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Old 05-08-2019, 09:10 PM   #1
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BIOBOR JF or STA-BIL for Diesel?

I was at the store today to pick up some oil for the mower because it's now time to get that out of hibernation & do the Spring maintenance on it. Perusing the aisle I happened to notice STA-BIL fuel stabilizer for diesel.

That got me to thinking (& yes, I know I'm jumping the gun)....we always used STA-BIL when we put our gas Bounder to bed come late fall. So now I see what I'm going to need in about 6 months for the Phaeton.

A bit further down was something called BIOBOR. An iRV2 search indicates most diesel owners use that for long term storage.

STA-BIL is a fuel stabilizer & BIOBOR is a fungicide. Do I need both for winterizing or just one?

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Old 05-09-2019, 07:15 AM   #2
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Lori,
I use the Biobor JF in my tank when it's going to sit for an extended period of time. Since most if not all #2 diesel is some percentage of biodiesel, if you have air in your fuel tank and any water along with the biodiesel you can get an algae that forms. The Biobor JF keeps it from forming. As. I said I only use it if the coach is going to sit for a fairly long time. I also fill my tank before I store the coach which leaves little room for air or moisture.
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Old 05-09-2019, 12:21 PM   #3
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I have not felt the need for a diesel fuel stabilizer, but have always used Biobor whenever the coach is going to sit for a while. No problems in 17 years of owing a diesel MH.

FWIW, I always put Stabil in my garage gasoline cans because I never know how long they might sit around before use.
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Old 05-09-2019, 03:29 PM   #4
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Thank you both! With our gas Bounder, we always topped off the tank & added STA-BIL on the day of winterizing. Then ran the genny, under load, while we drove back to storage (about half an hour), so the additive would get through the generator as well as through all the engine fuel lines.

Our RV's sit from Nov to mid-April each year so I wanted to find out what I'm supposed to be putting in it come Fall.

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Old 05-09-2019, 06:35 PM   #5
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Unlike gasoline, diesel fuel does not breakdown when sitting for long periods of time. However, diesel fuel will develop microbe growth (not algae) unless it's sealed in an air tight container. There is no need for a fuel stabilizer in diesel fuel like STA-BIL but you definitely need a biocide like Biobor JF to stop microbe growth. As a mater of fact, Biobor JF should be added every time you fuel up to keep your fuel system clean, since microbe growth often occurs while the fuel is stored at the refinery. The US Military mandates all it's diesel fuel be treated with a biocide before shipment to storage facilities.
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Old 05-09-2019, 08:03 PM   #6
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That's interesting to know. Why does diesel develop this growth when gasoline doesn't.

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Old 05-10-2019, 01:08 PM   #7
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That's interesting to know. Why does diesel develop this growth when gasoline doesn't.

Lori-
That's because diesel is not nearly as highly refined as gasoline. Diesel is extracted near the bottom of the refining process whereas gasoline is extracted near the upper 2/3 of the process, with fluids like naphtha, and acetone coming off at the top. Therefore diesel is a dirtier fuel and more prone to generate microbe growth.

The pricing of diesel is a total rip-off in this country because diesel only cost about 2/3 of what gasoline costs to refine and oil companies get about 37% more diesel from a given quantity of crude. With gas at $2.75/gal, diesel should be selling for about $2.05. BUT, the oil companies say it's pricing reflects worldwide demand, since most foreign countries run on diesel instead of gasoline, you be the judge.... I say BS.
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Old 05-10-2019, 02:09 PM   #8
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The pricing of diesel is a total rip-off in this country because diesel only cost about 2/3 of what gasoline costs to refine and oil companies get about 37% more diesel from a given quantity of crude. With gas at $2.75/gal, diesel should be selling for about $2.05.
With all due respect, what you are buying when you buy a gallon of fuel is energy! A gallon of diesel fuel has 12% more energy than a gallon of gasoline. If I apply that 12% correction to the $2.46/gal I just paid for gas, I would get $2.76/gal for diesel which is within a few pennies of its current price in south TX.

From a pricing perspective the cost of producing the gallon is virtually irrelevant as long as that cost can be recouped in the selling price. The "value" of the commodity is how it compares to alternative energy sources

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Old 05-10-2019, 02:15 PM   #9
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That's interesting to know. Why does diesel develop this growth when gasoline doesn't.
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Lori:

Actually, the real reason diesel develops microbes and gasoline doesn't is that diesel tanks accumulate water and gasoline tanks don't. Microbes need water in which to grow.

Diesel fuel tanks are always subject to water condensation because diesel fuel, unlike gasoline, has no vapor pressure to displace air. When a fuel tank is warm, the air expands and is forced out. As the tank cools at night, humid air is sucked back into the tank and water condenses out on the cooler tank walls. (One reason to keep diesel fuel tanks topped off if possible.)

Your new DP probably has a fuel/water separator ahead of its fuel filter. Most DPs do. It's not as if I've ever seen much water accumulate in it but that's why it's there.

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Old 05-10-2019, 03:26 PM   #10
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You don't get microbs in gasoline because the additives poison them.

There are plenty of gas tanks with water in them.
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Old 05-10-2019, 03:48 PM   #11
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You need fuel-water separators in diesels and not in gas engines for a reason.

Here's an article the subject. Notice that the #1 cause of water in the tank is condensation which is what was described in my previous post. Gas tanks don't have that condensation problem because the high vapor pressure of gasoline maintains a positive pressure in the tank,

http://www.boatcoachbob.com/articles...-diesel-algae/
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Old 05-10-2019, 10:45 PM   #12
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Thanks for the explanations. That is some nasty stuff that can grow in the tank.

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Old 05-11-2019, 04:33 AM   #13
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Originally Posted by lllkrob View Post
Unlike gasoline, diesel fuel does not breakdown when sitting for long periods of time. However, diesel fuel will develop microbe growth (not algae) unless it's sealed in an air tight container. There is no need for a fuel stabilizer in diesel fuel like STA-BIL but you definitely need a biocide like Biobor JF to stop microbe growth. As a mater of fact, Biobor JF should be added every time you fuel up to keep your fuel system clean, since microbe growth often occurs while the fuel is stored at the refinery. The US Military mandates all it's diesel fuel be treated with a biocide before shipment to storage facilities.
Some seem to feel the term "algae" is appropriate when referring to microorganisms in diesel fuel. Do a Google search on "algae in diesel", there are over 3 million hits. It will grow in water in jet fuel as well. Biobor-JF was developed for use in jet fuel for the military decades ago.
If you have algae growing in your tank. Star Tron Enzyme Fuel Treatment breaks down excess water and sludge to sub-micron size, allowing it to be safely burned away during normal engine operation.

Preventing and removing diesel algae - BoatCoachBob

http://www.starbrite.com/item/star-tron-diesel-additive
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Old 05-11-2019, 02:23 PM   #14
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So, am I supposed to be treating at each fill up (star-tron) as a preventative or do I just treat with the BIOBOR when it's time to winterize?

Our coach does set for weeks or a month at a time between trips & it may or may not have a full tank of fuel when last parked.

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