Warning ALL Diesel Owners, Random poor quality fuel - Page 3 - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

Jeremy5848 · #31 12-07-2011, 01:11 AM

My data shows no changes in fuel economy on either car over the last two years. Most of our fuel is B20 from a local chain called "Rotten Robbie." Over Christmas we'll take the '96 to Salt Lake as usual and most of that trip will be on winter D2. I'll see how the car runs on whatever we're able to buy in Nevada and Utah and will carry some additives just in case.

WINGAS · #32 12-07-2011, 08:58 AM

I might add that not all cetane boosters are created equal. Some simply have alcohol. In the past, the best I have found is made by Stanadyne. I will not use the white bottles, what's that PS? Its one of the ones heavy with alcohols, AS I AM TOLD.

Orv · #33 12-07-2011, 02:01 PM

Haven't noticed anything yet here. Some increase in smoke and decrease in power after cold starts, but I'd expect that given the cooler weather.

mi benz · #34 12-07-2011, 04:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by WINGAS

...I will not use the white bottles, what's that PS? Its one of the ones heavy with alcohols, AS I AM TOLD.

Power Service does not use any kind of alcohol except in their 911 product (in order to deal with significant water, I believe)

piccolovic · #35 12-07-2011, 05:02 PM

911 is used for gelled up fuel . .. and is put directly into the fuel filter to displace any water/ice in order to help start a gelled up car.

Squiggle Dog · #36 12-07-2011, 07:47 PM

Wow... and this happens right after my area stops selling biodiesel. I'm gonna have to become one of those home-grown biodiesel guys.

Dave Donaldson · #37 12-07-2011, 07:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by piccolovic

YIKES!!!!! Also, if you must make your own substitute, can mix one gallon of gas with 1/2 gal of 30-wt. oil. It also appears in many original owner's manuals. Roomie, who grew up with the "ugly boxy practical cars" overseas, decided she had to love my "taxi" when doing hurricane evacuation preparation a few years ago. When she found out the alternatives for fuel (including a couple gals of Wesson Oil) in a pinch to get out of Florida/path of a hurricane, she became very impressed.

Also, for good upper cylinder lubrication, use Lucas or 2-stroke outboard motor oil (same thing as lucas sans the injector cleaner).

Can we use a 10 - 30 wieght oil // and or auto trans oil in a pinch ?
Just in case me wiffy adds gas to the beast,,, some day down the road,, :}

whunter · #38 12-08-2011, 12:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dave Donaldson

Can we use a 10 - 30 weight oil // and or auto trans oil in a pinch ?
Just in case me wiffy adds gas to the beast,,, some day down the road,, :}

YES.
Many owners use that trick to avoid draining the tank.
I have used it with great success.

compress ignite · #39 12-10-2011, 03:21 AM

is shipped Overseas.(And the trans-shipped Diesel ain't no lousy 40-45 Cetane.)

Any CRAP diesel fuel that the O.C. s Know they better not try and sell in Europe
will be "Dumped" into the U.S. system.
This is STILL part of the Diesel Game the refiners have gotten away with the
last 30 years.

Diesel is almost a by-product of Gasoline refining and the actual Diesel refining
costs are 1/10 of the retail pricing we're all being Gouged With.

RML · #40 12-10-2011, 04:22 PM

Hmm. I have been having problems with my 84 300D kind of pulsating when I get to around 60 mph. And it won't go any faster. On hills it is terrible. I checked my primary filter and it looked pretty dirty. That was about a week ago. I changed it and had the car out on the highway again this morning. It was doing the same thing. I just looked at the primary filter and it is black again. I had thought that maybe my air filter was clogged but maybe it is the fuel.

retmil46 · #41 12-10-2011, 06:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RML

Hmm. I have been having problems with my 84 300D kind of pulsing when I get to around 60 mph. And it won't go any faster. On hills it is terrible. I checked my primary filter and it looked pretty dirty. That was about a week ago. I changed it and had the car out on the highway again this morning. It was doing the same thing. I just looked at the primary filter and it is black again. I had thought that maybe my air filter was clogged but maybe it is the fuel.

Black? That sounds like dead critters (ie, microbes, algae) in your fuel tank, not so much bad fuel from the station.

But yes, does sound like a fuel problem, not the air filter.

RML · #42 12-10-2011, 08:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by retmil46

Black? That sounds like dead critters (ie, microbes, algae) in your fuel tank, not so much bad fuel from the station.

But yes, does sound like a fuel problem, not the air filter.

Maybe I need to get some biocide.

StaggerLee · #43 12-13-2011, 10:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mike-81-240d

Loss of power, smoke, and poor economy. Been filling up at cheveron for 6 months.

Mike - Check out the Union 76 station on 100th just North of 132nd...North past Juanita bay, 116th, 124th, 132nd and it's 2 more lights on the left side. I've always had good luck with their fuel. AND its under $4 right now.

rmmagow · #44 12-14-2011, 03:35 PM

This is weird, I was just going to post a question asking why my 85 300D suddenly feels like it has a lot more power and is running so well as I've done nothing to it. I only get fuel at 2 stations, a Sunoco near home and a no-name near work. 100 miles a day, 60~70 MPH mostly hiway and about 28 MPG.

yuke · #45 12-20-2011, 01:55 PM

I noticed a problem in Oct. of 11 bought from a Valero Main St. Eygpt Pa. I put it in a Ford 5000 tractor and the tractor ran bad just blew it off that fuel filter was getting clogged.I live in NW. In. and did not notice anything wrong with the way my M.B. 300 SD runs.My nephew informed me that sometimes at pumps in Pa. there are 4 differant types of diesel you can get at differant prices and depending on the vehicle dictates what type you put in.Here in In. I have only seen one type at the pump and it is about $1 more then gas which it should be $1 cheaper because it is a dirtier fuel and needs less refineing the gas but this is big oil rapeing us for all they can.