A lot of fuel additive info!!!

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Don’t we wish that a fuel additive could do everything? I’ve looked at some of the most popular ones and will share what I have found. Feel free to add info to my list but try and keep it to facts and not just, well you know.

The things that should be in a fuel additive are;

1. Ashless detergent/dispersant to assure cleaner fuel system from the filters to the combustion chamber.
2. Oxidation inhibitor which will guarantees longer fuel storage life without sludge or gum formations, which will block filters and choke the fuel system.
3. Pour point depressant to provide better low temp fuel flowability and reduce cold filter plugging.
4. Demulsifier to cleanly separate water and fuel to keep water at the tank bottom for easy removal before it goes to the fuel filter or farther.
5. Rust and corrosion and oxidation inhibitors to keep the inside of the tanks in good shape
6. Combustion improver that makes fuel more volatile for easier starts and more efficient combustion.
7. Lubricating qualities. To lubricate the pump etc.
8. Cetane improver for more power

Now lets look at each one for the benefits.

1. The ASHLESS detergent/dispersant is the key to no deposits while it is cleaning injectors etc.
2. The oxidation inhibitor will benefit the guys that don’t run their trucks or farm equipment everyday and need to know that the fuel won’t go bad just sitting there.
3. The Pour point depressant will keep your filters from plugging up in severe cold weather for the guys in the cold country.
4. The demulsifier separates the water from the fuel. This will keep algae from growing and filters from plugging.
5. The rust and corrosion and oxidation inhibitors will keep the inside of the fuel tanks from rusting etc.
6. The combustion improver is one of the most important things. It will increase the power because of making more of the fuel burn. This in turn will reduce the soot that goes into your oil and make it go out the stack as cleaner exhaust. This will also allow your oil to be run longer because of reduced soot.
7. The lubrication qualities we all know will help lubricate the pump because of the low sulfur fuel we have today.
8. The cetane improver, well, we won’t tell the girls about this one cause it just gives us the led foot, (more power)
9. Increase fuel economy because of the above list.

Most of these companies that I’ve looked at have other additives that do more things but I have only looked at the ones that are most popular to us and the ones that are most widely used. Here is the info that I have come up with, and once again add more to the list but ONLY if you are sure is true. I’m doing the best I can for the good of us all but I’m not perfect and if I make any mistakes please tell me.

I will not list the things that they have but instead I will list the things that they don’t have. This should make the post shorter and more simple.

STANADYNE cost to treat . 066 to . 076 per gallon.
Oxidation inhibitor
Demulsifier
Rust and oxidation inhibitor
Combustion improver
STANADYNE says they get UP TO 8% better fuel mileage

POWER SERVICE DIESEL FUEL SUPPLEMENT cost to treat . 032 per gallon.
Demulsifier
Rust and oxidation inhibitor
Combustion improver
POWER SERVICE does not make any claim of fuel mileage increase.

RED LINE 85 PLUS cost to treat . 052 per gallon.
Pour point depressant
Demulsifier
Combustion improver
Red Line had the best cetane improver at 5 to 9 point increase.

CUMMINS FUEL ADDITIVE cost to treat . 088 per gallon.
Oxidation inhibitor
Pour point depressant
Demulsifier
Rust and oxidation inhibitor
Combustion improver
Cetane improver
Cummins had no claim to increase mileage.

LUBRICATION ENGINEERS DCI+ cost to treat . 057 per gallon
Cetane improver
Lubrication Engineers tests show an AVERAGE of 7. 4% mileage increase based on a 5 fleet 133 truck test.

AMSOIL FUEL CONCENTRATE cost to treat . 112 per gallon.
Demulsifier
Rust and oxidation inhibitor
Combustion improver
Amsoil fuel additive concentrate does not contain cetane improver and they don’t give actual numbers of the increase in fuel mileage.

To the best of my knowledge everything here is accurate. The info is based on e-mails direct to the companies and web searches.

I hope this info helps everyone.

Sincerely, Kevin


[This message has been edited by Oil Man (edited 05-12-2000). ]

 

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Kevin, what about Amsoils Diesel fuel concentrate & Cetane boost?
Larry

 

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Yogibear,
I have included the Amsoil diesel fuel additive concentrate in the above list. I have also included the cost of treat rate for each additive. Example the Amsoil was at . 122 or twelve point 2 cents per gallon to use.

Sincerely, Kevin

 

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I use Power Service Diesel Supp. I can't tell if there is a power gain. But every time I put it in the tank I get really good mileage. I may use the stuff 4 or 5 times a year.
First thing I look for on a bottle is
Lubericity.
Cleaning of injectors
Disperses of water and or ice.

 

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Jeff H,
Could you please look on a bottle of the power service and tell me if it says anything about seperating water from fuel or if it talks about a demulsifier.

Thank you, Kevin

 

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I was told that the UPS guys (up here) put a quart of D-II ATF in their tanks every so often.

 

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oilman-I give you mucho credit for the in-depth research and findings. I think the low sulphur fuel has created some (if not many) pump problems. We need to know, (all of us), about the benefits of any and all fuel conditioning/products. As I stated previously, I've heard (yes, hearsay), from too many unrelated sources that they use ATF in their fuel at a rate of 1-qt per 50 gal of fuel. All of the sources were commercial drivers, like UPS, OTR truckers etc. I WILL shake this down and try to find out the good, bad, and hopefully no ugly. Will start with diesel line-mechanics and go from there. Again, I don't know diddly about the subject, and sorry I posted hearsay as I understand it's not a scientific way to come to reasonable, verifiable conclusion. BUT- there must be something to it, as too many times I've heard the same from too many different credible sources. Will report my findings, even if it turns out to be "snakeoil". Ron

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Here is a link to an interesting fuel additive survey.
http://www.powerservice.com/survey.html

 

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Power Service, I found it at Wal-Mart, not very expensive either. Will try a little until I decide on something else. Not alot of variety in nowhere USA. regards Pete

 

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Kevin -- I don't understand why a demulsifier would be a desirable component for a diesel fuel additive. The fuel filter contains a hydrophobic surface that is designed separate water and allow it to collect in the bottom of the filter canister. Without some emulsification of water with the fuel, the water would never reach the separating element and thus accumulate in the bottom of the tank. This would cause all sorts of problems. First, it would encourage, not inhibit, accumulation of algae growth. But this is really only a problem for marine applications where a biocide should be used anyway. As the water displaces fuel, you would reach a point where the fuel intake brings pulses of almost pure water to the lift pump and the injector pump. The engine would run badly for a while and then shut down, often with damage to the injector pump and injectors. I know this from experience with marine diesels. I would think that if there was some water in the fuel it would be much better to learn about it from the fuel filter. With a gas engine you could add an emulsifier that would allow the water to run through the engine. You wouldn't want to do this with a diesel, so you would drain the tank and replace the fuel instead.

 

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Oil Man

Where did you get your "facts" on Amsoil's Diesel fuel Conditioner? Here is the REAL lowdown.

COST: $0. 0595 per gallon retail
$0. 043 per gallon Dealer cost

In addition to the combustion improver, de-emulsifier, rust and oxidation inhibitors you stated, it also includes:

Smoke depressent Cuts smoke up to 70%

lubricity additive for low sulfer fuels

pour point depressent lowers it up to 35o F

de- icer

and an additive to stop the growth of alge.

THAT is the FULL story!

Rudy

 

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Mr. Freez,
The info I got was from Amsoil web sight and by talking to the tech service man at Amsoil by phone.

Yor are right about one thing. I posted the price for the Amsoil diesel fuel concentrate and I should have listed it as the Amsoil diesel fuel modifier. I will change this listing. The reason that I'm talking about the modifier instead of the concentrate is because the tech guy at Amsoil said that the concentrate was so concentrated that it was very hard to just put one small amount in the truck without putting it in some other kind of container. They use it for the big trucks because of their large capasity fuel tanks. (16 oz treats 100 gallons) The Amsoil diesel fuel modifier in a 16 oz can treats 40 gallons, and is much less troble to get the add amount right. He also said that the Amsoil concentrate is so concentrated that you would not want to get it on your paint and that it would eat through a plastic bottle if you tryed to put it in something that you could pour out of in small amounts.

The price you listed for the Amsoil diesel fuel concentrate is the right price and the price I listed for the (Amsoil tech guy recommended) fuel modifier is also the right price.

The Amsoil tech guy said that they do not have a smoke suppressant but the way that it cleans the injectors is how it reduces smoke. This I believe is true and most will do this.

Yes I know that Amsoil has a lubricity additive and if you look at the first posting that is what I said also.

Yes it has a pour point depressant that lowers the pour point about 35 deg. F.

The tech guy from Amsoil also said that it does not have an algeside additive in it. But because of the additive for long fuel storage it does not promote alge. In other words if you already have alge then it woll not work, but if you don't have alge then it will help to keep it out.

Thanks for your input.
Sincerely, Kevin

 

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Lee,
In higher concentrations the fuel will drop to the bottom of the tank, this is good for the big trucks. After they sit over night they drain the water off of the fuel tank. In the right concentrations for our trucks it helps to seperate at the hydrophobic surface that you talk about, making sure that all the water drops out in the bottom of the filter canister.

Sincerely, Kevin

 

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Oilman
Power Service Diesel Fuel Supplement.
Its states. Disperses water,Cleans Fuel injectors,DE-ices fuel filters,Reliquefies gelled fuel,cetane improver & Super lubricity formula. Don't see anything about demulsifier.
There must be different types of Power Service additives. Just from what I've seen at the ag store.

 

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Jeff,
A demulsifier is what separates water. If it emulsifies then you have water mixed with fuel. So if power service says that it seperates water then it must have a demulsifier in it.

Sincerely, Kevin

 

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Here's a link with a lot of information about diesel fuels. Discusses what the various additive do, why sulfur levels are being reduced, emissions facts, etc.
http://www.chevron.com/prodserv/bulletin/diesel/L1_toc_rf.htm



[This message has been edited by Lee Weber (edited 05-18-2000). ]

 

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Lee,
Thats one of the best web sights I've seen for fuel additives. It gives a lot of info that everyone can understand.

Good post, Thanks
Kevin

 

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So, I'll just cut to the chase. IYHO, which of the fuel additives, that does not contain a demulsifier, but all the other things, is the best, disregarding the cost?

 

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First of all the ones that don't contain a demulsifier (separate the water) will most likely contain Alcohol which will mix the water with the fuel and that's not good for the injectors on a diesel engine. The info I got from the above posts all came from the web sights or e-mails from those companies. If anyone has other information that adds to the list please post it. All info is good in some way.

I guess to answer your question of the ones that don't have a demulsifier which one is the best?

I guess that all depends on what you want in a fuel additive. The Stanadyne has the better milage increase numbers up to 8%. The Red Line has a cetane improver for more HP. and the Power service is the cheepest.

Are you reading this the way I am? Are you not wanting a demulsifier? If you know something that we don't, let us in on it.

Sincerely, Kevin

 

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Originally posted by Oil Man:

STANADYNE cost to treat . 066 to . 076 per gallon.
Oxidation inhibitor
Demulsifier
Rust and oxidation inhibitor
Combustion improver
STANADYNE says they get UP TO 8% better fuel mileage


[This message has been edited by Oil Man (edited 05-12-2000). ]

I don't know which model of Stanadyne Additive you looked at, but performance Formula has everything you stated above it didn't. It has cetane improver, demulsifier, combustion improver, as well as corrosion inhibitor. These are clearly stated on thier product descriptions.

The oxidation inhibitor is implied, but I don't recall it being specifically referenced. It may not.

Just FYI.



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