Any quality diesel fuel system cleaners?

[Guyfang]

You my friend, are becoming a first rate generator mechanic!

 

[Light in the Dark]

Thanks Guy. Give it your all, or don't do it at all.

The 802 has been humming along for almost an hour, under 5.5kw load. 'No Fuel' light is on... but shes making good power!

 

[Light in the Dark]

I ended up running it for almost 4 hours straight last night with the constant load, and noticed no waiver in rpms or hertz (within reason). I am wondering if the second leg I am trying to kick on is just simply too much for the machine (it should be at the very top of what it will put out). I'm thinking I might experiment with some higher draw items off the convenience outlets on the front. See if I can't get the load up above 100% and see where it slows down... without going over what the outlet is rated for. That should get me the answers I need, I think.

Will look into actually addressing the No Fuel fault over the weekend.

 

[Light in the Dark]

So I've got two hours on it tonight. 1 hour at 5.5kw, and the last hour its been 5.5+900 (space heater set to medium setting). I did the math again, and I was simply asking too much of an 802 with the two of the three circuits (5.5 + 2.7kw). Its been running strong at about 115% for the last hour... gonna let it go another half hour, then back it down to 5.5 for another half, and shut her down. Shes proven that shes a good runner, with good stable power... awesome!

Also in the mean time, the No Fuel condition has stopped. The light has not reappeared at all today, so I have actually been running this last hour at 115% with the BATTLE SHORT in the off position. No lights... wonder if I can just thank the Seafoam for cleaning up as its supposed to, or if I am being lured into thinking its just fixed itself... but it will return. Thoughts?

Thanks all.

 

[DieselAddict]

I've found that 6.5kw restive is about the limit of a good running 802. It will bog down above that.

One thing to remember is 6.5kw restive is 130% of the units rating. The gauge will not read restive loads correctly. It will read around 100% load even though the actual load is much higher than that.

 

[Light in the Dark]

Thanks for your info Chris. I'm quite happy with the unit now that its purring and I know its making good power. Thoughts on the No Fuel condition going away? Im wondering if the set was just all gunked up (especially in the tank), and the Seafoam has just gotten rid of most of it, allowing for the float to move as intended.

Going to put more hours on it over the next few days. Want to get to the point where I can test the aux fuel input too, and fully replenish what was in the tank through it (for verification purposes if nothing else).

 

[DieselAddict]

If the float was sticking its possible that the alarm will go away as everything loosens up from use. If its a problem with the reed switch inside the pickup tube the problem will come back.

Keep an eye on it and lets hope it was a sticking float.

 

[Tinstar]

Well Seafoam definitely didn't hurt it.

Add some two-cycle oil to tank and keep things lubed.
Todays diesel is very dry.

I always have a bit of both in all my Diesel fuel tanks.

 

[robson1015]

How much 2 cycle oil in a full tank for the mep-803a??

 

[Tinstar]

Don't know how big the tank is.

On my NF2D, it's a 9 gallon tank.
I used a pint.
A little much for some folks probably, but it won't hurt it.

Kubota engine purrs and doesn't smoke a bit no matter the load.

 

[Guyfang]

Normally, problems just don't "go away". It's possible, but don't trust that critter a bit. Do a lot of start and stops. Don't need to run it long, just start and stops.

Tinstar, down range, when the boys were using JP-8, they often put a art of oil in the tank. They were running aux, so it wasn't too much, and I think CECOM told then do it once a day.

 

[Light in the Dark]

I do know this... but Im hoping beyond rational thought. I'm gonna take a couple hours each night after work tillt he weekend, doing just that. On, load, off - Rinse and repeat.

 

[Tinstar]

It helps a lot.
The older diesels were not designed for such dry fuel. Very hard on the injection systems.
Adding it keeps those small parts from sticking.
It's also designed to burn.

In my CUCV, I always add one quart per tank
Two+ in my 06 LBZ Duramax/Allision since I have an aftermarket tank that's 57 gallons.
One gallon in my 5 ton and so on.
John Deere tractors too.

Some guys add transmission oil, but it's not designed to burn and it also has friction modifiers, which isn't the best thing for an injection pump, etc.
Definitely not for me.
Same for used motor oil. Too much trash in there.

I've read two-cycle oil helps Diesel store longer and keeps algae away. I have no personal knowledge or experience with this. I go through it too fast.
My 300 gallon farm fuel (red diesel) tank is usually full, but it get filled monthly.

I did have one injector fail on my M1008A1, but their original and I'm at about 97k on mileage, so I think it did its job.
Have been adding oil to its fuel since I've owned it.

Anyway....they both work very well for me. Seafoam and two-cycle oil.

 

[Guyfang]

You know, when ever we got a dog looking gen set back from down range, used a little trick a buddy of mine in CECOM told me about. Drop the oil filter and oil. Put new oil filter on, and fill the gen set up with Transmission fluid. The good old cherry juce. Start her up and fun for 5-6 min. Stop, let set for an hour. Start, run 5-6 min and then change oil (cheap oil!) and filter. Run under load 4 hours. Change oil and filter. The amount of dirt that comes out of the engine will astound you!

 

[Tinstar]

I have heard of that trick. Been a long time.

The detergents in the transmission oil really clean it out.
Same theory for the fuel system but with the addition of the friction modifiers, it's like adding sandpaper per say to the fuel.

 

[Guyfang]

In the fuel system, belongs fuel. Not much more then that. Afterall, the fuel is what lubs, cools and cleans a fuel system. Adding strange thing to the fuel, could bring you nothing but grief.

 

[DieselAddict]

In the fuel system, belongs fuel. Not much more then that. Afterall, the fuel is what lubs, cools and cleans a fuel system. Adding strange thing to the fuel, could bring you nothing but grief.

That is exactly why I use BD as a fuel additive. I prefer to not run it in high concentrations due to its tendency to be hard on rubber hoses. It is fantastic to improve lubrication and all around fuel system cleaner. The benefits in lubrication and cleaning are realized even at small concentrations (~1%).

What it isn't is a fuel stabilizer nor is it a algicide. It can also be challenging to find NEAT (B100).

I've done the ATF trick with the difference where we do a partial drain of the oil and add no more than 50% ATF to the crankcase. Normally I drain a quart and just top it back up with ATF. And certainly don't load the engine with 100% of that stuff in there. It has zero film strength.

 

[Guyfang]

Yeah, by under load, i ment 2 kw or so. I am writing on this stupid phone, in a over crouded ER.

 

[Light in the Dark]

Too much Stones send you to the ER?

 

[Tinstar]

In the fuel system, belongs fuel. Not much more then that. Afterall, the fuel is what lubs, cools and cleans a fuel system. Adding strange thing to the fuel, could bring you nothing but grief.

It used to lube. Diesel is very dry now.
It no longer does, hence the two-cycle oil.
Plenty of other additives to add lube, but I like the 2CO the best.

To each his own