stuff on the exhaust that helps fail the emmissions test.

I just put the required amount in every 3rd or 4th fill up.

Dave

jarcadia

Dave
Your problem could well be due to summer and winter grade gasoline( petrol) and yes these do exist as well. Winter grade has much more “lighter” material in it. So if you have left winter gasoline in over summer it will evaporate much more quickly.

Brian

Geoffh

The antifungal additive I currently use is made by TAP Marine of Bristol. A £7.00 bottle treats1500 litres. Mine came from a boat chandlers near the local canal.

TAP have a helpline if you have trouble finding a supply. 01179 969 2345

Geoff

spykal · Moderator

Hi
The reply from Shell:-

I am writing further to your email, I apologise for the delay in response. For your information, the fuel formulation changes between Summer to Winter grade, in order to meet the Cold Performance properties of the British Standard specification. Winter grade Diesel contains a higher proportion of lighter middle distillate fractions as well as more cold flow improver additive than the Summer grade fuel. Winter grade fuel is sold in the UK between mid November and mid March each year.

Kind Regards
Heather Whyte
Customer Relations - Retail
Shell UK Oil Products Limited,
Rowlandsway House, Rowlandsway, Manchester M22 5SB

So at least they all agree on the dates that they change the formulation.

mike

wilecoyote

My understanding of this (which might be wrong), is that the wax in diesel starts to congeal at a certain temp (What that is I forget).

During summer, there is no problem. However during winter, it means that the congealing is more intense. The more it congeals, the less gets through, until eventually in real cold climates the engine would starve of fuel.

I dare say many people will remember back a few years, when it was not uncommon to see a truck in the winter snow...with a fire lit under the diesel tank trying to "thaw" the diesel. This is where the wax had froze, rather than the diesel itself. The lighting of fires under diesel tanks was something I certainly did alot in my early years in haulage?

However, over the years diesel has improved so much, you never see these problems anymore. I have used summer diesel in winter conditions often, and never had a problem.. yet ? I haven't had to do the fire lighting trick for years now Smile

I remember one firm I worked for some time back, they would often buy the so called "summer diesel" in bulk (cheaper) at the end of summer, and store it in a couple of extra overground tanks. This was diesel which would often last through the winter, and never gave a problem. Despite being stored outside (not underground) and exposed to the elements.

Even on the days when the damm padlock to the pump was frozen solid, the the diesel would flow just fine once the padlock had been thawed (which usually involved emptying a mug of tea over it, heh heh).

Ever since then, I have never been too concerned about the differences.

In fact, A few years back, I filled a couple of 50 gallon drums with diesel.. in July. They were for my own personal use. Now as the diesel motor they were feeding did 50+ MPG wise and didn't cover a lot of miles in a year.. I was still drawing from them almost a year on.. and again no problems during the winter?

I think the only diesel liable to cause you a real problem, is red diesel.. the Ministry don't like you running that through your motor Mr. Green

Cowly

Hi to all

The additive i use is Countdown,

Noman

Some information from Sweden.
I asked Shell Technical Support in Sweden and the answer was:

"Since a couple of years there is only 1 quality of diesel (It's called "environmental class 1") which is used all year around."

South of Sweden has about the same climate as most of GB but north of Sweden is as you probably know very cold during the winter.