An interesting take on fuel treatments
 

Okay guys, I was spending time over on DTR and ran accross this post. I checked with the poster (Waynebyrom) and he said it would be alright to repost.

This is a little off key from what I would expect. We all know that fuel quality is lower than it was 4 years ago, I'd like to see some technical data on the fuel's. I'm thinking of having an analysis done on some fuel samples.



My email from Cummins says no need for fuel additives

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After reading many discussions on rather to use additives and what kind and tests I have read on here. I found it neccessary to email Cummins on this and here is their reply.

You have contacted Cummins Inc. at our Customer Assistance Center in Columbus, Indiana. This is our worldwide headquarters and has been our home since Clessie Cummins founded the company, here, in February of 1919.
This year marks our 90th anniversary in business and we will continue to work to provide the kind of products and service that will keep us in business for another 90 years.

Lubricity is the fuel quality that prevents or minimizes wear in diesel fuel injection equipment. Diesel lubricity is largely provided by trace levels of naturally occurring compounds in the fuel that form a protective layer on metal surfaces.

In order to meet the Ultra-Low Sulfur Diesel (ULSD) specifications, refineries now utilize processes that not only reduce the sulfur content of diesel blend components, but also remove compounds that provide lubricity.
This has led to some concern that ULSD fuel might result in lubricity problems for fuel injection equipment.

Should you be concerned about the fuel lubricity for your Cummins Turbo Diesel engine? The answer is no.

All diesel fuel sold in the U.S. since January 2005 must meet a fuel lubricity specification established by the American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM). Any fuel lubricity additives necessary to meet this new specification are added by the fuel suppliers before the fuel hits the pumps. So you do not need to add fuel lubricity additives to your highway diesel fuel.

We are happy to provide information and assistance to our customers, however, our distributors and dealers are our primary points of sales and are the proper place to inquire about availability and prices of Cummins products.

To locate the nearest Cummins-authorized Dealer or Distributor Service Provider call our toll free customer assistance line 1-800-DIESELS
(343-7357) or for computer assistance in locating a Service Provider, use Cummins Service Locator, which can be found on Cummins website:

http://wsl.cummins.com/ServiceLocato...n=showworldmap


We occasionally misunderstand a question. If our answer to your communication looks like we have misunderstood your e-mail please reply with further inquiry.

Please let us know if you have other questions and if away from your computer or have a time-critical request that needs more urgent attention, feel free to call us toll-free (from North America) on 1-800-DIESELS (343-7357).

Cummins Email (via webpage):

http://www.cummins.com/cmi/content.j...33&menuIndex=7


Customer Assistance Center
Cummins, Inc.
Columbus, Indiana, USA

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: Hello, I recently purchased an 06 Dodge Ram 2500 with the 5.9 Cummins and was reading on several dodge ram websites concerning gas additives. I am very confused as to if at all I should be using a gas additive. The gas at the stores here in San Antonio mostly have the ULSD fuel and it seems its not very good for the 5.9 engine from what I have read. Can you tell me if I should be using an additive and if so what do you suggest? I dont want to damage my engine in anyway. Thanks in advance for your reply. Wayne

So my next question here would be the differences in the engine and injection pump years. This is a question and not a comment, is this answer applicable to the Common Rail as well as the 12V and 24V or is this just for the the CR and up in years.

This guys question was geared around a CR truck. There's no way IMO this new fuel provides enough lubrication. We've got a little discussion going on over there regarding the lubricity requirements for each style injector. Factory trucks are having issues at 30to 100,000 miles. Thats BS if you ask me! The VP-44 we know benifits from a good fuel treatment. I almost feel that the failures are more related to electronic componets on the CR trucks. All of the CR trucks Dodge and Chevy have injector issues. Injectors dont fail without reason? We know the weak spots of each injection system but there's a list of failure types thats all over the board. Is each type of failure independent or caused by another condition? There's lots of information regarding the injectors failing but nothing really regarding stopping the issue!

Maybe the guys from Vulcan will step in and give there input.

I was at amsoil last May and one of the presentations was on today's diesel fuels. Here is how I summed it up:

Diesel Fuel

AMSOIL did a sample survey of diesel fuels across the US, Canada, and Mexico to show the variation in fuels and the importance of additives. Fuels can vary in particulate matter, cetane levels, bio percentages, and sulfur content.
Cetane can vary from 40 to 60, ideal being around 50 for more efficient combustion.
The sulfur content of fuels has fallen in recent years. Now all highway fuels are required to be 15ppm or less. Most fuels tested actually were found in the 1-2ppm level, showing there is very little lubricity in today's fuels, which can shorten the life of the pump and injectors.
Biodiesel has gained popularity and does help add lubricity back into the fuels, but it can be hard to tell if a pump has any bio or what percentage it might be. If it contains 5% or less, there is no requirement to even state that on the pump. For 6-20%, the pump just has to say it contains bio, but does not have to specify the percentage.
All this variation just emphasizes the importance of treating the fuel to help the engine run more efficiently and give it longer life.


With all the variation out there, if my adding another $6 to $200 worth of fuel may help, then I'm gonna do it.

Thanks Heath! May I post this information where he's posted? I've also got some stanadyne information that I'll get some details from!

No prob.

(I recently purchased an 06 Dodge Ram 2500 with the 5.9 Cummins and was reading on several dodge ram websites concerning gas additives. )

i think that might be his problem:tttt:

every, and I mean every gas station here in ohio has a sticker on the diesel pump that stated that it's 15ppm ULSD and it not to be used in any vehicle prior to 07 (i think) since it may cause damage to the engine

also makes me wonder.. where the h e double hockey sticks and I supposed to fill up? :scare2::argh:

actually, I think i read it wrong.. i'll go check tonight

Actually that sticker should say the 15ppm fuel can be used in any vehicle. It's the other way around, you can't use higher than 15ppm in 07 and newer.

That right there is the problem. And Cummins of course, gives the standard corporate politically correct answer vetted by their PR dept. They are not going to tell you any different, no matter what. Too controversial, bad PR.

Diesel was fine all by itself they way they made it coming right from the refinery 15 years ago. Now they had to create a new ASTM standard for fuel lubricity to force suppliers to correct the lubricity deficiency madated by the EPA and green lobby.

Who you gonna trust to make sure your fuel has adequate lubricity? There's no such thing as too much fuel lubricity, won't hurt a thing. The older engines will run on just about anything combustible up to and including straight motor oil. May be a little stinky, but if it'll burn they'll run on it. For a long, long time. To little fuel lubricity is a completely different story.