Fuel Additive
Hotshot
Joined: Jul 2013
Posts: 14,298
Likes: 2,197
they can’t explain how the water makes it to the cp4 since there is both a water separator on ford trucks as well as “water in fuel” warning codes.
Mountain Pass
Joined: Dec 2017
Posts: 153
Likes: 24
Well since you asked.
See Bosch's report on diesel fuel lubricity here. Why do we care what Bosch thinks? They manufacture our CP4 high pressure fuel pump that Ford uses. The lubricity measurement is done using a standard HFRR test that in simple terms intentionally creates friction between a ball bearing and a plate in a controlled fashion with diesel fuel as a lubricant, and then measures the resulting wear scar. For rated service life of Bosch high pressure fuel pumps they prescribe a maximum wear scar of 460 micrometers.
See Bosch's report on diesel fuel lubricity here. Why do we care what Bosch thinks? They manufacture our CP4 high pressure fuel pump that Ford uses. The lubricity measurement is done using a standard HFRR test that in simple terms intentionally creates friction between a ball bearing and a plate in a controlled fashion with diesel fuel as a lubricant, and then measures the resulting wear scar. For rated service life of Bosch high pressure fuel pumps they prescribe a maximum wear scar of 460 micrometers.
I've used Archoil 6400D when I do an oil change (if I can get it for $10 or less).....it's supposed to clean up the injectors and stuff, but I haven't noticed a difference. Also got a free bottle of 6500D cetane booster and have been running it for the past few tanks. Again, haven't really noticed a difference.
Tuned
Joined: Sep 2018
Posts: 313
Likes: 101
From: Western NY
Trust, but Verify.
Trust that the fuel you are getting every day has good Lubricity, and Anti-gel(for us salt belters), but verify by using a good additive. When Diesel is $5 a gallon, whats another $1.38? Thats what a 2 ounce shot costs of Hot Shots EDT. Thats every 3rd tank for me, two tanks is one shot, or $.69 since I fill at the half mark.
Cheap insurance.
Trust that the fuel you are getting every day has good Lubricity, and Anti-gel(for us salt belters), but verify by using a good additive. When Diesel is $5 a gallon, whats another $1.38? Thats what a 2 ounce shot costs of Hot Shots EDT. Thats every 3rd tank for me, two tanks is one shot, or $.69 since I fill at the half mark.
Cheap insurance.
Fuel quality varies along with fuel cleanliness
Stanadyne Performance Formula every tank
Lead Driver
Joined: Dec 2020
Posts: 8,640
Likes: 2,435
Could be the Opti-Lube. Opti-Lube XL shows 40% Soy methyl ester, Summer Lube+ 30% Soy methyl ester.
Hotshot
Joined: Jul 2013
Posts: 14,298
Likes: 2,197
I just found a fuel supplier that will sell me 5 gallon cans of b99 . 2 cans of that will put me at b20.
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Cross-Country
Joined: Apr 2022
Posts: 96
Likes: 39
From: South Holland Ill
I say it depends on what you are after. My primary concern is keeping the CP4 pump lubed. Opt-Lube XL every tank for me. Small dosing and minimal price per gallon treated. I switch to the XDP Dec-Feb as some of the places I camp are below freezing at night.
As a previous reply stated there are tons of threads about this and they can get our of control like an oil thread pretty quick.
As a previous reply stated there are tons of threads about this and they can get our of control like an oil thread pretty quick.
Lead Driver
Joined: Feb 2022
Posts: 7,975
Likes: 4,055
Project Farm did an interesting comparison study of popular diesel fuel additives. Lubricity, anti-gel properties and anti-corrosion properties were tested.
https://youtu.be/n8gDN_6esfs
https://youtu.be/n8gDN_6esfs
This is what led me to use the Hot Shots. It performed the best out of all his tests. While no where NEAR scientific, it is pretty much real world testing that he did. HSS proved the best for anti gel and lubricity, which are the two main reasons I use it in all my diesels. Been using additives in my 2002 Kubota since day one and it starts and run great every time I turn the key.
Cargo Master
Joined: Aug 2012
Posts: 2,872
Likes: 952
From: Kaufman TX
This is what led me to use the Hot Shots. It performed the best out of all his tests. While no where NEAR scientific, it is pretty much real world testing that he did. HSS proved the best for anti gel and lubricity, which are the two main reasons I use it in all my diesels. Been using additives in my 2002 Kubota since day one and it starts and run great every time I turn the key.
I also have no delusions that because I use some product that means I won't have a problem, life doesn't work that way. Across all the pumps out there, their life will be a normal distribution in a bell curve. All we can accomplish by using a better fuel, or an additive, or anything else is to slide that bell curve in our favor, but there will always be outliers in the distribution. There will be some pump that will go 500k miles with the worst fuel in the world, and some pump that dies in 5k miles with the best fuel in the world. We also basically only hear about situations that fall out on the edges of the curve; the exceptions be them good or bad but by human nature we tend to only report on the bad ones. That's why anecdotes are dangerous.
I don't want to scare anybody into thinking you need an additive or else, or that any additive comes with guarantees.
Mountain Pass
Joined: Nov 2022
Posts: 163
Likes: 56
From: swansea ma
Just joined FTE a few days ago, over 50yrs. experience as a diesel mechanic/tech ,saw quite a evolution in the diesel industry and also fuels, went from regular #2 fuel to diesel to low sulfur to ultra low sulfur.Without getting into a major p*****g contest, I can attest ultra low sulfur does lack lubricating qualities and any conditioner that helps lubricate is better than nothing.
Mountain Pass
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 237
Likes: 142
This is what led me to use the Hot Shots. It performed the best out of all his tests. While no where NEAR scientific, it is pretty much real world testing that he did. HSS proved the best for anti gel and lubricity, which are the two main reasons I use it in all my diesels. Been using additives in my 2002 Kubota since day one and it starts and run great every time I turn the key.
Tuned
Joined: Oct 2022
Posts: 262
Likes: 144
From: NW Atlantic
Just joined FTE a few days ago, over 50yrs. experience as a diesel mechanic/tech ,saw quite a evolution in the diesel industry and also fuels, went from regular #2 fuel to diesel to low sulfur to ultra low sulfur.Without getting into a major p*****g contest, I can attest ultra low sulfur does lack lubricating qualities and any conditioner that helps lubricate is better than nothing.
