Dealing with poor quality diesel
 

Hi all

I've read about the possiblity of getting poor quality diesel in developing countries and/or remote locations. I'm not sure if this means impurities ie dirt/water in the fuel, or what. 'Diesel Bug' does seem to exist, but is it really an issue?

I'm off to Morocco soon and was wondering what's the best way of dealing with this?

Obviously I'll try to buy fuel from decent supplies, but if there's an extra/different filter to install then I might as well do it in advance of problems.

I've seen a twin filter unit mentioned, and talk of different size filter holes (different makes/costs).

De-Bug and Powerplus gadgets look like a waste of money - I cant believe their claims.

What do the experts think? Anyone have experience of this?

Cheers
Clive
Land Rover 300Tdi

Diesel in Morocco
 

Hi Clive,

You'll have no problems with diesel in Morocco. Euro quality diesel has been available throughout the country for a couple of years. Look for "Euro 350" .Fuel stations are widespread so there should be no need to pump out of barrels, unless you're planning to spend a week in the wilderness, in which case fill your jerries/aux fuel tank.

Anyway, your Tdi will cope with poor fuel for ages, not like the Td5 or later engines.
See post here http://www.horizonsunlimited.com/hub...498#post132662

Happy trails,

Jojo

Jojo

Mr Funnel
 

Google Mr funnel, available from about £12. I have never used one but looks good.

Graeme

Diesel
 

Given your engine I’m sure you’ll have no problems. Even the non Euro stuff will be fine. I think the only difference being it’s got a higher sulphur content. Someone on anther forum did point out high sulphur will contaminate your oil quicker so an oil change sooner rather than later when you get home maybe worth doing.
Mine was fine, just smoked a little more but actually seemed to run smoother on high sulphur. Lot to be said for low tech.:thumbup1:


If you’re worried about water contamination there are marine filters available that will separate water.

Russ

I can vouch for the Mr Funnel, but get the largest one or the flow rate through it is a bit slow.

BTW I tried putting water through mine, & nothing came through!!

if you do pick up some dodgy diesel & use the Mr funnel, youll be suprised at the stuff it catches.

I also have a Racor prefilter as added security!

Andy

x 2 for Mr Funnel and definitely get the big one. We've used one on our trip and it's amazing how well it works.

I also fitted a second 'water seperator' fuel filter in our fuel line and changed both filters every 15,000km or so. Maybe a bit overkill, but peace of mind.

Any more info on the type of pre filters you used? Type, where from, where/how fitted etc?

I've a Land Rover 300Tdi

Thanks
Clive

Check out ASAP Supplies Marine & Industrial Equipment and Spares - worldwide distribution.

They have all sorts of filters & elements, just check the tech specifiactions etc regarding flow rates and Im sure you'll find one

I use racor, not cheap, but reliable & good reputation

Andy

Absolutely Andy, i have one on my mercedes truck, definitely worth the price. West Africa diesel (esp Nigeria) can be really watered down. Plus the drop-in filter from the top with the 2 inline filters fitted means as little shit gets through as possible.

Also, try putting cans of injector cleaner though more frequently than you would at home. Poor quality diesel furrs up the injectors more quickly.

definte Racor or mr funnell when filling up and another pre filter in the line, more for going south of morroco

they tend to dilute desiel with paraffin etc and sell to you!!!!
Racor Fuel Filter Funnel

re bad desiel read this about halfway down!!!
Which Expediton vehicles and why?

I quote!!!
A lot of my clients have had huge hassles with modern Nissans, Toyotas, and Mitsubishis. One client in Gabon has been running a fleet of Nissan Patrols, and they are getting a maximum of two years life out of them before they need replacing as they become too unreliable. When they used the old diesel Landcruiser pickups, their replacement time was over 5 years.

Mitsubishi pickups in the Gambia last less than 18 months, but then there's NO preventative maintenance done on them, and the level of maintenance is "dodgy" at best.

Diesel quality is also a serious issue. My clients in Kolwezi, Congo have to transport their diesel by road from Dar-es-Salaam, Tanzania because the diesel available in the Congo screws up their fancy computerised Landcruisers.

I've heard from a few people now that lamp oil(kerosene) is used to dilute the diesel. This is not so good for your pump and strip the lubricating properties from your diesel/pump (not sure exactly how.what..?) You will smell if there is kerosene in the diesel, the exhaust fumes really stinks. A good thing to do is to add a bit of normal diesel engine oil to your fuel tank before filling up. About 100ml / 100 liters

Maybe someone with more technical knowledge can elaborate a bit??:confused1:

Clive

If you havent already gone, as the guys mention,Morocco fuel is generally good, though a Racor (or similar)is generally a good idea as you can get a bad tank of diesel anywhere.

doing interim fuel filter changes on the 300 Tdi (take a couple of extras wrapped in clingfilm to keep the dust out) will help to keep it happy if there are any doubts about fuel quality or the 300Tdi doesnt start instantly as my 90 always does. Though high concentrations of paraffin/kerosene in the tank will wreck the engine.

Also trying to fill up at newer fuel stations on busier routes with a quicker turnaround of their diesel stock can help avoid dodgy fuel thats been sat in a tank for a long time.

In reply to Pumbaa's question above.

Diesel's lubricity will be 'watered down' by parrafin or other additives with a lesser value. The diesel pump needs this lubricity to keep wear within the parameters of the manufacurer.

A lot of African diesel has a high sulphur content, (though low sulphur is now available in certain areas) which is detremental to the fuel pump and will reduce the engine oils ability to protect to the engine components

This is not my work, but explains what gives diesel lubricity.

'Diesel lubricity is largely provided by trace levels of naturally occurring polar compounds, which form a protective layer on the metal surface.
Typical sulfur compounds do not confer this wear protection themselves rather it is the nitrogen and oxygen containing hetero-compounds that are most important.'

I wouldnt be so quick to add engine oil to my diesel tank, if the oil has less lubricity than the diesel then it will not improve the situation.

Here is a link to a posting about a diesel additive study, worth a read, though a lot of the products used are North American.

Lubricity Additive Study Results - Diesel Place


Here is also a link to a study done on diesel engine failure which is interesting if your an anorak like me.....

http://ifleet.co.za/images/pdf/liter...20Wielligh.pdf

This test series demonstrates how poor diesel lubricity can wreck the top end of the engine as well as the pump and how bad paraffin/kerosene is, when used in a deisel engine

It also demontrates the need to have good injectors.


Cheers

Grif

Thanks for all the replies

It looks like I'll be fine for Morocco (only two weeks to go now!), though I think I'll invest in a Racor filter at some time for future travels - assuming the Land Rover makes it back from this trip!

I've got some injector cleaner which I'll use occasionally.

As no-one even mentioned the Debug or Powerplus gismos I assume my original assumption that they are a waste of time and money must be correct!

Cheers
Clive

HI Clive it does not say what type of landrover you have however most were fitted with a fuel filter & a fuel sedementor.
i have seen lots of disco's that have never had the sedimentor cleaned out, on my own 200tdi disco the sedimentor was 1/2 full of crap when i bought it as a poor runner.... it ran perfect after being cleaned out.

the sedimentors on disco's were normally on the inside chassis rail by the O/S rear wheel.

this should be cleaned out whenever the main filter is changed.

have fun in marroc. my tdi ran smoother on the diesel there.

good tip is top off your tanks in Gibraltar on the way home, I got through spain on diesel @55ppl in 08'

regards all

Gren