Fuel Additives? How Many Use them.

[MSLiechty]

I have nearly 40K miles on my CTD and am looking forward to many more.
I do my own maintainence and change my oil, filter and fuel filter regularly. The oil test out a little high high according to the test.

MICHAEL: Iron, from steel parts, showed the biggest improvement among the wear metals we found in your latest oil sample. While most of the wear metals read at or below universal averages, aluminum, from pistons, remained steady at 5 ppm, so it appears your Cummins is making just a bit more aluminum in its
early years. The oil's viscosity was normal for a 15W/40-grade and we did not find any fuel, moisture or anti-freeze but there was some soot present. Air and oil filtration (see silicon and insolubles) were just fine.
Try 6,500-7,000 miles for your next oil change.


Is a fuel additive something I should be using?

ML

 

[steved]

Fuel additives typically show up as lead in a UOA... FWIW...

I used additives in every tank until one injector failed at 143k and the rest looked bad.

I no longer use additives because there is some thought that they may actually cause a detrimental effect when blended with additized fuel.

 

[GColeman]

I don't believe a fuel additive is going to have any impact on your oil test results. Their primary purpose is to keep injectors clean and properly lubricated. Some members will swear by them and others will call them unnecessary and a waste of money.



IMHO, an oil analysis is one of the most important things to monitor the health of your CTD. Regular oil changes with good quality oil and fuel filters will go a long way toward extending engine life.



In your particular case, it would be interesting to see how synthetic oil works for you and what kind of results you get on your next report.

 

[steved]

I don't believe a fuel additive is going to have any impact on your oil test results.

I'm not going to argue, but they WILL impact your UOA results... this is well documented on the oil forums.

 

[Motorhead]

The only additive I run in mine is a pint per tank of 100 to 1, two stroke oil. Cost is $1. 00 per tank

 

[bigdaddydieseldan]

I use atf about every 3 or 4th fillup :-laf:-laf:-laf

 

[WCounts]

If I'm somewhere I can't get low sulfer diesel and have to use ULSD I add some Power service.

 

[arthr31]

I use atf about every 3 or 4th fillup :-laf:-laf:-laf

Are you kidding? You use ATF in your fuel? Do you know what that is doing to your fuel system / engine? ?

 

[FourBarR]

Mmo and howes meaner in every tank since new. now have 470,000 kms on original vp-44. never had any engine problems. Injectors have never been replaced. It doesnt use any oil between changes at 10. 000 k. lways used shell rotella 15-40 since new.

 

[rbattelle]

I used additives in every tank until one injector failed at 143k and the rest looked bad.

Steve, which additive were you running?



Ryan

 

[Dan Simmonds]

I run Rotella T 15-40 in the oil pan, and Howes diesel treat in every tank. No problems, but the truck is still far too new for any comparison.

 

[steved]

Steve, which additive were you running?



Ryan

I ran Howes exclusively until that diesel fuel additive study came out, then I ran PowerService.



If I had to guess, I'd say I had around 100k on Howes and 45k on PowerService.

 

[ENafziger]

I used to use MMO/PS and then Howes Meaner Kleaner, etc. After reading and reading and reading, I try to run about 2 - 5% biodiesel + Schaeffer's Diesel Treat.

--Eric

 

[bcdiesel]

I've been using Kleen-Flo Diesel Lubricant in my tank since new, (03 built in 10-02). I have about 115,000km (71,000 miles) on the truck and still on all orginal injectors and fuel pumps. I use less than the specified amount of Lubricant but try to put some in every tank (I do miss some fills though). No engine or fuel system work, only the garbage u-joints and ball joints.

 

[RRees]

I used Power Service and on occasion some 2 Cycle TCW oil (walmart brand).

 

[steved]

2-cycle doesn't work for everyone... I tried it once and lost nearly 2mpg in the first tank. Quit running it and mileage bounced right back... that was at 1 oz/gallon.



With what I know now, I cannot say whether additives caused my injector issues or not... but I'm not wasting the $$ if they didn't prolong the life of them either.

 

[Edgemann55]

58,000 trouble free miles so far using PS & MMO. No injector or LP problems,If it is snake oil so be it. I feel the difference if I miss a dose on fill up. I guess time will tell as I plan to have this truck for a loooong time.

 

[CDonaldson]

I have right at 30K on my truck, first 10K with the PS/MMO mix in every fillup, 20K with Opti-Lube XPD in every fillup. I actually saw an increase of about 2mpg when I started using the Opti-Lube. The mpg gain has remained and in fact as the engine has broken-in I have seen a little better mpg's. The engine is running quieter and my idle is real smooth, something I cannot say for the PS/MMO mix. I had rough idle with that mix and sometimes a little white smoke, that is what made me look at the Opti-Lube and make the change.



So far, I am very pleased with the Opti-Lube and will continue using it. No injector problems, no LP problems, no more white smoke, just a real good running truck. I did try a tank or two without it, the difference was noticeable, a little rough idle returned, much louder clatter, lower mpg's right away, and a couple times at startup I had a little white smoke - snake oil? Maybe/maybe not, but I am not going to stop using it as I have/do see a benefit.



CD

 

[rbattelle]

I actually saw an increase of about 2mpg when I started using the Opti-Lube. The mpg gain has remained and in fact as the engine has broken-in I have seen a little better mpg's.

That's pretty awesome. Can you plot up your fuel log for us?



Ryan