Notices
6.4L Power Stroke Diesel Engine fitted to 2008 - 2010 F250, F350 and F450 pickup trucks and F350 + Cab Chassis

fuel additive

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Oct 27, 2008 | 11:54 AM
  #1  
litespeedvortex's Avatar
litespeedvortex
Thread Starter
|
Freshman User
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 34
Likes: 0
fuel additive

Hello All,

I was wondering if I could get your thought on a fuel additive. I live in TX so I do not need it because of the cold. I am looking more for a cetane improver. From searching this forum I see a lot of talk about additives but it is tough to determine what the general census is.

As always thanks in advance for your time

Paul
 
Reply
Old Oct 27, 2008 | 04:04 PM
  #2  
WhiteEx's Avatar
WhiteEx
Senior User
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 366
Likes: 1
From: Fredericksburg, VA
Club FTE Silver Member

I think you might get a better response in one of the Misc. forums; scroll down from the forum list and you will see topics like Oil and Lubrication, After Market stuff, etc.

I am not sure, but I think a lot of the additives are designed for the pre-ULSD trucks; the sulfer acts as a lubricant, and the older trucks need the additive.

Good luck.
 
Reply
Old Oct 27, 2008 | 04:43 PM
  #3  
rmosso1's Avatar
rmosso1
Posting Guru
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 1,889
Likes: 0
From: MACON, GA
litespeedvortex:

I think you bring up an interesting question which I have not seen much written about recently, and here is what I think. Fuel additives, historically did do what WhiteEx says above, but also, I can remember buying additives for performance.

Now, with the requirement that all over the road diesel fuel be compliant to 2010 Fed regulations, as such that means 15 ppm sulfur, ULSDF, that also means that someone just might be checking the cetane rating.

If the diesel fuel we buy for our trucks has a cetane rating of 45, I honestly believe a lot of potential problems will be circumvented.

After all, the 6.4 engine was designed for emissions pre 2010 compliant, but to burn 15 ppm ULSDF, it only seems logical they will run better, or best, if exactly that type fuel is used, and part of the fuel spec. was 45 cetane rating, as per Ford book.

P. S. I can see no reason for any additive. Using 45 cetane fuel with ULSDF, 15 ppm maximum should run perfectly. IMHO>
 
Reply
Old Oct 27, 2008 | 05:54 PM
  #4  
bpounds's Avatar
bpounds
Hotshot
15 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 17,398
Likes: 317
From: Whittier, CA
Originally Posted by rmosso1
litespeedvortex:

I think you bring up an interesting question which I have not seen much written about recently, and here is what I think. Fuel additives, historically did do what WhiteEx says above, but also, I can remember buying additives for performance.

Now, with the requirement that all over the road diesel fuel be compliant to 2010 Fed regulations, as such that means 15 ppm sulfur, ULSDF, that also means that someone just might be checking the cetane rating.

If the diesel fuel we buy for our trucks has a cetane rating of 45, I honestly believe a lot of potential problems will be circumvented.

After all, the 6.4 engine was designed for emissions pre 2010 compliant, but to burn 15 ppm ULSDF, it only seems logical they will run better, or best, if exactly that type fuel is used, and part of the fuel spec. was 45 cetane rating, as per Ford book.

P. S. I can see no reason for any additive. Using 45 cetane fuel with ULSDF, 15 ppm maximum should run perfectly. IMHO>
So the question would be, is our fuel at least 45 CN? I think there is a lot of evidence that it may not be. In some areas you can get regular and premium grades of ULSD. I've never seen such a thing here in the western states, so I don't know. But I've seen enough test data such that I have no confidence that we are getting 45 CN and probably closer to 40 CN. For that reason I believe a Cetane booster is good insurance.
 
Reply
Old Oct 27, 2008 | 05:58 PM
  #5  
thatsme's Avatar
thatsme
Cross-Country
15 Year Member
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 94
Likes: 2
From: Ohio
Originally Posted by rmosso1
litespeedvortex:
If the diesel fuel we buy for our trucks has a cetane rating of 45, I honestly believe a lot of potential problems will be circumvented.
>
I was filling up my car at a BP, on the way to work this morning & on the pump for diesel it only had a cetane rating of 40. That actually, is the first one I have seen!! Personally, I have not used any additives in my truck , but it is an interesting ? . Would be curious to know what cetane ratings are at various places. Flying J ,BP,Shell, Sunoco, ect.
 
Reply
Old Oct 27, 2008 | 06:03 PM
  #6  
richfaa's Avatar
richfaa
Elder User
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 588
Likes: 1
From: N.Ridgeville, Ohio
We do use a fuel additive in our 08 6.4L and have since day one. There has been some question on the proper centane rating and the proper lubricity of the ULSD. These new motors need a 45 centane rating and there is no guarantee that we get that at all stations. Our dealer checked several stations in his area and none of them met that standard. Same with the lubricate issue. The jobber is supposed to do it..but who knows if they all do. Two diesel guys at two different dealers said it was a good idea to use the additive..we use Power service Quick Kleen. I do it because this is a very expensive truck/motor, and like chicken soup....it can't hurt. We will continue to use it till we have better answers to the centane and lubricity issues.
 
Reply
Old Oct 27, 2008 | 06:05 PM
  #7  
bpounds's Avatar
bpounds
Hotshot
15 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 17,398
Likes: 317
From: Whittier, CA
I've been doing a little research the last few minutes. Turns out that the U.S. minimum cetane requirement is only 40 CN. In Europe it is 50 CN. Our requirement of 40 is the worst in the developed world. Raising the requirement to at least 45 would decrease NOX emissions as well as raise fuel mileage.

Makes you think WTF don't it?

According to one source, CN numbers over 55 do not yield an improvement. So there is diminishing return. But if I can treat my fuel and get it up to at least 45 CN, it makes me feel like I am doing something worthwhile.

BTW, I'm driving an '06, but your topic caught my attention. I use the additive for the lubricity as well as the CN improvement.
 
Reply
Old Oct 27, 2008 | 06:07 PM
  #8  
Boat Hauler's Avatar
Boat Hauler
Freshman User
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 32
Likes: 0
I use the Ford Cetane Booster. While I can't say that I see any noticable improvement in the MPG, I do think the truck runs a little better. I assume that with the cetane booster it smokes less, which I think - but don't know, means less re-gens. I must be getting something for the cost of the additive!
 
Reply
FTE Stories

Ford Trucks for Ford Truck Enthusiasts

story-0

Top 10 Fords at 2026 Carlisle Ford Nationals

 Joe Kucinski
story-1

3 Best / 3 Worst Parts of Modern Ford Ownership

 Brett Foote
story-2

10 Amazing Upgrades That Solve Common Ford Truck Owner Headaches

 Pouria Savadkouei
story-3

Every 2026 Ford Engine Explained

 Brett Foote
story-4

10 Ugly Ford Trucks That We Still Kinda Love

 Joe Kucinski
story-5

10 Things Every Truck Owner NEEDS (2026 Edition)

 Michael S. Palmer
story-6

Rezvani's Latest Post-Apocalyptic Monster Is a Ford F-150 Raptor Underneath

 Verdad Gallardo
story-7

Top 10 Most Expensive Ford Trucks Ever Sold on Bring a Trailer

 Joe Kucinski
story-8

2027 Ford Super Duty Buyer's Guide (Every Model, Engine, & Package)

 Brett Foote
story-9

Top 10 Ford Truck Tragedies

 Joe Kucinski
Old Oct 27, 2008 | 09:28 PM
  #9  
litespeedvortex's Avatar
litespeedvortex
Thread Starter
|
Freshman User
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 34
Likes: 0
It is amazing - what I learn here. When I posted the question, I did not think of some of the other points (quality control or lack of and who is accountable) that have been mentioned. It does make you think.

Thank you again for your inputs
 
Reply
Old Oct 27, 2008 | 10:27 PM
  #10  
mick1955's Avatar
mick1955
Senior User
15 Year Member
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 175
Likes: 0
From: Hendersonville, N.C.
Here's so info that may help!

Lubricity Additive Study Results - Diesel Place
 
Reply
Old Oct 28, 2008 | 09:16 AM
  #11  
ghssails's Avatar
ghssails
New User
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 16
Likes: 0
From: Western Pennsylvania
I have used Diesel Kleen in my 08 since day one. On a trip out west this summer our friend, with a 06 Dodge Cummins, kept telling me it wasnt needed so I filled up the tank and didnt put the Diesel Kleen in. My performance went down and so did my mileage. (about 2 mpg).
I got the best mileage and performance when I filled up with Bio5 and added the fuel additive.
I had the customer satisfaction work done last week and it took the dealer a week to get the truck right. Blew out one TCM and had trouble getting the second one to accept the program. I was told that the tech spent the better part of 12 hours on the phone with the factory before they got it right. The service mgr. told me it was my truck that got the program put on hold but I doubt that. You guys were talking about it being on hold before I picked mine up
 
Reply
Old Oct 28, 2008 | 08:28 PM
  #12  
K-OS's Avatar
K-OS
New User
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 10
Likes: 0
I was told from a Ford mechanic that adding Ford certified cetane boosters only improve truck performance. You do not however need to add lubricity additives unless running questionable fuel. Too much lubrication can lead to fuel pump failure.

All in all, from what I understood, adding a cetane booster is to your advantage.
 
Reply
Old Oct 28, 2008 | 09:38 PM
  #13  
serviceguy's Avatar
serviceguy
Junior User
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 92
Likes: 0
From: Michigan
Lots of companies make cetane additives I spent about an hour at my local shop which is also the biggest parts store is town they had cetane additives from about five different companies all except one send they were for ULSD.
 
Reply
Old Oct 29, 2008 | 06:13 AM
  #14  
spence13e's Avatar
spence13e
More Turbo
15 Year Member
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 713
Likes: 0
From: KS
why not go with the ones that FORD recommends? i did a mega search a few weeks ago on here about this very topic for my 6.0 and discovered that the best two options are stanadyne, and a little cheaper is the ford stuff.

the stanadyne (the one bottle i ran of it) did make a noticeable difference in mileage (about 1 mpg) and it ran a lot smoother.

now using some of the ford stuff, but don't have an opinion on it yet.
 
Reply
Old Oct 29, 2008 | 09:21 AM
  #15  
bpounds's Avatar
bpounds
Hotshot
15 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 17,398
Likes: 317
From: Whittier, CA
Originally Posted by spence13e
why not go with the ones that FORD recommends?
Only because of convenience. I only hang around the Ford dealership if I'm having a really bad day.

On the other hand, I might find myself at Walmart on any average day.
 
Reply



All times are GMT -5. The time now is 05:30 AM.

story-0
Top 10 Fords at 2026 Carlisle Ford Nationals

Slideshow: Top 10 Fords at 2026 Ford Nationals

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-06-09 11:10:08


VIEW MORE
story-1
3 Best / 3 Worst Parts of Modern Ford Ownership

Based on years of owning multiple modern Ford products.

By Brett Foote | 2026-06-09 10:53:36


VIEW MORE
story-2
10 Amazing Upgrades That Solve Common Ford Truck Owner Headaches

SPONSORED: From muddy boots to rain-soaked cargo, these upgrades address some of the most common frustrations Ford truck owners face every day.

By Pouria Savadkouei | 2026-06-08 18:50:34


VIEW MORE
story-3
Every 2026 Ford Engine Explained

Here's everything you need to know about every Ford engine available for the 2026 model year.

By Brett Foote | 2026-06-05 12:58:01


VIEW MORE
story-4
10 Ugly Ford Trucks That We Still Kinda Love

Slideshow: 10 ugly Ford trucks that we still kinda love.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-06-03 09:51:16


VIEW MORE
story-5
10 Things Every Truck Owner NEEDS (2026 Edition)

Slideshow: the best gifts for dads & grads

By Michael S. Palmer | 2026-06-03 15:43:58


VIEW MORE
story-6
Rezvani's Latest Post-Apocalyptic Monster Is a Ford F-150 Raptor Underneath

Slideshow: Called the Fortress, the 850-horsepower pickup combines Raptor underpinnings with military-inspired features, survival equipment, and a starting price of $285,000.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-06-03 11:38:36


VIEW MORE
story-7
Top 10 Most Expensive Ford Trucks Ever Sold on Bring a Trailer

Slideshow: 10 most expensive Ford trucks ever sold on Bring a Trailer.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-05-27 16:24:34


VIEW MORE
story-8
2027 Ford Super Duty Buyer's Guide (Every Model, Engine, & Package)

Here's everything that has changed for the latest model year.

By Brett Foote | 2026-05-27 16:17:28


VIEW MORE
story-9
Top 10 Ford Truck Tragedies

Slideshow: Top 10 Ford truck tragedies.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-05-18 19:34:33


VIEW MORE