I want a real answer... should i be using a treatment in my truck?? i have an 05 PSD with 40,000 on it. i have found my truck runs better on LSD than ULSD and even better on CHEAP camel ****. i was told the cheap fuel is closer to heating fuel and will make ur truck run better. I have a friend who is a diesel **** and his dad is an owner operator and tells me i def. need it and gave me a Gal of (HOWES LUBRICATOR DIESEL TREAT) he uses 8 oz for every fill up all year long should i be doing the same??

 

Most everyone on this board is going to tell you YES. Me too.

I'm not sure the ULSD has been out long enough to know for a FACT that treatment is necessary, but it's widely believed (or known...?), that the ULSD has less lubricating properties than the LSD.

Add cetane boost and anti-gel protection (if/when needed), and for me, it's an easy decision. I don't believe there is ANY danger of it hurting my engine, and if there is a chance that it will help, I'm using it.

Fairly inexpensive insurance, imo.

I've used Howes, but currently use Diesel Kleen. Haven't ahd any problem with either, so can't really tell you what's best. DK is readily available, and has a good reputation, which is the biggest reason I use it.

dp

 

Well, let me start off by saying that I too have been using an additive (Stanadyne) since the second tank of fuel in my truck – 05 F350 King Ranch. Every additive manufacturer will tell you that their product is the best. I’m not sure that any one product is that much different than another. They all basically perform three major functions – they raise the cetane rating of the fuel by a few points, they lower the wax point of the fuel which is the temperature at which the naturally occurring wax in the diesel fuel begins to solidify and turn the fuel to jello and finally they provide additional lubrication for the injectors. The following is a pretty god explanation of the cetane rating as provided by the US EPA:


Cetane number is the key measure of diesel fuel combustion quality. The number relates to the ignition delay - the period that occurs between the start of fuel injection and the start of combustion. Good quality combustion occurs with rapid ignition followed by smooth and complete fuel burn. The higher the cetane number, the shorter the ignition delay and the better the quality of combustion. Conversely, low cetane number fuels are slow to ignite and then burn too rapidly, leading to high rates of pressure rise.
<O
If the cetane number of the fuel is too low, these poor combustion characteristics give rise to excessive engine noise, increased exhaust emissions and reduced vehicle performance while increasing engine stress. Excessive smoke - and indeed other, invisible emissions - and combustion noise are familiar problems associated with diesel vehicles, particularly under cold starting conditions.


The state of <?xml:namespace prefix = st1 ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com[img] /><st1:State>New York</st1:State> requires that the cetane rating be posted on the pump. Few other states do. In general, fuel in the <st1:City><ST1<IMG class=inlineimg title=[/img]New York City</ST1</st1:City> area runs around 40 with an occasional “premium diesel” brand running 42. In <ST1Europe</ST1, premium diesel runs around 50 cetane. No wonder the diesel vehicles that get such great fuel mileage in <ST1Europe</ST1 get only average mileage here! The couple of extra points an additive provides is probably worth it.


Lowering the wax point of the fuel is important. I’ve had my truck sit out overnight in temperatures as low as -12 and start right up without being plugged in. Stanadyne claims that used as directed, it lowers the wax point of the fuel by 30 degrees. Remember, the block heater only warms the engine. It doesn’t do a thing for the fuel in the tank or the fuel lines ahead of the HFCM. The fuel additive is definitely worth it in cold weather.


Sulfur acts a lubricant. When we went from Low Sulfur Diesel to Ultra Low Sulfur Diesel the oil companies had to change the additive package they blend into the fuel to make up for the loss of sulfur. I suspect that they are using something similar to what’s in the stuff you pour into your tank. Do you really need the additive? Who knows? Maybe not. But it can’t hurt.


The Stanadyne that I add to my tank increases my fuel cost by about 8 cents a gallon. The bottom line is that I can’t really PROVE that it helps or is needed with the sole exception of the lowering of the wax point in the winter. But what the heck. It can’t hurt.

 

Just think of it as cheap insurance. I use Diesel Kleen. On top of that I noted an approximate 0.8 mpg improvement when I started using it. However, I'll temper that with the fact that I started using it on my 3rd tank full after driving the truck off the lot new. So the jump in mpg could have been due to break in.

 

I use DK in my '06 and will continue to do so. Made the experience of bad fuel one time when the truck was very new before using the additive - it wasn't pretty: ugly smoke, stuttering, etc. Got over it quickly by refueling often (to dilute the bad stuff as rapidly as possible) and the additive.

 

I also use DK i use to put lucas in but wasnt very happy with it. the DK has a very strong smell so it has to be doing something.

 

I talked to a lady today at the diesel pump as she noticed me pulling out my funnel. She was driving a duramax dually and said she never used an additive. Said winterized diesel wouldn't gel around here and as long as you used good fuel there was no need for it. She has been driving a diesel for 11 years and said she never needed it. Her advice was to never buy truckstop gas and not from a small retailer either.
I listened politely and thanked her for her advice, then I poured in my Diesel Service (white) additive. I have faith in her experience with her Duramax, but this board says otherwise. So I'll keep pouring

 

I thought a 6.0 took between 10,000 and 30,000 miles to break in? You must have a huuuuge fuel tank.

 

Thanks alot for the time and answers i WILL go back to using the diesel treat and might switch to DK when this one is done

 

Why was'nt you happy with lucas. I've used it in my gas burners, and i liked it. I've yet to use anything in my diesel yet. The truck drivers at work swear by the lucas.

 

05powerchoke,

Let me put it this way our sales of Stanadyne have quad zippled since ULSD came out, so most folks use it and feel more comfortable having it.

Do yourself a favor and check out Stanadyne it is the only OEM approved additive and that keeps the dealers happy too!!

Mark @ DPPI

 

I use Arctic 4+ by DSG, the same guys who make Diesel Kleen. It is like magic in the winter! Smooth as butter cold starts at -20c unplugged! Also 1 mpg increase

 

No intention of diverting this thread, but for those using Diesel Kleen, what temperatures cause you to go from gray to white? Does Stanadyne have different formulas for winter and summer?

 

well i guess i wanted a additive that was only meant for diesels and lucas doesnt increase cetane. nore to my knowledge does it have a anti gel additive. I was thinking about giving howe's a try.

 

Stanadyne has three products. One is primarily for lowering the wax point, one is mainly for additional lubricity with poor quality fuels and their Performance Formula does it all. I use the Performance Formula year round, every tankful. It works out to about an additional 8 cents per gallon of fuel.