I'm a little overwhelmed with the various fuel and oil additives.
Can someone break it down for me and keep it stupid simple (KISS)?

Have some colder weather (<32F) coming up in the next couple of days, would like to pick something up from local store (wally-world, autozone, orileys) to get me through the next couple of weeks with intentions of executing a full oil change after the holidays.

thanks,
Mike

 

You don't need anything, the truck will run fine if you do nothing. If you choose to something, these are common fuel additive options available at Wal Mart:

White Bottle of Power Service "Diesel Fuel Supplement +Cetane Boost"
Diesel Fuel Supplement +Cetane Boost | Power Service
- used in winter to decrease chance of fuel waxing. This should NOT be an issue for locally purchased fuel because of state requirements for treating diesel, but I usually add a bottle anytime I head north crossing fuel zones just in case. If you drive north and fill a relatively empty tank when you arrive, you shouldn't have issues unless there's unusually cold weather.

Grey Bottle of Power Service "Diesel Kleen +Cetane Boost"
Diesel Kleen +Cetane Boost | Power Service
- used in the summer because it's a higher dose of the same additives in the white bottle, but without the winterizing component.

If you have time to order something in the future, OptiLube XPD is a generally well regarded fuel supplement, it's analogous to the white bottle of Power Service:
Opti-Lube Diesel Fuel Improver | Grease | Oil Fortifier

There are obviously a lot more options, but the first two are on the shelf locally, and all will work fine/ at least not cause you problems.

For the oil side opinions and experiences vary greatly. If you don't have any stiction issues, don't expect anything except maybe a quieter engine. IMO pick one, try it, if it doesn't do anything either you didn't need it or it's not going to work for you and move on the next one. These are the most common three, in no particular order:
https://www.revxoil.com/REV-X_High_P..._Additive.aspx
http://www.hotshotsecret.com/shop/stiction-eliminator/
http://www.archoil.com/ar9000-friction-modifiers/

 

I work in the oil/antifreeze/additive industry, the ones he listed above are the only ones I trust.

Are you wanting wax protection for the fuel side, or anything specific issues with your truck now?

 

I'm fairly new to the diesel world and I would consider myself somewhat mechanically inclined.

Start up on cold mornings, the thing makes a ton of racket. I've been told its normal but my gut says something else is going on.
I'm currently running down a charging issue but I think I have that one in hand.
Other than that, I don't really have the tools to start diagnosing potential issues so I'm really just trying to hedge my bets until I can get past the holidays. So any fuel/oil additives that can help 'get me bye' for a bit would be welcome.

From a fuel perspective: I've been thinking about 'gelling' and trying to stay of any injector issues that MAY or MAY NOT be an issue at this time.

from an oil perspective: I've been reading about 'stiction' issues knowing that I can't diagnose that concern yet. And reading everything that points to 'oil condition is critical' makes me think I need to do something but I'm not sure what hence the overwhelmed part....

Is there any benefit from 'Lucas Oil Upper Cylinder Lubricant'?

 

You asked about fuel additives and Bryan gave you that + oil additives. But a more basic question is: what weight oil are you running? If 15W 40, do your oil change now and switch to a 5w 40. A lot here are using Delo Syn in that weight and it is a good price at wally world. Also only OEM Oil Filter/cap and fuel filters.

A cetane booster also makes for a quieter start...

 

Thanks Dan
An oil & filter(s) change is on the list.

 

You're getting worried over nothing, because of the information overload. The truck will run 100% fine on 15W-40 oil and no additives at all. So chillax and stop worrying about doing something NOW, because now (meaning the next month) is going to take care of itself just fine. Enjoy your Hogs being IN a bowl game, I'm going to the Couch.com Bowl this year

Fuel gelling and waxed filters are pretty rare, especially down South where it doesn't really get that cold, meaning <0* actual air temps for multiple days at a time. Don't buy trouble here, I lived in Colorado and the Texas Panhandle where it DID get that cold, and have never once had a problem, or even been around when someone else was having this problem.

This are some things you can do now:
* Check to make sure you have the original factory oil cap, there are a dozen threads and pictures on here you can search and find that. Buy the correct Motorcraft or Racor fuel and oil filters to change them whenever you get around to it.

* Buy a 5W-40 oil for whenever you're planning on doing the next change. Don't worry about an oil additive now, get a full 5,000 miles on a good oil and then change it again (because the system holds ~3 quarts of oil every change) to get it ready as a baseline comparison if you do add something.

* Use the white bottle of Power Service if you want the warm fuzzies over fuel gelling up. It's not bad, it just might not actually do anything, but hey, that's what the warm fuzzies are all about, feeling better to worry less about something. Cheap insurance here.

* Take the interceding month to just drive the thing. Get used to it. If you throw 17 different additives at it all at once you're never going to know what actually changed anything, so the worst case is something does change and you don't know what part of the concoction actually did it that made it worth the money.

These things are LOUD. "Questioning if there is a midget with a jackhammer" kind of loud, especially if you run 15W-40. Simply going to 5W-40 (as mentioned by Dan above) makes a huge difference.

I avoid anything that is diesel AND gas. The white and grey bottles of Power Service are on the same shelf at Wal Mart, and are better choices.



Fair warning on a product that get sat on the shelf of fuel supplements..... DO NOT USE Diesel*911, the red bottle next to the white and grey Power Service bottles. If your filters are a ball of wax and your truck is frozen to the pavement, then carefully consult the directions and ask before you use the stuff. You WILL damage your injectors if you use the red bottle incorrectly, the instructions are not the same as the other bottles and dumping it into the tank is not how it's used. I can only think of a half dozen or fewer times I've ever seen a situation where that stuff is necessary, I don't understand who is buying enough of the stuff here in Texas for Wal Mart to justify stocking it even.

 

Bryan-
You are absolutely correct. I am on overload a little bit. Fueled by a couple of things. This truck is new to me. I've had it for a little over a month now. I am working on a charging issue and its freaked me out a bit. Being left on the side of the road 3 times will do that to a person. I've managed to work through the mechanical side of that issue but I still have a lingering electrical issue that is bugging me. I have it stable for now, I think (hot wired alternator). But I feel like I have to say a prayer each time I get in to start the thing. And GOD forbid it doesn't fire up on the first time and I end up draining the batteries and now I have to worry about frying the FICM so now I pull the batteries every time the thing hiccups and throw them on a charger. Don't forget about the undersized alternator..... its a never ending circle of death, as in its going to take me to the grave. and the $150 oil changes.....are you kidding me? use this filter not that filter and don't forget the upper AND lower filters and drain the fuel filter, might as well change BOTH of those.....and what do you mean I have to have this monitoring software to watch 150 PID's and keep an eye on this one. .5% change and your screwed, might as well change out the HPOP, dummy plugs and h-pipe while your in there and GOD for bid you delete the EGR but if you do make sure you use this brand of EGR but only the square one, not the round one. Its ok, just watch the Diesel Ron (RIP) video's and you'll be ok.....you see where I'm going with this.....

Its not that bad, really. I do enjoy working on the truck and as long as the 'issues' come at a moderate pace, I can keep up with them.

For now, I would be happy with a clean start and get me home. Other than that, I'm good.

BTW, I'm assuming your referencing the Longhorns. I don't think Charlie got a far shot to be honest. But i'm not sure ANYONE would have gotten a fair shot after Mac. Herman will be good. The Hogs were too inconsistent this year. They just weren't very good. I hope they can recruit better because they are having a tough time pulling in difference makers.

woo pig,
mike

 

Hey man, just fix the problem that prevents your truck from running. Take off any tunes, and you never have to worry about all that crap unless your towing. That's atleast how I do it, some people will criticize me but I refuse to just worry because of some numbers.....Not talking smack about the people who do, more power to them, just not for me.