Is there anyway to back up this info? Like some numbers or breakdowns of the fuel. I'm sure your right but it may make a nice sticky ifin you have the info.

 

I was referring to this post...old age does take it's toll on something that uses such tight tolerances...But, let's face it, improper lubrication within the fuel did help it along didn't it? I do agree with the additives......but only because the majority of them are isopropyl alcohol based formulas.....no bueno.

 

seafoam or tranny fluid works well and helps keep the injection part of it lubed and clean.
and it doesn't hurt anything. and power service products do have there advantages.

 

but putting trans fluid in the fuel turns it red. red fuel means off road untaxed fuel, and that means BIG fine if caught running it. the feds don't care what you say. red fuel means untaxed fuel, and all the reciepts in the world will not convince them otherwise that it is only ATF.
it aint worth taking the chance.

 

true that tom. so stick with power service brand.

 

yup. power service or a similar juice every other tank keeps the injectors clean.
when i remember to, i will dump a bottle of MACS injector cleaner in.
i have had a bad injector in my 88 for the past 300,000 miles. if i let it idle for more than 15-20 minutes it will drop out, and not fire on all 8 again until i rev it up.
i have had new sticks sitting in the garage for the past 4 years. one of these days i will put them in.
probably when i put the next injector pump on.

 

The burden of proof is ALWAYS on the govrnment to prove that you are running untaxed fuel/that the red "stuff" is the dye.

I don't want to fight them but if the government actually followed the constitution this is the way it is.

 

Here, here!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

I would take the "fine" then plead not guilty in court.

Show up to the trial and never give them a hint as to what I was doing until it was too late.

"So Mr. Gov't butt head (or words to that affect) what has become of the fuel sample you removed from my tank an the 5th of March 2011?"

"We disposed of it in an evironmentaly friendly manner, that's standard procedure"

"That's too bad as if you had analyzed that sample you would have found it was in fact automatic transmission fluid which is VERY commonly used as a fuel conditioner and cleaner by millions of diesel motor owners all over the world."
"We especially use it in the United States as a cheaper alternative to the higher-priced fuel addatives and conditioners that are necessary since the government has removed all but a trace of the sulfer which used to do the job for us."

Since I don't run "untaxed/dyed diesel" anyway it would be ATF, so even if they do analyze it I'm still OK.

 

There is a specific chemical in the offroad dye that they have to test for. My understanding is that the red in ATF is not the same stuff as in the off road fuel. Specific testing strips are then used to check for traces of it and a chemical reaction is observed as proof positive. Its been while since I looked it up but I remember reading about it once. Although if that is still a concern, the situation can be avoided completely with the use of a purpose intended diesel additive which usually has a caramel color.

I did have a pump rebuilt for a diesel ford ranger a few years ago (licensed japanese clone to the bosch VE) and that one had a dried out seal on the throttle shaft recently causing fuel to sometimes leak out (and air to leak in). The shop replaced it free of charge even though it was well beyond the warranty period (while I watched). So far its held up but that pump was no where near the end of its service life and was primarily run on ULSD since the rebuild.

The same shop also tells me they replace pumping plungers all the time due to inadequate fuel lubricity and often its on newer equipment that is supposed to be designed for the modern diesel. Granted they are also selling me the additive so one could say there is a conflict of interest there. Although considering what he charges me, he isn't making a killing on the stanadyne additive. Maybe our local fuel is different? One $10 bottle generally lasts me a month so I run it on every fillup.

Before having my pump rebuilt, I rarely ran any additive and never had much reliability issues other than two stall on decel incidents spread very far apart. In both cases, a shot of ATF in the tank cleared it up. Fuel economy was also fairly inconsistent and I know for a fact the timing advance/retard plunger was replaced during the rebuild - it had some extensive wear on it. Warranty required me to run additive on the pump but even after its long since expired, I run it anyway.

The flip side is my dad's 1992 GMC 6.5TD. That truck hardly ever saw any additive during its life since right around the 160 000 kilometer mark. Now closer to 260 000 I bought a replacement from the same local injection shop due to a hard hot start problem that gradually got worse over the last 2 months. This is a classic case of worn out pumping elements. If this was indeed a factory pump (and I think it was) it seems to have delivered a satisfactory life even though it ran many of its miles without additive on ULSD. I replaced the injector nozzles recently too and the deposits were so bad, the pintles jambed as soon as I tried to pull them out.

Will it kill a pump? I don't think so, but I also don't think running additive will hurt either. It comes down to a matter of personal choice.

 

My '94 with 379K on it still has the origional IP, injectors, and return lines.
The PO kept awesome records on repairs but not addatives. Since I've had it I've put a lot of oil, ATF and Diesel Kleen through it.

 

i work on alot and i mean a lot of diesels and we use power service products in them. and they are all otr tractors. class8 trucks, the big rigs. every 5400 miles.

 

Some info I would like to very much clear up. Red dye diesel is not the same dye as ATF!!! Red diesel must under federal law be treated with hydrocarbon-based nonpolar solvents such as solvent red 26 or 24 or the most common 164. Any fuel sample taken that is red must be tested for the solvent this is done either trough dipping and adding a titrant solution to verify as this will turn the fuel sample dark blue/purple or they can swab and use a different titrant method. They look for the chemical byproduct Quinizarin found in the solvent dyes. They must do two tests one in the field and the sample must go to lab for final review.

 

but you still get a ticket on the road, and you will have to defend yourself in court.
and in some cases the truck is out of service red stickered until the red colored fuel is removed from the tanks and clear taxed fuel is put in. even if it is ATF causing the fuel to look red.

do you feel it is worth the risk? cause i don't.

 

At least they are taking the "burden of proof" responsibility seriously.....now anyway.

Now can WE arrest THEM for squandering OUR fuel tax money???????
Especially when the money is going to a million other places besides our roads/highway.
People get in BIG trouble for not paying it but the people responsible for being the stewards of our money are screwing US!