What would you do?

[Featherman]

I plan on another road trip and am wondering if I should be worrying about the ULSD. The trip will be approx 6000 miles return.



I'm a firm believer in the "if it ain't broke don't fix it" motto, but I don't want to get stranded with a fuel leak from my injector pump a couple thousand miles from home either so... ... ... ... ... ... should I get it rebuilt or take my chances? 180k with no mods (yet)



Advice requested.

 

[Simplysmn]

I would just go on trip and not worry about it I have over 215,000 on mine and have been useing the ulsfuel for a while now and not a problem 1 Have a safe and Happy trip .

 

[MMeier]

Just drive it!! Looks like you have some neat iron in the stable there!

 

[DVolk]

What would you do

id drive it my self , bring a extra filter along and some thing to put inthe filter if need be , but i beleive in fuel additives



2 stroke oil has been used along with 10 weight motor oil in the pumps



any doudts call cummins up

 

[OKish]

just pour in some powerservice at each fill up. i just did a 6000 mi round trip with my tailer, no problems.

 

[rlyons]

I would pick up a pump reseal kit to carry along, some orings can be replaced easily along the road and the kit is cheap. I carry a spare pump and a seal kit when I go out on long trips because a pump shop, if you can find one, out on the road can soak you when you are stranded.

 

[DEdds]

don't be scared. Stanadyne makes a great fuel lube additive. depending on how much you put in you can add a whole bottle and you'll think your running diesel fuel from the 70's

 

[JLEONARD]

What happens IF and when these pumps spring a leak? Isn't it normally just a "nuisance leak"? It is from what I recall reading.

If so, run the truck with a leak till you get home.

Worry more about finding a good chicken fried steak for breakfast than a fuel leak.

Just my $. 02

 

[Greenleaf]

I wouldn't go. Instead, send the money to the National Democratic Election Foundation.

 

[Featherman]

Additives

I wouldn't go. Instead, send the money to the National Democratic Election Foundation.

GL... ... ... ... . Have no idea what you mean



Should have also stated that I use a mixture of MMO and PS with every tank.

 

[DMosher]

This brings up a question I have thought about. Of the recent pump failures how many of those people used a fuel additive with every fill up. Just wonder what the ratio to those who use an additive to those that don't and the recent pump failures with ULSD.

 

[DVolk]

What would you do

From what ive noticed the pumps that are leaking



are the ones whom guys are constantly playing with it alot , injector pumps



are not like carburators , they dont like to be played with , just set and left alone .

 

[JLEONARD]

mixture of MMO and PS with every tank

MMO= Marvel Mystery oil

PS = Power Service ?



MMO is a good additive. . I use it in my boat diesel fuel.

 

[dpuckett]

Mine started leaking shortly after I put it on, (I had been running anothe rpump to see if it ran any different) and I hadnt touched any adjustments. I had pulled the AFC cover off for checking purposes, but hadnt tuned anything. My mom's truck hasnt had any pump adjustments in 3 or 4 years, and its AFC "well" is overflowing with fuel and leaking out the breather tube. Funny how both leaks came about in mid to late October, right as stations here were getting ULSD. Coincidence? Possibly, but I tend to think otherwise.



As for the trip, if you havent had any leaks thus far, I'd go on it. Keep an eye on the pump, and unless it starts to drip a gallon of fuel per mile down the road, I would run it normally.



DP

 

[RWWinslow]

Chevron provides the following information on fuel system seals and ULSD:



Will low sulfur diesel or low aromatics diesel cause fuel system leaks?

The introduction of low sulfur diesel for on-road use in the U. S. was accompanied by fuel system leaks in a very small percentage of vehicles. Investigations into the cause of these leaks suggest that the problem was linked to the change in the aromatics content of the fuel and to seal material and age.

Diesel fuel systems contain "O-rings" and other parts made of elastomeric materials. These elastomers swell slightly when they contact diesel fuel, because they absorb aromatic compounds from the fuel. Exposure to a fuel with a lower aromatics content will result in some of the absorbed aromatics being leached out, causing the elastomer to shrink towards its original size. If the elastomer is still pliable, this shrinkage will not cause a leak. However, if age or service at higher-than-normal temperatures has caused the elastomer to loose its elasticity, a leak could occur. Vehicle owners should be aware that elastomeric parts have finite lives and should be replaced as necessary.



By itself, low sulfur or low aromatics diesel fuel does not cause fuel system leaks. They are caused by the combination of a change from higher to lower aromatics fuel and aged O-rings and elastomeric parts that have lost their elasticity.



My work, Idaho National Lab, is doing a complete technical review on ULSD - one of the areas of review is the effect of ULSD on older diesel engines.



ULSD has adequate lubricity additives put into the fuel at the terminal. There have been some negative interactions between some of these lubricity additives and motor oils in the past - two cycle oil / ATF, etc. may or may not fit into this category - I would not chance it. The VE rotary style pump lubrication is dependent upon a surface interactive chemistry lubricant which is how the lubricity additives perform. Two cycle oil / ATF / engine oil does not have this same type of chemistry.



PM me or contact me via phone if you have more questions on this subject. Once the technical review / paper is complete we will look at posting it on our web site and or getting it to the TDR.