Diesel fuel additives?

[LostArra]

Diesel truck or tractor owners, do you use any fuel additive? There is an overwhelming selection with a lot of advertising mumbo jumbo. I've always used the Power Service gray bottle in summer and white bottle in winter but have noticed the diesel additive shelf is getting much larger at auto and farm stores.

If you are using one in a tractor, is it an older model or a newer engine with the dpf stuff or does it matter?

Thanks

 

[Dalen88]

while i worked at a western star dealer they sent me to detroit deisel technical training and im not familiar with the specific additive you are referencing but the teacher was very against additives. They dont get along well with the newer dpf systems and he showed us a mason jar with water/fuel/ and conditioner in it and all the conditioner does is emuslify the water into the fuel and runs it through your pump and injectors rendering your water/fuel filter ineffective, also causing injectors and pumps to rust over time. I have never used any kind of conditioner or additive in diesel pickup.

 

[HOT ROD]

The only additive I was given is Howes and its a winter treatment to keep diesel from jelling up....

 

[elkguide]

I use Power Service in my truck and tractors.

 

[beerbucksducks]

Always used Stanadyne in my dodge when I had it. Still using it in the kubotas.


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[Trr15]

I run Howe’s year round in my Cummins. Never had any issues with gelling even in -20 temps. Supposed to keep the injectors clean and add some lubricant as well.

 

[Poltax]

I use Power Service. White in the winter and Grey in the summer. MY 97 F250 CC had 389,000 on it a year ago before I sold it to my son in law. No issues. My 2016 F350 I run the same Power Service it has 120,000

 

[rodney482]

Hot shots extreme every 6 mo
Hot shots daily

 

[Wrench]

Between my powerstroke (270k) and my cummins (340k) I've used zero in either. I sold my dmax with 130k on it....also never a drop. I spent 7 years on the north slope and we never added a drop there either.

Not sure how much life I'm missing out on....but I will risk it.

 

[LostArra]

Between my powerstroke (270k) and my cummins (340k) I've used zero in either. I sold my dmax with 130k on it....also never a drop. I spent 7 years on the north slope and we never added a drop there either.

Do fuel dealers on the north slope add something to prevent gelling in extreme cold?

 

[AK Troutbum]

I run Howe’s year round in my Cummins. Never had any issues with gelling even in -20 temps. Supposed to keep the injectors clean and add some lubricant as well.

I do the same, about 8 oz. of Howe's with every fill up (approx. 31-33 gal.).

 

[Wrench]

Do fuel dealers on the north slope add something to prevent gelling in extreme cold?

I am not sure what they put in there.....but it never gels to-50*f for sure.

 

[Muley Buck]

Optilube XPD. I run it every other tank.

DIESEL & GAS ADDITIVES - Diesel Fuel Additives - Opti-Lube Additives & Lubricants

opti-lube.com

 

[Brooks]

Just hit the 1 million mile mark on a Peterbilt with the original everything in it and the only thing that has ever been in the fuel tanks is #2 diesel. I worry more about quality fuel, oil and filters. The next fuel additive I buy other than a anti gel when temps are below 0 will be my first . The truck before this one went 1.4 million miles before it had an in frame rebuild and that was only because the driver got it hot on I 40 in Needles, California climbing a long grade one hot summer.

 

[LostArra]

In sorting through this topic I wonder if there is a difference in a diesel pickup or Brooks' Peterbilt which are driven daily vs a utility tractor owned by non-farmers like me that is used less frequently.

I'm glad Dalen88 discussed the water-in-fuel issue. I've never understood how an additive can "eliminate water". I've assumed the in-line fuel bowl will collect water and is obvious in the bowl.

Between my powerstroke (270k) and my cummins (340k) I've used zero in either. I sold my dmax with 130k on it....also never a drop. I spent 7 years on the north slope and we never added a drop there either.

Not sure how much life I'm missing out on....but I will risk it.

For mechanical issues I always listen to anyone posting as "Wrench" which is also why no one should take any archery advice from me.

 

[elkguide]

Aside from the so called "cleaning and lubricating" benefits of additives, what I use an additive for is for the cetane boost. Fuel in some parts of the country is cleaner and has a higher cetane content that will help your engine run better. I am a lot less likely to remember to add some boost to my truck as I am to add it to my tractors that don't get driven daily like my truck does.

 

[Wrench]

I look at it like this, fuel has a minimum spec. Additives do not. Engines run on fuel. The boost we get from "boosters" is often misunderstood. Many think they raise one octane/cetane number.....which is kinda true, that number is right of the decimal point though.

A diesel engine will extract all the btu potential in the fuel. If there's slightly less available btu, hp and boost will be reduced.

The critical matter is clean, cool and non aerated fuel.

 

[Billy Goat]

The only additives I use are for gelling, my equipment is more sensitive to it than my truck. Only twice have I needed to use it in my truck, not uncommon to use it in tractors and other equipment. I'm on the east coast and rarely see negative temps. I think our fuel likely doesn't have treatment that it does in other places.


Good luck getting a mini track loader or excavator to run in 20 degrees here without putting antigel in it.


Otherwise keep your filters changed and run a quality fuel, you don't need nothing else.

 

[Reburn]

Additives are not needed uless your running #2 diesel and its going to be less then 17.5 degrees. Then add anti gel. Other then that I haven't ever added anything.

 

[Dust Rider]

Old Cummings 5.9 never had additives = 270k
Powerstroke 6.7 used a little when prolonged cold with #1.
We will add anti gel (power service) to the tractors, telehandlers, lifts prior to very cold spells when they had to be run, same with torpedo heaters on job sites. Have had more issues and problems with construction equipment that is exposed to harsh weather for extended periods.
The newer diesel trucks just run great in the cold, or at least my last three have.