***10 paragraphs warning***

The FACTS about ULSD and lubricity are presented based on scientific and laboratory testing in post #56 in the form of "Diesel Fuel Lubricity Additives Study Results". These results were not gathered or identified based on personal opinion, hunches or feelings. I too am skeptical of what benefit a fuel additive can have on our 7.3L PSD's, but no one can deny the results gathered and presented to us in the spreadsheet, which I have linked again below.

I will take a moment and go through a couple of the details and what the results of the study are telling us, the layman. If you are interested in broadening your knowledge base instead of surviving on internet myths and what someone told you one time online, read on.

Looking at the spreadsheet below, the first three rows set the stage with "Desired, Standard and Baseline". Looking to the right to the "comments" section, you can clearly see what these three are identified as. Moving further down the spreadsheet, the heavy hitter and what focus should be applied to is "HFRR Score".

HFRR refers to a device used to measure lubricity and stands for "High Frequency Reciprocating Rig". Basically, the lower the number in the HFRR column, the better the lubricity properties are of the additive.

Looking back at desired which is < 460 and Standard which is < 520, you can start to get a gauge of what the ULSD in the pump you are getting is rated at in regards to lubricity. Turns out that the tested and baselined ULSD in the study came up with 636 as an HFRR score. 636...

That means that the ULSD used in the test was nearly 200 points above what the "desired" HFRR is score set by the Engine Manufacturers Association and over 100 points above "standard" is for ULSD.

Looking further down the spreadsheet, still in the HFRR score column, we start to see products sold by companies that seemingly make outlandish claims at times. I ran Stanadyne Lubricity Formula for years. I did NOT notice a difference in the way the engine ran between when I used it and when I forgot to use it. I did this over thousands of miles and years of time while traveling the country towing heavy at 18,000 lbs or more GCVW. It is what it is and I stopped using Stanadyne because I am lazy and it was better for my budget. Hearing about the XPD and Stiction RX has peaked my interest though, and clearly a few others interest has been peaked as well.

Some people take action based on internet lore and myths. Like low and high voltage IDM's from the factory... Myth...
HPx is a great modification to install... Myth...
Etc...

If you are one of these people, ride on and do what makes you feel at peace. You are the most important person when considering what to do, or not to do about your 7.3L and the condition of which it is in.

Other people enjoy learning about the details and differences between various choices and making informed decisions based on facts and analysis.

If you got this far and are interested in learning about facts and analysis, the HFRR score column is what you should be focusing on. The LOWER the number in the HFRR column the BETTER. Clearly you can see Stanadyne Lubricity Formula down there at #8 with a HFRR score of 479. Looking up to position #2, you can see Opti-Lube XPD with a HFRR score of 317. As Matt at BDP said earlier, Diesel Kleen is middle of the road and is at position #10. Diesel Kleen is worse than Stanadyne based on facts and analysis.

Opti-Lube in position #2 is at 317 for an HFRR score. Since that is the topic of discussion of this thread, well the new topic of discussion based on the results from jstihl and RyeThomas. The other columns now come into play when considering an additive. The blend ratio is related to diesel fuel : additive. Opti-Lube claims 256:1 for a ratio of diesel fuel to additive. This is important because you want a high ratio in order to keep costs down based on relative cost of the fuel additive. If the cost for the additive is less than the competitor, but the ratio is more, then the cost may actually be more. If cost is not a factor for you, then roll on with whatever you want, or don't want to use.

The next column is does oz per 26-Gal tank which is fairly self explanatory. 13 oz of XPD, seems easy enough. The next column is MSRP and I don't know for sure when this study was completed, so that is an N/A column in my opinion. The last column is comments, which is just quick notes or details about the additive. So, based on facts and analysis, not personal opinions or hunches it is clear that XPD will greatly enhance the lubricity of the fuel. So much so that it brings the fuel to better than TWICE the lubricity of the DESIRED and nearly THREE times the lubricity of the BASELINE tested.

The kicker is the "additive" in the #1 spot... Biodiesel is not federally regulated or mandated at this time though, so observations may/will vary.

What does this really mean? I don't know for sure other than the Opti-Lube XPD does a good job of providing lubricity, which the Engine Manufacturer Association sees fit to set a minimum of 460 in the HFRR scale. What was the 7.3L PSD designed to have as an HFRR score? I don't know...

Does this mean that adding Opti-Lube XPD to a truck running Wal-Mart SuperTech diesel oil turns it into a better oil than Schaefer's, Triax or Rotella, I don't know... Maybe that is a discussion for the Stiction RX additive... Maybe Stiction RX is a better choice than the all mighty Archoil 9100 (or whatever it is), I don't know... Does this mean that XDP is worth the cost of admission, I don't know...

What I do know is that without dissecting these facts and analysis results, I would never even have the chance to know.

Do with this information as you see fit. I would just caution you to not take the testimony of someone on the internet as gospel, because they may be full of crap.

 

‘Hey Jason,
I’ll make this short and to the point, glad you like the Triax oil, it definitely has changed how my truck runs! As I stated earlier the truck starts easier and runs significantly smoother on this Triax oil than it ever did on the T6. I will be running their heavy equipment oil in that CAT loader I bought I just got to decide what weight I want to run... Below are some links to their agricultural products, i’m sure one of them will work in the diesels you mentioned in your p.m.

https://www.triaxlubricants.com/lubr...y-diesel-oils/

https://www.triaxlubricants.com/lubr...ltural-fluids/

 

MN mandates B20 so I'm golden!! I also have a biodiesel reactor so I can do B100 too. Waiting for SSJ to show up and talk about Vegistroke in 3... 2... 1...

 

SSJ in knee deep in a body conversion and VO install.

I have more digging and research to do before I will make a decision for my own application. Part of that research is testimony from Rye and jstihl in the coming days, weeks and months.

EDIT: Good news for OR, WA and MN. Kind of... It appears they have a B20 mandate. GA has no mandate, SC has minimum B5 and for jstihl, I have not found any information for FL.

Quote source: https://www.fleetequipmentmag.com/how-biodiesel-solve-fleet-lubricity-problems/

From what I gather so far, ULSD is not good for lubricity unless an additive is used. If the ULSD is blended with a bio-diesel of at least B02, then ULSD does not need an additive. I suspect an additive would still help because bio-diesel is not the cure all and has it's own faults, but lubricity is not one of them.

When local camping or heading out of town, I use the commercial diesel lanes at a Love's station in SC with my TSD fuel card discount rate for the 75 gallon capacity. I am leaning toward skipping the XPD for my application for now due to the B5 fuel I normally run in my 7.3L, but will be digging into the Stiction RX next.

 

Thanks for all the great info Sous, you have definitely done your homework.
A couple facts that i can put out there:
1. My f450 would literally not run on all 8 cylinders at first start up........ Stiction RX fixed that. This was no coincidence folks. 2. My f450 was very smoky even under medium heavy throttle. Optilube stiction RX and xpd made that better 3. My f350 was very loud and clackety with vibration at idle. Triax oil definitely smoothed out and made the idle more quiet without a doubt . Optilube xpd definitely without a doubt quiet down the injectors ( 160s) ,and made the truck even more smooth running. ( This did not seem to make my stock injectors on the f450 more quiet but very noticeable on 160 injectors in the f350)

These are what I have noticed , 100% sure of after using these products. I have never been a fan of snake oils because they never worked. quite honestly I gave up using them but the position I was in I thought what the heck do I have to lose. Turned out to work out for the best.

 

You are welcome sir. The information may have helped you gain a more detailed picture of what is going on and/or may help someone in the future, it certainly educated me a bit more.

A friend of mine sent me the FL bio-diesel mandate link last night via text when they read I was unable to find any information on it.

U.S. Department of Energy Alternative Fuels Center: https://afdc.energy.gov/fuels/laws/BIOD

Basically, FL does NOT have a mandate for bio-diesel, but companies are provided "tax incentives" for using a bio-diesel blend. "This is the way" GA has gone as well, which is why I will continue to fill up in SC. As I mentioned earlier, there are some pitfalls to using bio-diesel as well, but it seems that a blend of at least 2% bio-diesel with untreated ULSD will garner a good amount of lubricity. What I am saying Jason, is if you are able to find a fuel stop with a bio-diesel blend, you may experience even better results from you dinosaur 7.3L engines. If you only have ULSD available to you on a regular basis, I would HIGHLY recommend you continue using XPD. You have seen the benefits from it already and almost instantly.

If you want or need to discuss this further offline, you have my contact details and I am available. I feel I have sufficiently educated myself and opened the door a bit for anyone else that has an interest in keeping their fuel at a good lubricity level based on facts and analysis.

I am very grateful you are experiencing the results and improvements you are and your word is trusted here on the FTE. Frankly, I had thought to myself that you must be seeing a placebo effect when you first reported your results, but after doing the homework, it appears you may not be and are genuinely seeing improvements simply based on the blend of fuel you are using.

Oil additives is another discussion for another day...

 

J, your situation warranted trying anything. Most of us would have done this because it's cheaper than a new or rebuilt set of injectors. Man it sounds like it worked! Nice going, seriously. I figure this. One can read the side of a bottle or an internet study and statistics all day long OR you can get in that truck and get real seat time, and not 1000 miles a year towing to X, Y, or Z campground. I have owned diesels since 1997 and tried every "snake oil" out there....to the point that I now run dino oil, no fuels adds, and straight diesel from any station that goes through fuel fast enough to not let it sit in the tanks....namely truck stops. Let's see....2 Cummins, 2 Durmaxes (LLy and LBZ), and 6 7.3s as personal trucks (OBS as well as Superduties). I have had two 6.7s and two Duramax LML trucks as ranch trucks. ALL of these trucks saw real work for the majority of their miles.

My personal experience has come from discussion with a Chevron refinery employee who oversees diesel production, almost million miles of driving, heavy towing experience, and wrenching on service trucks for a living. My good friend and pistol instructor always said "you have to do what allows you to sleep at night. NO one else can tell you what that might be". For me, additives went away a long time ago. For example, as much as it costs to put Opti-Lube every fill-up in your truck would pay for two sets of injectors at 300k miles. It does not make sense to ME practically, nor financially. I have to live with that...and so far, I am living pretty darn well. I don't break out the lube of whatever choice at every fill up, measure it, and pour with spillage. I fill up, and I run it. I have not had one mechanical breakdown or bad performance because of lack of Stanadyne, Opti-Lube, or Ashless TCW-3 2-cycle oil. It just hasn't happened. I keep good fresh oil in the crankcase, change filters at or before the required interval, and motor on.

Annnyways, good on you for bringing life back to a tired truck. As far as a PRACTICE, I have learned that good maintenance without additives saves me mental space, time, and money. Keep us posted! Feel free to PM with any other questions.

 

 

Might not help but Lord knows I’ve spent my hard earned money on far worse things. Less money than an Oil Change to 5/40, that said I’m gonna try Triaxx (sp?, Jarhead spelling LOL) next fall.

I’m about to drop both Stiction RX in and let her run a bit, then as I mentioned I will drive her to work Christmas Day. That should get her mixed in and we will see how it goes.

Ill keep you guys posted with my honest opinion. I’m a straight shooter, Lord knows I get in trouble at work all the time for it.

Be safe Gents and have a great Christmas!

If you would remember your Military, First Responders, Essential Employees working on such days, we really appreciate a simple word of kindness. We tend to see the worst of people this time of year, remember we are all in this together. Rye

 

We look forward to your honest thoughts on the products you have selected. We wish you and your family a peaceful and joyful Christmas as well!

Wise words about thanking military, first responders and essential workers.

 

Your local dealer should have samples.

Abosultly, we have metal shafts moving inside metal bores on both of these style of injectors. Some components are coated with DLC and others are not. Either way, the only thing that lubricates them is the fuel.

It's easy to see from our shop. We see worn HEUI and common rail components every day. Adding lubricity will simply prolong the life of your expensive fuel injection components. The right additive pays for itself many times over.

2007 by the forum members at the dieselplace.com

I've seen the insides of SSJ's AC code injectors with 160,000 miles on vegetable oil. The plunger/barrel had ZERO signs of wear! You can't beat vegetable oil for lubricity. Thank you Rudolph Diesel!
If you are ready for the best WVO conversion in the world, let me know. We ARE Biofuels Technologies.

I can't think of a customer who hasn't gained enought MPG to pay for the treatment. This means the investment is only your time of storing the addtive, and adding it to your tank.

 

All great info Sous, thank you ! I have not seen or heard of bio diesel in my area but will look into that. This thread has turned out to be interesting to say the least. I had no idea it would turn into a oil and fuel additive thread but I have definitely learned a lot and discovered some good products along the way.

 

Better fuel mileage would be icing on the cake as I do not get good mileage on my f350 with 160 injectors. I'm only getting 10 mpg unloaded, so that's why I think I may still have some underlying issues. I will keep plugging away on the f350 , it's been a long road with this truck trying to figure out the problems but I can say it runs 1000 times better than when I bought it. I don't know a lot about the internals of our injectors but I do know that with these additives and/or triax oil , it runs and sounds much better. The injectors just sound more lubricated if that makes sense. I know thats not hard data but it just seems to work.

 

The single example of the elemental analysis of commercially available ULSD above indicates that there are no true "lubricity properties" added in at the refineries. The very top three lines are "desired, standard and baseline". That means what the EMA would like to see, what the standard is from the refineries and what the tested baseline was.

This makes perfect sense as to why jstihl saw nearly immediate results after applying XPD to his fuel tank. Again, I thought he was having a placebo effect, but he has since swayed my thoughts on this and the science has lead proving what you and he have said.

How does that old saying go... An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure... Or something like that.

I am still on the fence about using XPD with my current 255,000 mile injectors, but feel that I will be using XPD when I get 160/0 or 160/30 from Bitterroot Diesel in the future.

Thanks for the clarification sir, I appreciate it. I had seen 2007 during my research, but was not confident about the date so I left it out of my post above.

Using an additive like this is really quite simple and does not need to be messy like mentioned above. When using Stanadyne for years before giving it up, I had a waterproof container I kept in the bed of my truck, in the rain and weather that held the Stanadyne, a small glass measuring cup and a funnel. I would measure out 2 ounces into the measuring cup and then use the funnel to pour it into the truck OEM tank. Easy and done quickly.

I don't see the XDP being much different. Since I have 2 tanks, it is easy to add the additive to one tank while the other is filling up. Or, if I only need one tank of fuel, I will just put the additive in before starting the pump. Easy day!

Your welcome sir! I feel having the information available to us is a valuable tool. Knowledge is power, isn't how the saying goes...

You may be able to find some bio-diesel near you by using a site similar to gas buddy or something, I am not sure really. I would be doing the same thing if I were not so close to the SC border where a minimum of B5 is required.

You have inspired many to provide data and first hand experiences. People like Matt from Bitterroot have first hand knowledge of this sort of thing as that is how he feeds his family. He must be an expert in the field. Fossil fuels and additives is a big business in this country, as we all know. There is no doubt in my mind that some additives are simply snake oil. If someone wants to see which additives are considered snake oil, just take another glance at the spreadsheet above in the thread. Some additives do work on some applications, but may not do much for other applications.

Your thread has and will serve as a great resource for the FTE and visitors alike when considering additives for their fuel or oil. I thank you sir for inspiring such an informative discussion with people from all walks of life. I have learned quite a bit and I am always grateful to learn something.

We look forward to your continued reports and hope for a fix action of the vibration in the other truck soon.

 

Here is a fuel component from a piezo injector found on the 6.7 Powerstroke and 6.6 Duramax with excessive wear. This is something a properly lubricated fuel would help extend the life of.