Just curious what yalls opinions are on fuel additives; good, bad, what's the best?

 

a premium diesel is best. If you run premium you don't need other additives.

 

I disagree, your best bet is to run an additive....especially if your not getting fuel at a place you normally use. Additives will also help with lubrication and water dispersant if you use the right ones, diesel kleen,opti-lube, stanadyne are a few good ones I have read good things about, also the Ford stuff.

Youw ant the lube and you don't want the water, it will distort your HPFP!

 

I use diesel kleen, white bottle in winter/gray bottle in summer.

 

I disagree as well. The EPA requires diesel to meet the 500 PPM sulfur requirement. The process in removing the sulfur content strips the diesel of it lubricating components. Buying "premium" diesel from a reputable fuel station will only ensure you do not receive contaminated diesel (Water and other contaminates).

 

The primary reason to use an additive is to lubricate the high pressure fuel pump, in case you get fuel that hasn't had the lubricity additive put in by the distributor. ULSD without additives lacks the lubricity needed to keep the HPFP from wearing. All brands of diesel and gasoline are shipped in the same pipelines to fuel terminals. The additives are put in at the terminal when the tanker trucks are filled, so it's possible the additives could get left out. A lubricity additive protects the pump by forming a slippery film on the metal surfaces.

Second consideration is avoiding a fuel additive that contains emulsifiers or alcohols. These will emulsify water in the fuel and allow the water to get past the fuel filters and destroy the HPFP. The cost is around $10k to replace the HPFP, and Ford will not cover it under warranty if there's evidence of water in the fuel. I would be careful of an additive that claims to "disperse" water. You want one that de-emulsifies water.

I work as a chemist, and I'm bothered that there's very little test data available to back up the claims of the fuel additive manufacturers. It's hard to know if what you put in the tank is helping or not.

 

for those of you who think additives are better than premium fuel, what do you think premium fuel is? I have 42 years of diesel experience behind me. I've seen the difference of what running premium fuel consistently does compared to a number 2.

I'll say it again! Find a premium fuel supplier, especially a Cenex, and forget the additive. The only place an additive has in a diesel is when one is on the road and takes fuel where he/she can get it.

 

Fuel systems aren't what they used to be....they are much more complex and need to have the cleanest fuel possible. I get what your saying but even ford will tell you that you should run an additive.

 

If you eat the right foods you shouldn't need a daily multi-vitamin. Some people will not drink tap water; must be bottled.

I use fuel additive to insure the lubricity and the cetane level are better. Very few fuel stations around my location indicate they have premium diesel; only one that comes to mind is an hour away. Dumping the additive when I fill up is just like taking my daily dose of pills (prescribed and OTC); habit.

I started the additive originally looking for better fuel economy in a 95 GM 6.5 diesel. It was hit and miss on me using it all the time; however, with the EGR problems I had with my 04 6.0 it became routine by the time I had the 06 6.0 PSD. Now with the understanding of what poor fuel can do to a high pressure common rail fuel pump I have other concerns.

I use to purchase all my fuel 10 miles from my house at a high volume Flying-J. When the cost of fuel went up the percentage of money I was saving buying at slightly less cost per gallon went away; plus I was always in a line waiting at the pumps (and my time was worth something). I now always purchase at Murphy USA going between three different locations for my local purchases. Best I can determine there is no bio in Murphy's fuel at my location or I will change where I purchase fuel (another personal decision).

I primarily use DieselKleen; although right now I am using PowerService's white bottle. I purchase the 80 oz jugs on sale for less than $11 (last time @ $9) at a local farm supply chain; beats the large retailers $16-$17. I transfer it to the smaller 32 oz. bottles. I use to dump half a bottle (16 oz) per fill up; but now I am filling the truck when I get to half a tank so have started only dumping 1/3 the bottle (+10 oz to about 18-22 gal). I dose higher than bottle recommendations as you can find some tests of fuel additives and Power Service's product did not rate the best on lubricity improvement; and that is another discussion or thread you can follow. (link below) I am considering switching to purchasing the Opti-lube product when I deplete my stock of Power Service additive.

Lubricity Additive Study Results - Diesel Place : Chevrolet and GMC Diesel Truck Forums


You are on the right path by asking; then ultimately it is your decision on how you use the information and experience of others. Do what gives you the best peace of mind.

Bob

 

Great post Bob.

Regarding the food and multi vitamin, it's been proven by the best nutritionists in the world that it's impossible to get ALL the nutrition one needs solely from food. (Had to say it, been a certified Personal Trainer for 10 years). Point being, I think it's been of the same concern for diesel owners. Can we truly get premium, uncontanimated fuel regularly? Can you guarantee that without a doubt every time you fill up, your fuel doesn't have water or that it has had the additives added from the refinery? Probably not. Anyone that has driven a diesel for sometime has at some point, picked up bad fuel. Even at your favorite fuel station that you've been filling up at for years has given you bad fuel once. So why not get in the habit of adding a diesel additive regularly. It's just preventative maintenance.

 

Actually diesel has to be 15ppm sulfur content. I have never seen a "premium" diesel pump in Pa.

 

Thanks for the correction. 500 was the LSD.

 

Anyone know if there's been any sort of fuel analysis among the brands? Suppose I use nothing but name brand Shell, Exxon, or Chevron which are rated top-tier gasoline vendors. I'm not aware of any equivalent 'top-tier' ratings for diesel. Is there some quantitative assurance of some minimum lubricity or cetane such that I don't need to use additives?

I'm reading diesel is diesel up to the point where they fill the trucks for delivery, minus the proprietary additives. I wonder if the surplus fuel vendors simply supply raw unadulterated diesel.

I've been using Diesel Kleen for a while. Engine seems to run a little quieter; that's about it.

 

There are states that mandate minimum cetane level also certain area's in Texas that set minimum cetane levels. I know California has a 48 cetane minimum number. My state Pa. has no mandate for cetane, but has a 2% bio requirement. I believe our diesel in Pa. average around 42 Hess is the only station that I know of that advertises on the pumps 40 minimum. I use the Motorcraft PM-22 additive year round as a booster, but in cold weather the more the cetane number the better your diesel will run. In Europe the numbers are in the mid 50's.

 

All the big name gas/ diesel stations usually don't sell American Fuel ( or blend it with overseas fuel) I actively search for fueling stations that sell only American fuel to help with the US economy, In Louisiana they have a bunch of stations that sell American fuel.
I think Murphy USA sells only American fuel ( wal-mart )