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Fuel conditioner improves engine performance
While the latest diesel engine technology allows manufacturers to meet emission regulations, similar improvements in fuel quality are also required to achieve optimum engine performance. Using low quality fuel in modern engines equipped with precision fuel injection components can cause many problems, from premature blocking of fuel filters to poor running and increased fuel consumption.
John Deere sells a special fuel conditioner to help high-pressure common rail (HPCR) engines cope with the low specification off-road diesel fuel that is commonly sold in the UK and Ireland. Used especially as a preventative maintenance product, John Deere Performance Formula fuel additive helps to avoid problems that can otherwise occur with erratic running, low power and particularly blocked or damaged fuel injectors.
Service manager Steve Plewes of John Deere dealership RBM Agricultural at Market Rasen has personal experience of the effectiveness of the additive, after using it in RBM’s own fleet of service vehicles to offset the quality of his local supermarket’s fuel, and as a result he has converted several customers to the product.
“Low quality fuel contains no additives, which therefore makes it cheaper,” says Steve Plewes. “Some believe red diesel to be simply white diesel with a dye, but this is not the case – the cetane level (a measure of the combustion quality of the fuel) is much lower in red diesel, therefore the octane rating is also lower.
“In addition, red diesel doesn’t keep as long as white, and it has a higher propensity to absorb moisture, so the longer it’s kept, the lower the quality – anyone tempted to stock up because of high fuel prices should be aware of this. Red diesel is also more dense and oily, more like heating oil, so it’s more susceptible to the build-up of deposits.
“We first used the additive in our own service vehicles at around the same time that John Deere introduced its 6020 Series tractors featuring the new HPCR engines, and because we were getting reports of a few injector problems, we started recommending it to farmers because of our good experience,” adds Steve.
“HPCR engines work at a much higher pressure, up to 1500 bar, but you still get a build-up of carbon deposits – you would think the flow of fuel would blow this out, but it doesn’t. Small components and very high pressures mean it is vital to keep fuel clean in HPCR engines, as they are not so tolerant of impurities.
“During a service training session at Langar, John Deere showed how the additive worked immediately on a badly running engine. When customers question the cost and benefit of using an additive, I simply tell them they will get an improvement in fuel economy of around 7 to 8 per cent, so the product will pay for itself very quickly. Not only that, but it also keeps the whole system clean and generally makes the engine run better and more efficiently.
“Despite some initial resistance to the idea, we’ve found that word of mouth has definitely worked in the additive’s favour. Many of our customers are now using it in their four-wheel drive, pick-up and utility vehicles as well as their tractors. I even know one chap who uses it in his central heating! I also remind people not to forget their combines over the harvest period, as injectors in combine engines are more expensive and tend to get neglected.”
Even though on-road diesel has a higher specification than tax-exempt diesel fuel for off-road use, modern cars with HPCR fuel injection systems are often treated with a fuel additive as part of the service schedule when maintained by a franchised dealer.
Similarly, John Deere Performance Formula fuel additive can be used at regular service intervals as a preventative measure to protect the engine’s fuel injection components, as well as improve the quality of the fuel. It can also be used to treat summer grade diesel to extend its use into the winter.
The additive is currently sold in 0.47 litre and 1.9 litre packs to treat 235 litres and 950 litres of fuel respectively. A new 19 litre pack has also just been released, which will treat 9500 litres of fuel. The product can be used in any vehicle of any make or brand fitted with an HPCR engine.
Customer testimonials:
Jim Grant, J B Grant, East Farm, Buslingthorpe, Lincoln
Farming 410 acres of combinable crops and sugar beet
John Deere tractors: 6810 and 6820
“I’ve been using the additive for about two years now, since we bought a new 6820 tractor from RBM, which was our first John Deere with an HPCR engine. The tractor started running very roughly and then died on me completely one day, which was diagnosed as muck in the fuel. We cleaned out the fuel tank completely, but didn’t change the injectors. Once we started using the additive, the tractor seemed to be running right and it’s never faltered since.
“At this time of year when there’s not so much work, we probably use it in every third or fourth tankful, but when the tractor’s working hard it goes in once a week. When I also started using it in my Discovery, I found I was getting about two more miles to the gallon.
“Using the additive has become a regular habit now. Whatever the technical reasons are, I just know that the tractor keeps running smoothly, and that’s what’s important to me.”
Robert Nelstrop, Robert Nelstrop Farms Ltd, Westfield Farm, Branston, Lincoln
Farming 1950 acres of potatoes, sugar beet and cereals
John Deere tractors: 6820, two 6920s, 6930
“We’ve been using the additive for a couple of years now in all three of our John Deere 20 Series tractors, after a recommendation from Steve Plewes at RBM. We hadn’t been experiencing any specific problems, just the engines occasionally running a bit roughly, so we thought this additive was worth a try.
“During the last drilling season we had been having an issue with a fuel pump. Having sorted that out and with the additive in the tank, we found we were then using 60 litres less fuel per 14 hour working day.
“Undoubtedly, all the tractor engines are now running a lot more smoothly and the fuel savings are noticeable. We use the additive depending on workload throughout the year. I suspect that it is probably used less frequently than recommended, but it’s still very worthwhile.”
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