For dieselheads - The truth about Soltron

[jwalker]

10microns.

[jwalker]

The mix after filtration.

[Jono]

...so the moral of the story is... "use a water separator, but no filter 'n let the engine digest those pesky little bugs.."....

[jwalker]

If Soltron's claims that the bug will be broken down small enough to pass through a filter and be burned off are correct, then the bug should still be in the jar. Plainly, it isn't and most of it was stopped at 35microns.

I use Crossland filters and they claim the filter material to be 98.7% efficient at 2microns so even tiny particles which may have passed this test at 10microns would likely be trapped by a diesel filter.

Some thoughts following this: This sample I extracted from my tank in November last year. It was stored outside so, say, about 10°c average temperature and during the winter there was no noticeable growth in the bug. As can be seen in the jar, the growth was very noticeable within 3 days and the jar was kept indoors at room temperature, approximately 20°c. It appears the bug is likely to be much more of a problem in summer or in warm climates.

The bug in the original jar was left undisturbed and it continued to produce sediment which sank to the bottom of the water layer. I'll put a pic at the bottom of this post.

Providing a boat had an effective water separator and filter system, it would seem good practice to have the fuel tank pickup pipe at the lowest point of the tank rather than having a sump or dead volume. This would ensure any water, sediment or bug would be lifted out of the tank immediately the engine was started. It may also be a good idea to allow the engine to run a while before moving the boat, in order not to mix up the water and sediment, so that it will be lifted from the tank. Following this, an inspection of the water separator before moving off might be worthwhile.

If a boat is in regular use and the fuel pick up is at the bottom of the tank, I would reckon it is not likely to suffer a bug problem other than it being discharged into the tank from an outside source, ie. bad fuel.

As for Soltron....I've wasted my money and it's fek all use. Whether is gives better fuel economy, lower exhaust emissions and less exhaust soot as claimed, I've no idea....but I could have a guess.

Here's the sediment building up.

[Pete7]

Originally Posted by jwalker

As for Soltron....I've wasted my money and it's fek all use. Whether is gives better fuel economy, lower exhaust emissions and less exhaust soot as claimed, I've no idea....but I could have a guess.

Perhaps I can answer that,

Pete

[jwalker]

WTF....

[Pete7]

Thought you would like that

[BogMonster]

Never seen a coal fired RIB before

[Pete7]

Originally Posted by BogMonster

Never seen a coal fired RIB before

Thanks, but she may well have been on active service during the Falklands, so not doing to badly

[codprawn]

Originally Posted by Pete7

Thanks, but she may well have been on active service during the Falklands, so not doing to badly

Be great for avoiding customs.....

[MikeCC]

There's a test of diesel bug additives in April PBO. Looks remakably like JW's experiment.

Soltron gets slated, there's 2 or 3 good ones.

[Declanor]

Originally Posted by MikeCC

There's a test of diesel bug additives in April PBO. Looks remakably like JW's experiment.

Soltron gets slated, there's 2 or 3 good ones.

Can i ask which the good ones are?

[jwalker]

OK, an update! This is the jar shown in post #42 on 1st March 2007 so now been lying undisturbed for 11 years!

Nice bright diesel!

Edit: Fek, it looks like anti-gravity diesel. Someone spin it upright please.

[jwalker]

Aha, that's better. Ta.

[The Black Pig]

Originally Posted by declanor

can i ask which the good ones are?

+1.......