Fuel in oil

brooster

Member

Equipment
B5200, BX2360, L3940, Z781i KW
May 15, 2021
68
8
8
Troy NC
Got the injector pump changed in my L3940 and it cured my problem of fuel getting into the crankcase. I asked my mechanic about the fact I used seafoam in my fuel when I serviced it and his reply was that it probably didn’t cause the failure but attributed to it in his opinion, I’ll never use it again. Thx to Wolfman for all his help and I hope all is going well with you! Thx again
 
  • Like
Reactions: 1 user

lynnmor

Well-known member

Equipment
B2601-1
May 3, 2021
1,444
1,159
113
Red Lion
Perhaps because SeaFoam has a lot of alcohol in it and I'll bet alcohol is poison to diesel fuel systems
I don't know how high the fuel pressure is on the tractor in question, but I do know that trucks have warnings against alcohol for at least a dozen years.
 
  • Like
Reactions: 1 user

The Evil Twin

Well-known member

Equipment
L2501, LA526,
Jul 19, 2022
2,814
2,825
113
Virginia
Oh, it definitely hastened its death. Alcohol emulsifies moisture and carries it throughout the system. Perfect for corroding fuel pumps and pitting injectors.
Diesels benefit more from demulsifiers. They wring moisture out so the water separator can do its job.
 
  • Like
Reactions: 1 user

RCW

Well-known member
Lifetime Member

Equipment
BX2360, FEL, MMM, BX2750D snowblower. 1953 Minneapolis Moline ZAU
Apr 28, 2013
9,136
5,198
113
Chenango County, NY
Interesting in that I’ve seen several folks here swearing by adding Seafoam to their diesel fuel.

I’ve used Seafoam couple times on 2 cycle gasoline engines.

Didn’t have much luck there either.
 

The Evil Twin

Well-known member

Equipment
L2501, LA526,
Jul 19, 2022
2,814
2,825
113
Virginia
I've used it to clean injectors on a bench, but I would never use anything with isopropyl alcohol in diesel fuel.
 
  • Like
Reactions: 1 user

North Idaho Wolfman

Moderator
Staff member
Lifetime Member

Equipment
L3450DT-GST, Woods FEL, B7100 HSD, FEL, 60" SB, 743 Bobcat with V2203, and more
Jun 9, 2013
30,191
6,361
113
Sandpoint, ID
A lot of the additives for diesel fuel are simply snake oil, and do more damage than good.
It's real easy to read it and use it, and real hard to know what additives are good or bad.
 

lmichael

Well-known member

Equipment
Kubota G2160
Apr 23, 2021
605
254
63
Rockford IL area
Don't get me wrong. I do use Seafoam. I've seen it do near miracles on outboards, lawn mowers, old cars and so on. But...........ALL with gasoline engines. Just seemed very foreign to me to take a fuel who's lubricity you rely on and put alcohol in it. Just like I see some folks try to use Seafoam in their engine oil. Total nonsense IMO. Yet it's "recommended" right on the Seafoam can. Not on your life
 

will721

Active member

Equipment
LX2610, Ford 2n, Ferguson TO20
Jun 6, 2023
179
186
43
Quad Cities Area
Ive never used seafoam in a diesel. However I use it regularly in gas engines. Especially in the old carburetors it works like a charm. Treat the fuel before every winter and everything usually runs fine in the spring. Also use it anytime I aquire "new" equipment that needed a bit of cleanup and usually smooths things out in a tank or two.

For diesels I run hotshots. There's been a few comparisons on their products with them usually coming out either on top or close to it depending on what it is. In my truck you can hear and feel it run smoother with it. Its a higher mileage common rail diesel. However can't say I could tell the difference with or without on my kubota.
 

lynnmor

Well-known member

Equipment
B2601-1
May 3, 2021
1,444
1,159
113
Red Lion
Don't get me wrong. I do use Seafoam. I've seen it do near miracles on outboards, lawn mowers, old cars and so on. But...........ALL with gasoline engines. Just seemed very foreign to me to take a fuel who's lubricity you rely on and put alcohol in it. Just like I see some folks try to use Seafoam in their engine oil. Total nonsense IMO. Yet it's "recommended" right on the Seafoam can. Not on your life
Seafoam is a religion that some believe in. An engine that sits for a long time with stale gas often starts and runs poorly, so Seafoam is poured in the gas tank, after a while it runs OK, of course fresh gas might have flushed the crud and did the same job.
 
  • Like
Reactions: 1 user