Diesel Additive
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 1,372
Likes: 14
From: West Cornwall, CT
For cold weather driving, absolutely add one of the diesel anti-gel additives.
One cold morning (18 below 0F) I started my truck. It ran fine for about 5 minutes and the fuel filter plugged up with jelly. It took 2 filter replacements, fuel removal, a portable heater, and half a day to get the fuel in the tank liquified again.
Lesson learned. It is easier to add a bit of additive than go through the recovery plan. You can't be sure that the gas station where you fuel up has *really* treated their diesel fuel for cold weather.
Lou Braun
PS: Changing filters in below zero weather with the associated diesel shower rates very low on my "fun" list.
One cold morning (18 below 0F) I started my truck. It ran fine for about 5 minutes and the fuel filter plugged up with jelly. It took 2 filter replacements, fuel removal, a portable heater, and half a day to get the fuel in the tank liquified again.
Lesson learned. It is easier to add a bit of additive than go through the recovery plan. You can't be sure that the gas station where you fuel up has *really* treated their diesel fuel for cold weather.
Lou Braun
PS: Changing filters in below zero weather with the associated diesel shower rates very low on my "fun" list.
Token Redneck
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 9,335
Likes: 343
From: Breckenridge, TX
I never had a fuel gelling problem even when I lived in Colorado, if you buy diesel in a typically cold weather state during the winter it'll have kerosene blended in already. Down to at least zero your fine straight from the pump, if you're worried use the white bottle of Power Service cetane booster, available most Wal Marts, Tractor Supply, and truck stops.
For a 6.7L use the Motorcraft stuff every tank as recommended. HPFP problems still seem rare, but every little bit helps
For a 6.7L use the Motorcraft stuff every tank as recommended. HPFP problems still seem rare, but every little bit helps
FTE Leadership Emeritus
Joined: Sep 2000
Posts: 23,174
Likes: 1,678
From: Stephensville WI
You might find this test interesting. Diesel Place commissioned a study of the lubricity improvement of various diesel additives:
Lubricity Additive Study Results - Diesel Place : Chevrolet and GMC Diesel Truck Forums
Lubricity Additive Study Results - Diesel Place : Chevrolet and GMC Diesel Truck Forums
9 ECHO 1
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 12,467
Likes: 58
From: Missouri
You might find this test interesting. Diesel Place commissioned a study of the lubricity improvement of various diesel additives:
Lubricity Additive Study Results - Diesel Place : Chevrolet and GMC Diesel Truck Forums
Lubricity Additive Study Results - Diesel Place : Chevrolet and GMC Diesel Truck Forums
Other things like cetane boosters will help the combustion process (performance) if thats what you are interested in, but the lubricity will help make your injectors last longer.
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Hotshot
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 13,484
Likes: 42
From: Stevens Point, WI
We have winter, we never add anything to the diesels.
Personally I use only 2 cycle oil in my diesel.
Personally I use only 2 cycle oil in my diesel.
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Postmaster
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 4,743
Likes: 3
From: Peoria, IL
Most of the others here have you covered but I would like to add one thing. Stay away from bio-diesel in cold weather. Bio gels much easier and is much harder to get the gel to go away. A few years back I filled up at a station that was still using bio during the winter. I added a full bottle of white Power Service and figured I was fine. On my way back home from my in-laws (it was about -10°F) my fuel gelled up and the truck ran like crap. I was able to limp into a gas station and had to wait for a tow truck and my father in law to come get us. In the end this one tank of fuel ended up costing me big. One fuel pump, and 8 injectors, most of it not covered by warranty because they said it was my fault for letting the fuel gel. The gas station owner wouldn't do anything for me either even after I made a complaint with the BBB, said it wasn't his fuel because his fuel is winterized (His fuel was pretty much the only fuel in my truck, I was close to empty and filled up).
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sonicsaleen
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