I thought i could find this in a search but no. At what temp do i need to start using anti-jell? I will be using Motocraft. I also use there certain boots. Do i need to add both? ULS (ultra lousy sludge) diesel is such crap I notice the difference with the boost.

 

US diesel cetane can vary quite a bit from coast-to-coast. Someone here had mentioned that West Coast diesel cetane is closer to the 45 minimum that Ford recommneds (Ford originally stated that 40-50 is the recommended cetane range for optimum performance). Most of the diesel is closer to 39 cetane from what I read. Because of this, I use cetane boost all the time.

As far as the anti-gel, are you ever using biodiesel in any concentration? Are you in an area that gets winter diesel fuel (#1 diesel blended w/ the #2 diesel)? Some engines begin to have issues at the "cloud point" of the fuel. All engines have problems at the "pour point". The cloud point and the pour point of #2 diesel are usually around 20*F apart.

With the 6.0L fuel pressure issues (injectors like to have 45 psig minimum), I think anti-gel in the winter is important. When the fuel gets to the cloud point, it will begin to increase the pumping system pressure loss. #2 diesel fuel cloud point can be surprisngly high - as high as 20*F (with some fuels having been observed w/ a 40*F cloud point - I think this is the rare exception).

That being said ..............
Diesel fuels must pass the Cloud Point (D2500) ORLow Temperature Flow Test (D4539) at the use temperature. Low temperature flow capability is the responsibility of the fuel supplier for retail fuels. It is adjusted monthly during the winter, depending on local climate. Unless specifically recommended by the engine manufacturer or discussed with the fuel supplier in advance, modification of the waxing properties of fuels using aftermarket fuel additives is not recommended as an option for meeting the low temperature operability requirement.

So - how much do you trust your fuel suppliers to protect you? Remember - they probably only adjust the fuel quality monthly. Even if you trust them, the blends that they will deliver will NOT have the lubricity that the #2 fuel had AND it will be more likely to be susceptible to microbiological growth.

I know quite a few people that do not use additives. However, after reading up on it, I have chosen to use an additive all the time. It is certainly an individual matter (but I think it is wise to use them).

A good additive will:
Disperse the water (non alcohol)
Increase cetane
Increase fuel lubricity
Lower the cold filter plugging point
Reduce microbiological growth
Reduce corrosivity of the fuel
Reduce ash produced during combustion

 

Here are a few good reads:

FAQ

Recommended Guideline on Diesel Fuel

http://www.filtercouncil.org/techdata/tsbs/91-1R3.pdf

 

California law requires 50 cetane minimum, Where I live (Pa.) there is no minimum, and a few stations post 45 cetane. Most of the stations have no posting.

 

I personally use fuel additives year-round.

I use Powerservice (grey bottle) from March/April to November. I then switch to PowerService (white bottle/anti-gel) from November to March.

The PowerService (white bottle) can be used year-round, but it just has less cetane boosters/additives to make room for the anti-gel. Look for an additve that includes (not just states the benefits of): cetane boosters, injector cleaners, lubricity and if needed, anti-gel!!!!

I personally never trust any truck-stops or stations even when they advertise "winter-treated diesel" in the very cold months... as they will not be there if and when I "gell up"... so I play it safe.

I guess I would start using it in every tank when the temps start getting below 30F and never worry about it. This is a conservative number... but I am a conservative guy!!!

Follow the bottles directions, but I know that "double-dosing" with the PowerService has always worked for me and is not harmful according to the Engineers I have spoken to at Powerservice Company (just a little more money for me to spend, that's all).

When I park at the airport or outside when the temps are in their "teens"... I never worry about it... because I have done mroe than I need to and trust no one when it comes to my fuel.

I use MSR brand camping fuel bottles (2 of them) to always carry 32oz in each bottle and always have enough for any small road trips. These bottles are made for storing fuel and seal well for no chance of spilling or leaking.

Here is what happens if you skimp on using anti-gel (not my truck or filter):



Here are the MSR camping fuel bottles (I use the large ones):



Good luck,

 

around here its only 40 cetain(well thats what they put on the pump)(its been found to be as litlle as 29). they sell it as inhanced? or#2 all year. dose any one know anything about the Motocraft additives? I need the cetain boost but probly should have antijell to. Should i put both in?

 

If it's getting cold out then... you need anti-gel.

Using an additive with cetane boost is also always recommended.

So... does the Ford additive state it contains both (in the anti-gel formula)? If not, then use a different brand that does, like PowerService (in the white bottle).

Look on-line for the Ford products and their specs and read. I have used the Ford stuff... but only the cetane boost, not anti-gel formula.

Good luck,

 

the anti jell seize performance improver. the cetain boost seize cetain boost and performance improver

 

I haven't had an issue with running fuel without additives and I have properties in Plano(NE Texas and my hometown) and in the Nashville area, so I see pretty cold temps, colder then what bismic would see as he lives not that far from my grandmother and she is always trying to make me jealous with their nice winter temps(although there was that nice christmas snow I think in 04 that was there and gone in a day). Last year I know in Plano when I was there in the winter, I was constantly having to deal with ice(one time it caused the viper system to go off and scared the crap out of me, thought someone was breaking into the ole girl) and I think it was constantly in the teens that winter. Right now I'm in Nashville and the ole girl is seeing in the mid 20s(I'm out in the woods, so it's colder here then in the city), I haven't had an issue, but I can't promise that you won't regret not using additives though either, it all depends.

 

That Christmas snow was great!

My son is in Nashville. He is trying hard to "acclimate" to that colder weather you are describing!

No doubt fuel quality is the key - although it is a sure thing that our injectors benefit from added lubricity. When I hear about Cetane levels dropping even lower that 40, I will spend the extra bucks until our "capable" government can get the cetane values posted at the pumps. The problem areas may really be where temps do not normally get very low and the fuel suppliers do not prepare for that occasional HARD cold snap.

 

I didn't have that bad of a time acclimating to it as I'm from an area that would get the same type of temperatures and climate like they do here. Both places are in a transitional area, Plano is more of an East/West climate transitional area, Nashville is more of a North/South transitional area. So the change wasn't all that much for me.

 

Guys... it's all about TRUST!!!!!

1) Do you trus the refiner to make your deisel fuel with the right cetane level?

2) Do you trust your truck stop of gas station to have fresh and clean diesel fuel?

3) Do you trust your refiner and retail station to add the appropioate amount of anti-gel when it gets cold, or will they just sell you what they have and wait for colder temps before they spend the extra money to add the additves into their tanks?

The simple is NO.... I will NEVER trust any of the above to do it correctly and even more so in the winter when a gelled up fuel filter is a bitch to change even in the summer... but even harder when it is 10F outside on the side of the road!!!

We also know that the 6.0L likes added lubricity and that ULSD fuel has less of it since they went to the 15ppm ULSD fuel. So.... adding and using an additive with lubricity is key... and having cetane boosters is always a benefit.

In some states, the use of bio-diesel is mandated to some level (Minnesota and IL). Bio-diesel will gell up before 100% diesel will... so as the use of bio-diesel increases and becomes more readily available... be careful.

The answer to everyone's questions are:

Q: Must I use an additive or anti-gel?
A: No - you don't have to, but it makes good sense to.

Q: At what temps do I start using anti-gel?
A: No real answer available - pick any number you want (I pick 30F)

Q: What brand is best?
A: Pick a brand that actually states it has cetane boosters, injector cleaners, lubricity and anti-gel. Look for all, not just "claims to improve"... look for actual staements that it "contains". A claim of "more power" is NOT the same as havinig cetane boosters in the bottle.

Q: My friend never uses it, so why do I?
A: Do what you want.. some gell up and some have injector problems... and some don't. Make up your own mind.


Good luck,

 

i guess up here in Canada the fuel dealers take the issue more seriously, prob cuz our cold snap is generally from Oct 30 to April 30. in 20 plus years of running diesels down the road i never gelled a filter. the guys that do have probs are the guys coming from down south that fuel way down south and head up. if they wait til closer to the US/Canada border they almost never have problems

 

The testing that I've seen that has been done recently has shown that a bio mixture up to B20 has been tested to not be different then 100% dino diesel when it comes to winter issues. This is according to ASTM standards and research. I think that was actually published back in the spring of this year, testing was done over last winter. I can't remember exactly where they did the testing, but I do remember that I was reading about temperatures that I see or colder, so at this point I shouldn't have an issue with B20 in the climate(s) I'm in.

As to issues of trust, I tend to migrate and change over the same fueling stations on all my routes, now there is a chance that I can be SOL, but as of yet *knocking on wood*, I haven't had any issues with gelling, this is over the course of a lot of yrs of owning diesels and I have yet to experience gelling issues(and yes where I live and where I'm from in Texas, it does get below freezing on a consistent basis and at my other place in mid. TN it does as well for sure). So after all those yrs, including a couple with ULSD in the tanks, I think they've earned my trust to a degree.

Now using this stuff certainly won't hurt, it's insurence and I'm sure what I've said is going to bite me in the ***(it tends to do that), but I'm just going off my experience.

 

The standard strategy here is to have a few bottles of cetane booster and additive in the cab, and at the first sign of trouble, dump it all in.

Think the official switchover to No. 1 is around Dec 1, so I ran the tank empty and just filled it this week... hopefully with the blend.

It also doesn't hurt to have a few gallons of kerosene handy...