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I was curious in the difference with different approaches with fuel additives. I contacted power service and here is their response. What are your thoughts on the advantages of disadvantages of these three main approaches: dissolving, dispersing, and (emulsion) mixing?
Thank you for taking the time to contact Power Service. Diesel Kleen is not considered a de-emulsifier or an emulsifier. What Diesel Kleen does is increases diesel fuels natural ability to dissolve water. Diesel fuel can safely carry about 100 parts per million water with no additive. Diesel Kleen increases the amount of water diesel can safely carry. An emulsifier mixes water bubbles into the diesel fuel similar to shaking a bottle of water and oil together. The fuel will be hazy because of the water mixed throughout. When using Diesel Kleen the fuel will remain clear because the water is dissolved in the fuel (think salt dissolved in water stays clear). A de-emulsifier will push water to the bottom of the tank. When there is even a small amount of water in the bottom of the tank microbial contaminations can thrive. Allowing the water to be soluble in the fuel is the safest way to eliminate excess water. It is very important to research what you put in your fuel tank, and I would be more than happy to talk with you further if you have any more questions.
Last edited by rled; May 11, 2016 at 10:50 PM.
Reason: Forgot to post response from power service
The big no-no is any product that contains Alcohol per the diesel supplement manual. The manual, of course, says to use Ford PM-22A or PM-23A (winter) if poor quality fuel is suspected.
Suffice it to say that I use power service. It has allowed my truck to start when it otherwise wouldn't.
Diesel Kleen increases the amount of water diesel can safely carry.
This is the worst response ever, especially when used with common rail. Diesel Kleen is actually admitting that they are trying to contaminate the fuel with water.
These motors require as little water as possible in the fuel, not adding more. Water mixed with diesel at well over 20,000 psi is no good. You also end up with corrosion issues at the pump and elsewhere.
Ever wonder why there are reports of pump failures and trash in the fuel system, requiring a $9,000 repair that people fear so much on these motors? Now you see why, because a vast majority of these failures is fuel contamination, and way too often this contamination is unknowingly caused by the owner using the wrong products. These engines aren't like the old days where you could throw any additive, trans fluid, WMO, etc in the tank and expect it to continue running for many years. These motors are reliable, but only if you use known quality fuel at higher volume stations, and refrain from putting anything else in the tank other than cetane boost or anti gel when needed.
This is what dealer technicians will look for when a truck comes in for water contamination:
This is the worst response ever, especially when used with common rail. Diesel Kleen is actually admitting that they are trying to contaminate the fuel with water.
These motors require as little water as possible in the fuel, not adding more. Water mixed with diesel at well over 20,000 psi is no good. You also end up with corrosion issues at the pump and elsewhere.
Ever wonder why there are reports of pump failures and trash in the fuel system, requiring a $9,000 repair that people fear so much on these motors? Now you see why, because a vast majority of these failures is fuel contamination, and way too often this contamination is unknowingly caused by the owner using the wrong products. These engines aren't like the old days where you could throw any additive, trans fluid, WMO, etc in the tank and expect it to continue running for many years. These motors are reliable, but only if you use known quality fuel at higher volume stations, and refrain from putting anything else in the tank other than cetane boost or anti gel when needed.
This is what dealer technicians will look for when a truck comes in for water contamination:
Your making the mistake of assuming that the chemistry of the water has not been altered with the use of their additive.
Your making the mistake of assuming that the chemistry of the water has not been altered with the use of their additive.
From the description above and the emails I have from PS, it sounds like they are making the water droplets small enough to by pass the filters and be "burned" in the engine. It sure doesn't sound like they are altering the chemistry of the water just the size of the droplets.
I want the water separator/filter to "catch" the water, not allow it to pass when "disolved" into the fuel.
DK might have been ok for the older engines, but I think is not acceptable for the current generation of diesel engines with the common fuel rail.
H2O is H2O it doesn't change and I do not want it getting past the water filter. I just think its a bad idea to introduce more water into the engine. I find it funny they say their product allows the diesel to "safely" carry more water. Safer for what?
ALOT of people use PS. I don't really see a ton people yelling at it for failed fuel systems.
You need one that demulsion, separate water from fuel.
Most people use a fuel additive as insurance in hopes they never get a load of water that gets by the fuel/water separator.
Fortunately, most high volume stations dispense enough diesel that water is not a problem. ULSD has an affinity to "absorb" water from condensation or other means. Pumping high volumes and filling tanks with new supply of fuel regularly cuts down on the condensation the fuel tanks might generate.
Plus, they usually have high volume water separators on their fuel delivery system and I suspect they perform maintenance on a regular schedule.
Most people use a fuel additive as insurance in hopes they never get a load of water that gets by the fuel/water separator.
Fortunately, most high volume stations dispense enough diesel that water is not a problem. ULSD has an affinity to "absorb" water from condensation or other means. Pumping high volumes and filling tanks with new supply of fuel regularly cuts down on the condensation the fuel tanks might generate.
Plus, they usually have high volume water separators on their fuel delivery system and I suspect they perform maintenance on a regular schedule.
One would hope they do as you are putting your engine on the line with their fuel. But something tells me if I pump a load of water from a station other's will too...
One station in South Florida didn't and a bunch of people got bad fuel - it put the station out of business because they couldn't pay the claims. I happen to know people that were a victim of his bad fuel. (and it was a high volume place). This is a rare exception. I even went to the owner and had him pump fuel into a container and the bottom of the glass container had water in it.
I have ran Motorcraft PM-22 since day one. I was curious as to the different approaches that were out there. I think we all can agree that water in the fuel is our enemy. I just want to make the best decision when it comes to both lubricity, cetane, and water. I think pm-22 is probably my best bet vs. the easy to get Diesel Kleen.
Good news is that you can get Ford PM22 or 23 (winter) by the 6 oz, 20oz, or gallon via Amazon Prime....
So if that's your choice of additive, that might be a way to get it without inconvenience. It's around $60 for the gallon of PM-22 and around $56 for PM-23. I would get it by the gallon if I went that route, but that's just me.
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