I have treated my last 3 gasburners with Slick 50 with very satisfying results. All experienced improved gas mileage. Now the question. Has anyone tried any of the additives to the trucks. I was in a store looking today and noted that atleast one (Slick 50) specifically say they are ok to use in diesels. My mileage is hovering around 14.2 now combined. That is with 4.10's and 4x4.

 

I have put slick50 in 2 ford's so far. both gas burners. 92 f-150 5.0 and a 89 Bronco I-6. I did not see any MPG improvement? what happened was the temp dropped off the guage. Both would do ok on a cold day here in Atlanta! On my Deer hunting trip's to northern Michigan they would just defrost the window. Never got warm or cozzy inside.

I want to put some in my new 01 PSD 4x4, but diesels need heat! I don't know how much heat is needed? or if the temp dropping to the bottom of the guage will have a negative impact. I'll be watching your post, for the best minds in the world of Diesel's is out there!

good luck

89 Bronco has 309,000 miles! no major engine problems. (yet) knock on particle board with a cheep wood-like covering. And it's for sale!

 

I have had good results in my '91 IDI with Performance Formula by Stanadyne. The rig was getting about 13 MPG when I bought it last year. I had the fuel rate setting turned down and started using PF in the same week, so it's hard to attribute the improvement to one or the other, but the mileage went up to 19-20 and stayed there; that's with an automatic tranny and 3.55 gears. More important, the performance is the same as before and it starts up in a few seconds, even when it's in the 30's.

 

Thanks
I bought the truck in NH and it has 45,000 on it. It seems to run a little cool too.I don't have anything to compare it to. Right now it gets down to about 20 at night and when it warms up as far as it can in 25 miles the mileage is pretty good. In the afternoon traveling interstate at 65 the computer show an avg of 16.5- 17. That is with 4.10 gears. Opinions please.............

 

You guys need to take a look at the tech article section and scroll down to the bottom where it says oil treatments. It is a very long very technical article, but in short it says that the engine treatments with PTFE (slick 50) have shown no conclusive evidence that they actually HELP the engine. The article also says that since teflon is a solid and it clings to metal surfaces that it also clings to oil passages which in turn slows down the oil flow. Everyone needs to read this article before putting any kind of oil treatment in their diesel. These engines will last a very long time if you change the oil every 5000 miles, so I don't see the reason for adding an oil treatment.

 

Guess I misunderstood the topic. I should have mentioned that Stanadyne Performance Formula is a FUEL treatment, not an oil additive. I agree with mycrew that oil additives are probably a waste of money in diesels. Motor oil in diesels picks up nonfilterable suspended solids very quickly from the compression ignition and soot blow-by, which is the reason for the short 3000 mile oil change interval. I would want to see data on how this material reacts/combines with PTFE before I dump it in my engine. The key to a half million-mile diesel will always be fresh oil every 3000 miles.

 

Fuel treatments are an interesting subject. My dad swore by them . . . put some in with everyother fill up. My mechanic said once a year is plenty. The Ford garage wasn't much help. Today, one of the guys at work related info from an article he read that said modern diesel fuels have been refined to the point that their natural lubricants have been significantly removed and fuel additives are a good idea . . . . I don't know who to believe!!

 

[updated:LAST EDITED ON 16-Dec-01 AT 11:18 AM (EST)]You could say that fuel quality contributed to Ford/Navistar being king of the diesel market. My understanding is that the sulfur compounds in fuel oil used to help lubricate the injection pump and injectors, but air quality regulations have eliminated nearly all sulfur from fuel oils. Injection pump internal temperatures have gone up as a result. The high failure rate of Stanadyne injection pumps in GM's 6.5 during the mid-90's was due to their location buried deep under other components and too close to the block, combined with the low-sulfur fuel. Some of these engines went through pumps every 20,000 miles. Even though Navistar used the exact same pump, they placed it away from the block and directly behind the fan which kept it cool enough. All through the 90's, Ford's reputation for diesel reliability gained ground while GM's went down the toilet to a point from which it has never recovered.