Diesel - should I add something for lubricity?

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sasilverbullet

sasilverbullet

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Aug 22, 2004
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San Antonio, Texas
I searched for an answer before posting and while I found some information on this, it didn't answer my question.

03 VW Jetta TDI - (ALH engine) in San Antonio Texas. Fill up mainly at Chevron stations. Most of the time the pump says it MAY contain up to 5% bio.

Should I be putting something in each tank for lubricity?
If yes, then please recommend a good product.

Thanks all!
12.gif
 
You need to find out if any is needed. If your injector pump is a mechanical injector pump then add 1 oz of 2 cycle oil / gallon fuel.

But on a 2003 its probably a electric injector pump. And nothing is needed.

The diesel fuel (ULSD) should have a lubricant to replace what the sulfur did with respect to lubrication. But in some fuels there does not seem to be enough.

My truck has a Bosch VP44 mechanical injector pump and I add the 2-cycle oil bought at Walmart by the gallon. The VP44 is also $2500 to replace.

Adding the oil will not hurt regardless of the the of injector pump.
 
2003 was mechanical pump, no electric lift pump.

I would ask on tdiclub.com as that forum specializes in nothing but TDi's.

That said, knock on wood, my TDi, which runs higher fuel pressures than yours, has managed just fine with no additives. I used Powerservice for the first year or two, then stopped. No issues, no gelling, no injector failures, and I'm pushing 280kmiles. I just buy fuel from someplace with high fuel turnover, and is reputable in the first place. [For me, that means two or three Irvings stations that I know.]

is this a new-to-you vehicle?
 
Originally Posted By: supton
2003 was mechanical pump, no electric lift pump.

I would ask on tdiclub.com as that forum specializes in nothing but TDi's.

That said, knock on wood, my TDi, which runs higher fuel pressures than yours, has managed just fine with no additives. I used Powerservice for the first year or two, then stopped. No issues, no gelling, no injector failures, and I'm pushing 280kmiles. I just buy fuel from someplace with high fuel turnover, and is reputable in the first place. [For me, that means two or three Irvings stations that I know.]

is this a new-to-you vehicle?


I read all the posts on TDIclub about this issue and I'm not impressed with the "technical" knowledge level of that forum on fuel/oil issues. I always come to BITOG for the definitive answer!
smile.gif


Yes, it's a mechanical pump.
 
Originally Posted By: sasilverbullet
03 VW Jetta TDI - (ALH engine) in San Antonio Texas. Fill up mainly at Chevron stations. Most of the time the pump says it MAY contain up to 5% bio.


It's extremely likely that it does contain up to 5% biodiesel (otherwise why the sticker?) which is a good thing. As low as 2% biodiesel takes out of spec fuel and gets it well into spec for lubricity - remember that Bosch, Stanadyne, etc... want less than 400µm wear scan in the HFRR test for optimum fuel pump longevity.

If you want to be certain, both Howes Diesel Treat and Power Service have been tested and proven to work... or ask if you can see the bill of lading for fuel delivery, it should list if it's straight ULSD or contains any biodiesel. 2-stroke oil at 200:1 showed an improvement of 162µm over the baseline fuel. Not as good as B2 (435µm improvement) but better than nothing and easy to get.

But with a 10 year old injection pump, I'd put some pennies aside for a rebuild anyway. The few I've been involved with all ran about $800 for a zero-timed, refreshed pump from DFIS.

Originally Posted By: Donald
You need to find out if any is needed. If your injector pump is a mechanical injector pump then add 1 oz of 2 cycle oil / gallon fuel.

But on a 2003 its probably a electric injector pump. And nothing is needed.

It's a Bosch VP37 mechanical injection pump, same on all mk4 TDIs through 2003.
 
Originally Posted By: scurvy
Originally Posted By: sasilverbullet
03 VW Jetta TDI - (ALH engine) in San Antonio Texas. Fill up mainly at Chevron stations. Most of the time the pump says it MAY contain up to 5% bio.


It's extremely likely that it does contain up to 5% biodiesel (otherwise why the sticker?) which is a good thing. As low as 2% biodiesel takes out of spec fuel and gets it well into spec for lubricity - remember that Bosch, Stanadyne, etc... want less than 400µm wear scan in the HFRR test for optimum fuel pump longevity.

If you want to be certain, both Howes Diesel Treat and Power Service have been tested and proven to work... or ask if you can see the bill of lading for fuel delivery, it should list if it's straight ULSD or contains any biodiesel. 2-stroke oil at 200:1 showed an improvement of 162µm over the baseline fuel. Not as good as B2 (435µm improvement) but better than nothing and easy to get.

But with a 10 year old injection pump, I'd put some pennies aside for a rebuild anyway. The few I've been involved with all ran about $800 for a zero-timed, refreshed pump from DFIS.

Originally Posted By: Donald
You need to find out if any is needed. If your injector pump is a mechanical injector pump then add 1 oz of 2 cycle oil / gallon fuel.

But on a 2003 its probably a electric injector pump. And nothing is needed.

It's a Bosch VP37 mechanical injection pump, same on all mk4 TDIs through 2003.


Thanks for all the info! My injector pump was replaced about 2 years ago by the PO. I think I'll just try to always fill up at a station that has the 5% bio sticker and leave it at that.
 
Not sure in San Antonio but in North TX (DFW), most diesel don't have BioD anymore.
Some sticker still left from the BioD day a few years ago.
Most of the makers are out of business due to no subsidy.
So you need to check with the station to make sure.

For 2 cycle, I put 1/2 oz per gallon should be sufficient on going.
I owned a 6.5L TDiesel.
 
Last edited:
Originally Posted By: sasilverbullet
My injector pump was replaced about 2 years ago by the PO.


The other good news here is that if the pump was rebuilt (or just plain new) it will now have ULSD-capable seals in it. When the LSD->ULSD switchover happened there was a huge rash of leaking pumps. Higher aromatics in LSD caused the pump seals to swell slightly. ULSD doesn't cause seals to swell so they returned to their normal size, causing leaks in seals what had been bathed in LSD for years.

When we had our 2000 New Beetle TDI's injection pump rebuilt by DFIS (circa 2009?) it got a full set of new seals, most of which had been upgraded to Viton at that point.
 
Originally Posted By: scurvy
Originally Posted By: sasilverbullet
My injector pump was replaced about 2 years ago by the PO.


The other good news here is that if the pump was rebuilt (or just plain new) it will now have ULSD-capable seals in it. When the LSD->ULSD switchover happened there was a huge rash of leaking pumps. Higher aromatics in LSD caused the pump seals to swell slightly. ULSD doesn't cause seals to swell so they returned to their normal size, causing leaks in seals what had been bathed in LSD for years.

When we had our 2000 New Beetle TDI's injection pump rebuilt by DFIS (circa 2009?) it got a full set of new seals, most of which had been upgraded to Viton at that point.


My 03 Jetta and my sons 02 beetle both had new injection pumps about a year and a half ago.

So I'm not going to add anything.
 
I have a 2.5 gal dispenser that I keep my mix of 2 gal TC-W3 ashless 2-stroke oil and 1 bottle of Power Service Diesel Kleen (silver bottle that treats 250 gal). I fill empty 1 qt oil bottles with this mix, and put it in my Duramax at every fill-up. My truck LOVES this stuff. It runs quieter and has a little more pep from the cetane booster in the PS Diesel Kleen.
 
I fully believe all diesels should be using a lubricity additive in their tank. Just because your seals are all ultralow compatible, doesn't mean you still don't have a lubricity issue.


Pull some oil samples. I would bet money you have high wear metals if you don't use an additive while using ULSD.

I'd reckon we aren't far from there being OEM recommended additives or similar.
 
Adding oil to diesel for lubricity is very, very old advice. It is no longer recommended to add automatic transmission fluid as an example.

OTH, biodiesel has been proven to boost lubricity. At 2 % biodiesel you get all the lubricity boost you need. I add both biodiesel and DieselKleen (Power Service gray bottle) to my diesel on every fill up. I shoot for a quart of biodiesel and 4 oz of additive to every 10 gallons of diesel.

This will protect your fuel system components better, especially in the newer TDIs.
 
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