Low sulfer diesel and carbon buildup...HELP

[Cowboy]

At our marina we have been saddled with low sulfer diesel and now feedback from most of the captains seems to be that the older engines don't run hot enough to get a clean burn and carbon builds up on the valves and if you don't take off the heads and clean everything in time Kupowy.
So who has any expierence with addatives and what will be the fix for us guys running older diesels? I am assuming there should be some answers on the west coast because they have been stuck with this for some time, I need to get a couple more years out of my Cats before I can afford new and I am hoping there is a miracle addative out there that takes care of this.

[gofshn]

use a diesel fuel additive and boost your C-tane rating as well as adding lubricity to the fuel which will save your pumps and injectors on the long haul. you will notice an increase in fuel economy also which pays for itself in the end!

[Mirage36]

Garry, I sent a note to John regarding the same subject. John runs his boat in cold water alot so I was thinking maybe some salt or corrosion build up might have allowed some passage by the thermostates...just a guess.
I found a bunch of info on boatdiesel.com I'll dig up the links and post them.

A few of the guys over there are recomending Stanadyne Performance Formula Diesel Fuel Additive because it has detergent properties.
http://www.stanadyne.com/new/ppt/ppt_dfa.asp

Also some good recomendations for properly decarbonizing a diesel engine.

[Graceland]

I've been using this due to the low sulphur: http://www.fppf.com/lubricity100.asp

This for cetane:http://www.fppf.com/8cetaneimprover.asp

And this as an algae prventative: http://www.fppf.com/killem.asp

[flatbottom]

as our friend in florida says "run them dogs" I guess all of the older engines will need this......thanks for bringing this up guys !!!!!

[Proheat]

Garry- I'm in no way a diesel mechanic, but given the fact that I work with fuel oil in my biz, I know that Kerosene burns hotter and cleaner. Even Winter Blend Diesel Fuel is 70 percent kerosene and 30 percent diesel fuel.

Now winter blend won't gel up as quick in the winter, but I would think that the downside of running it would be that since the Kerosene is thinner, that the lubricating ability for the injector pump might be a factor.

Just My 2 cents

[flatbottom]

proheat? how about we install a propane boost in cowboys rocks. That will get hot enough to blow some carbon out. Hit it on the last 1/4 mile to the inlet, and watch the boats scatter...lol

[Proheat]

Originally Posted by flatbottom

proheat? how about we install a propane boost in cowboys rocks. That will get hot enough to blow some carbon out. Hit it on the last 1/4 mile to the inlet, and watch the boats scatter...lol

Yep.........he might even get a few more MPH out of her!! He might even catch some air on her, but then everyone would think that he left Matey drive!!

[hubris 1]

correct me if im wrong but, i dont think the problem is the fuel. its the engine oil.a multi grade oil can have a carbon build up problem. cat changed to a single grade oil in all its engines for that reason. the additive necessary to make an oil multi viscosity turns to carbon. taking off the head is not exactly routine service. talk to the engine manufacture about this. hope this helps.

[Mirage36]

Originally Posted by hubris 1

correct me if im wrong but, i dont think the problem is the fuel. its the engine oil.a multi grade oil can have a carbon build up problem. cat changed to a single grade oil in all its engines for that reason. the additive necessary to make an oil multi viscosity turns to carbon. taking off the head is not exactly routine service. talk to the engine manufacture about this. hope this helps.

That's pretty much what we did and I do believe you are correct. Thanks for the suggestion.