Diesel additives winter lay up

[jdidonato333]

I have had a diesel boat for a few years (twin 2004 370B), did a lot of research boat diesel.com, prior to this forum. I have found many opinions on diesel additives, I remember reading Tony’s opinion on additives, No additives if your source of diesel fuel is good. I have stuck to that summer and winter lay up.
I don’t use my boat in the winter (upper Chesapeake MD.) and is is on the hard. Is it recommended to put an additive in the fuel tank for winter lay up?
Recently I’ve heard a bunch of different opinions about gelling and growth possible during very cold winter months.

Thanks
Joe

Topic

[Barry]

Subscribed for the answer. Meridian 391 with twin qsb 6.7 about ready for a wet PNW winter

[Bill Desmarais]

Raymond,

Not sure what Tony’s view is for winter additive for fuel, heck, it’s always warm where he lives and operates Seaboard Marine. Year round boating out there !

I have had more than one conversation with him about fall/winter/layup oil and filter changes.
Quoting him now: “Why throw away good oil” ?

The 6BTA 370 in my lobster boat just turned 177 hrs. Hour one was Sept 2014.

I changed the oil and filter last @ 167 hrs.
It will be sometime next summer when I change the oil and filter again.

The boat will be on the trailer and tucked away by Columbus Day weekend.

Regards,

Bill D

[raymond gonzalez]

so my first year with a diesel and winter in ny is approaching… is the tony consensus not to change oil before winter layup …. no fuel additive … no top off of the tanks ?

my cummins have about 60 hours on them this year .. running great … want to know what the big guy recommends

[Bill Desmarais]

Joe,

I now own my 5th 6BTA 370 and a pair of Volvo 41PA 200hps.

I’m up here in southern NH…boats are layed up Oct 15 thru May 15th.

I usually throw in a small bottle of diesel stabilizer into whatever is left in the fuel tanks. Sometimes not. I don’t top off or drain the tanks. Whatever is left in the tanks at haul out is what’s “stored” for the winter. Never had a problem. I”ve NEVER had a water problem in my tanks, even putting the boats away with 1/4 tank. Some worry about “condensation” over the winter….I’ve never seen it.

Also I don’t change the oil or filter when I haul the boats. I use 100 hrs of usage for oil changes/filters. If the oil get’s changed in July, then it’s next July or a 100 hrs. The additives in the new oils negate any of the old wive’ s tales of “acid in the oil over the winter” if you don’t change it at layup.

Like Tony Athens says “why throw away “good oil” ?

The newer marine diesel engines now go 250 hrs between oil changes.

I make more of an effort in making sure the engines are “alarmed to the teeth” !

Bill D

Either way you choose, to treat or not treat the fuel, won’t matter as long as you have clean fuel to begin with. to put your fuel

Never had problem

[Author]

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