Bad diesel... does bad things.

3780 Views 6 Replies 5 Participants Last post by SFLTruck, Feb 5, 2022

smthng

Discussion Starter · May 24, 2017

Short version: read the last paragraph and don't buy cheap diesel.

The story version: I used to work for a company that owns some gas stations. I was brand loyal, but if I was going somewhere that "my stations" were out of the way, I'd use another. Usually I would find a name brand station, but sometimes you gotta take what you can get...

I always get "ULSD 45"... Ultra Low Sulfur Diesel. At one station I had no choice but to get "2D 40". The Minimax threw about 8 codes on that tank and the next... all about O2 sensors or invalid exhaust temps. Every time I was about to make an appointment with the dealer, it would clear. Then it would come back a day or two later. After the second tank of good ULSD, codes were gone and haven't returned. This was probably about 10 tanks ago, so I'm fairly certain that was the issue.

So, if you're getting multiple "check engine" indicators for no apparent reason or you're fighting a dealer about it... pay for three tanks of ULSD diesel from Shell or BP to see if it cures it (there are other good brands, but those two are consistent and certified to a fairly rigid standard). Even if the cost difference is 10 cents a gallon more than the cheap no-name station down the road, it won't cost you more than $6 to find out (3 tanks x 20 gallons x $0.10 per gallon difference = $6).

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Burgess159

· #2 · May 24, 2017

I've have never saw those number ratings on the pumps around here. Although, maybe I haven't looked that close. I do know that the normal stations I buy from (Caseys and Shell) say ULSD, but I've never seen any numbers on them.

On my 2004 Duramax, I had a toolbox and would carry a thing of either Power Services or Howe's diesel treatments with me and would put some in every tank. I never had an issue at all, but that was an older diesel too. I have a thing of Power Services now, but the wife drives the truck more than I do, since I drive my company truck 5 days of the week or more, and we have no toolbox, so it has only been added to the fuel once. But, we've never had an issue and we only ever get fuel from those stations. Now, here in 2 weeks were going to see family in Ohio so I guess we'll see what happens when we get fuel from somewhere else =) Thanks for the info though.

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Duken4evr

· #3 · Oct 18, 2019

I like Optilube's "Summer" product. It boosts cetane a lot, and it adds lubricity. I have noticed that the truck runs better on BP than it does on Kroger gas. A dollop of Summer juice brings it up to spec though, and it runs like it is using BP fuel for still quite a bit less cost. The Kroger station has fuel points and is heavily used, I like going there as I know the fuel, while perhaps not top quality, is fresh.

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lovemycolorado

· #4 · Feb 4, 2022

Duken4evr said:
I like Optilube's "Summer" product. It boosts cetane a lot, and it adds lubricity. I have noticed that the truck runs better on BP than it does on Kroger gas. A dollop of Summer juice brings it up to spec though, and it runs like it is using BP fuel for still quite a bit less cost. The Kroger station has fuel points and is heavily used, I like going there as I know the fuel, while perhaps not top quality, is fresh.

I just ordered some Optilube Summer for use in my 2017 here in the Coachella Valley in CA where it is cool this time of the year, but very hot from May-Oct. I read the 2019 GM service bulletin and se it indicates any additive used "should not contain any metal based additives, alcohol or other water emulsifiers". I have been on Optilube's website, but having trouble finding exactly what is in it and whether it meets the condition above from the GM bulletin. Do you know it's contents and whether it meets the GM bulletin requirements? Thanks in avance.

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Duken4evr

· #5 · Feb 4, 2022

lovemycolorado said:
I just ordered some Optilube Summer for use in my 2017 here in the Coachella Valley in CA where it is cool this time of the year, but very hot from May-Oct. I read the 2019 GM service bulletin and se it indicates any additive used "should not contain any metal based additives, alcohol or other water emulsifiers". I have been on Optilube's website, but having trouble finding exactly what is in it and whether it meets the condition above from the GM bulletin. Do you know it's contents and whether it meets the GM bulletin requirements? Thanks in avance.

For sure "Summer" does not emulsify water, one of the things I like about it is there are no ingredients to deal with water in it at all. We have a filter/separator system for that anyway. I think one would be hard pressed to find an additive that is a water emulsifier, they are all demulsifiers, meaning the additive works to separate water out (demulsify) instead of mixing it in (emulsify). Emulsifiers are bad, as any water is damaging to the high pressure fuel system.

Not sure about "metal based additives". Have used Optilube for 50K miles, so far so good, it runs super smooth on a 4 ounce per tank dose of Summer.

Attached is the ingredient list for Summer. It all looks like unpronounceable petro stuff to me

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lovemycolorado

· #6 · Feb 4, 2022

Duken4evr said:
For sure "Summer" does not emulsify water, one of the things I like about it is there are no ingredients to deal with water in it at all. We have a filter/separator system for that anyway. I think one would be hard pressed to find an additive that is a water emulsifier, they are all demulsifiers, meaning the additive works to separate water out (demulsify) instead of mixing it in (emulsify). Emulsifiers are bad, as any water is damaging to the high pressure fuel system.

Not sure about "metal based additives". Have used Optilube for 50K miles, so far so good, it runs super smooth on a 4 ounce per tank dose of Summer.

Attached is the ingredient list for Summer. It all looks like unpronounceable petro stuff to me

Thanks, I'll give it a try on Saturday when it arrives.

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SFLTruck

· #7 · Feb 5, 2022

lovemycolorado said:
Thanks, I'll give it a try on Saturday when it arrives.

You'll find after you put it in within a few minutes the truck will just run quieter and smoother. Plus the pedal response is snappier with a light touch.

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Bad diesel... does bad things.

smthng

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lovemycolorado

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