Strangest "fuel" burned in your diesel? - Page 3 - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

mannys9130 · #31 02-08-2016, 04:38 PM

You COULD use a water drying agent, but I highly recommend that you don't do it. The problem is that the dryer emulsifies the water and it's simply drawn through the fuel system, injected into the cylinder, and exhausted out with the other exhaust gases. That's super duper bad for the injection pump and the injectors.

They don't like water because it doesn't lubricate and it will rust the parts. The FI parts are so precise, any contamination is horrible.

The best way to remove a bunch of water is to drain the tank or remove it and give it a good cleaning and drying.

It's a pain in the neck, but you'll be good to go for quite a long time as long as no other contamination occurs.

97 SL320 · #32 02-08-2016, 06:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sloride

My neighbor said he has run some Thompson's Water Seal through a diesel genset.
That is mostly mineral spirits from what I remember, so it is concievable that it would work if diluted enough with #2.

Ugh, this thread ( except for Kero and Jet A ) should be renamed, " What is the strangest fuel burned in your diesel in an attempt to damage the engine. "

RunningTooHot · #33 02-08-2016, 07:45 PM

Just curious:

How "dry" is Jet-A fuel?
Does it have inferior, similar, or superior lubricity compared to D2?

Jarod · #34 02-08-2016, 08:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mannys9130

The best way to remove a bunch of water is to drain the tank or remove it and give it a good cleaning and drying.

It's a pain in the neck, but you'll be good to go for quite a long time as long as no other contamination occurs.

Ugh. well i'd much rather fix this car properly, as it is beautiful, runs amazingly (other than the slight nailing I've been chasing), and I literally just rebuilt the injectors a few weeks ago (hunting for the nailing)... also I've convinced my wife that its "her car", so I get to have a few diesels in the driveway

I guess I'll be draining the tank and flushing it all out, good opportunity to change that tank strainer I suppose.

INSIDIOUS · #35 02-08-2016, 08:50 PM

Most water probably comes in as contaminated fuel. Think about it. When you fuel up the 'empty' volume of the tank is full of fuel vapor at the vapor pressure (with or without moisture - see later). Added fuel pushes out that vapor mix.

At that point the only water left is in the fuel. Now, you drive and consume fuel and the tank becomes evacuated of the liquid mix and that volume is replaced by some combination of outside atmosphere and vaporization of fuel. I never looked into it but probably most most fuel systems are closed systems - unless pressure issues cause safety releases in either direction.

If you never drive in extremely humid conditions AND your system draws in outside atmosphere, where else could the water come from? (assuming no rain leak type thing going on, which would be a failed system anyway).

A real answer would be a bladder tank (think prius) or an air bladder in the tank which takes up some or most of the volume but doesn't exchange outside (moisture laden ) air with the fuel vapors.

Why hasn't this been done already you ask? Probably because most of the moisture in your fuel comes with it.

OM617YOTA · #36 02-08-2016, 09:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RunningTooHot

Just curious:

How "dry" is Jet-A fuel?
Does it have inferior, similar, or superior lubricity compared to D2?

It's almost entirely kerosene, and will have less lubricity than D2. If you were to run pure Jet A, a lubricity additive would be recommended. 2 stroke oil is good stuff. If your state has a biodiesel mandate and you're not running huge percentages of JetA, you're almost certainly fine.

mannys9130 · #37 02-09-2016, 04:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by INSIDIOUS

Most water probably comes in as contaminated fuel. Think about it. When you fuel up the 'empty' volume of the tank is full of fuel vapor at the vapor pressure (with or without moisture - see later). Added fuel pushes out that vapor mix.

At that point the only water left is in the fuel. Now, you drive and consume fuel and the tank becomes evacuated of the liquid mix and that volume is replaced by some combination of outside atmosphere and vaporization of fuel. I never looked into it but probably most most fuel systems are closed systems - unless pressure issues cause safety releases in either direction.

If you never drive in extremely humid conditions AND your system draws in outside atmosphere, where else could the water come from? (assuming no rain leak type thing going on, which would be a failed system anyway).

A real answer would be a bladder tank (think prius) or an air bladder in the tank which takes up some or most of the volume but doesn't exchange outside (moisture laden ) air with the fuel vapors.

Why hasn't this been done already you ask? Probably because most of the moisture in your fuel comes with it.

Water does get in via fill ups when it's pumped into the tank. However, a lot of systems draw outside air in to prevent a vacuum and diesel has a VERY low vapor pressure. So, as the fuel is used outside air is drawn in via the vent valve and water vapor enters. The vapor condenses on the tank walls and runs down. If the car sits with an empty tank, changes between day and night allow the tank to "breathe" in and out, and the exchange of air brings lots of moisture in and allows lots of vapor to condense on the exposed walls. All of this water builds up and sinks to the bottom of the tank.

So yes, a lot of water is pumped in by the fuel nozzle, but you're drastically underestimating the condensation potential and amount that accumulates over time. You never want to let a vehicle sit without a full tank of fuel.

123mike · #38 02-09-2016, 06:34 AM

I poured a half gallon on Dot brake fluid in my car once. Darn you walmart and your blue look alike plastic bottles!

Murkybenz · #39 02-09-2016, 12:14 PM

Brake fluid can be poured slowly into a running engine and it will clean the cylinders and valves up and free off stuck rings, water either using a pump action spray bottle or a hand held steamer will do the same.

Brake fluid or water was all they had years ago.

mannys9130 · #40 02-09-2016, 03:41 PM

You need to be extremely careful if you pour anything into the intake manifold. These engines have very very little space between the piston and cylinder head. Too much liquid will bend a rod and destroy the engine. Misting water with a sprayer is much better than pouring anything into the intake.

TX76513 · #41 02-09-2016, 04:47 PM

Citronella scented lamp oil (kerosene) during Katrina
It was a $1 GALLON at Dollar General

INSIDIOUS · #42 02-09-2016, 06:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TX76513

Citronella scented lamp oil (kerosene) during Katrina
It was a $1 GALLON at Dollar General

Wow, that is unreal!

funola · #43 02-09-2016, 07:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TX76513

Citronella scented lamp oil (kerosene) during Katrina
It was a $1 GALLON at Dollar General

I burned some Citronella oil too to get rid of it. I thought Citronella is made from Lemongrass when I researched before using. Other than wvo, I've burned small quantities of different stuff to get rid of instead of storing/waiting for the yearly recycle day which I seem to always miss: un-used motor oil including synthethic, various solvents, buttered flavored shortening, probably more that I forget. I pour it in a funnel into the 1 gallon tank (only heated tank in a 3 tank system) in the engine compartment. This way, if there are any problems, I can purge, switch to diesel and pump it out. So far, all burned w/o problems, no smoke, ran good.

123mike · #44 02-10-2016, 04:22 AM

I've often used plastic oil jugs to store antifreeze when I've worked on coolant systems. I've dumped a quart or two of used antifreeze in a crank case to. I need a new thread what's the dumbest thing you have poured in a crankcase.

mannys9130 · #45 02-10-2016, 11:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 123mike

I've often used plastic oil jugs to store antifreeze when I've worked on coolant systems. I've dumped a quart or two of used antifreeze in a crank case to. I need a new thread what's the dumbest thing you have poured in a crankcase.

You poured in antifreeze? By accident?