cold weather fuel additive/treatment discussion

[mweiman]

Maybe this has been discussed on here somewhere before but just curious what those in the colder climates are doing for anti gel treatment. Number 1 fuel is not available here in the Midwest and it seems as though once temps get much below zero gelling issues start even with additives. We haven't had any issues for several years but have not had temps this cold either. We use a Valvtect product in the tank at work and start treating in October and double treatment rates from December to February. Fuel filters get regular maintenance also. I asked our fuel supplier basically was told there wasn't much you could do once it gets so cold. I use Stanadyne in my own vehicles and have had issues also. Filters mounted away from the engine heat(frame mounted) such as on a FASS or a Davco filter seem to give the most issues. I think a technical article in the magazine would be great also.
Any comments are welcome.
Matt

 

[mwilson]

Here Power Service is the leader, normal Power Service for every tankfull and then Power Service 911 if fuel has gelled.

We also sell a product from a Maine Company (Carter Chemical) called Aronol.

I have several employees that own house trailers or double wides. The tank for the furnace is outside in those applications and are supposed to run #1 fuel to prevent gelling.
My guys treat the furnace fuel tank with Aronol and purchase #2 fuel oil which is about .40 per gallon cheaper. No gelling even with the -25 below overnight temps that we have been getting quite often this month.
It does work.

http://www.aronol.com/arcticdetail.html

Mike.

 

[mweiman]

Howes and power service seem to be the most popular here. Funny thing is most people around here seem to think that you can put a splash of additive in when it gets bitter cold and expect it to work. The last cold snap we had every farm store, walmart, and truck dealer was sold out of fuel additive for miles and most could not get more in for a couple days.

 

[Jim W]

I only put in diesel fuel additive such as Howes when the day time ambient temperature are forecasted to be 10F or lower for a given period of time. I usually purchase my fuel for the wife’s TDI and my truck at the same station all of the time which is a Meijer station in Oswego. The fuel is already treated with anti-gel additive for winter time use; so for most of the weather I seem to be alright. I have been using this station since Nov 07 with no gelling issues at all for either vehicle.

I also carry a bottle of Power Service 9.1.1. for the truck in my boonie box. I have never used it might need to replace with a new bottle after 5 years?

Jim W.

 

[BIGNASTY]

I recently came from a trip to TN and used Shaffers winter anti Gel because it was used in other equipment we have. In SD it was -5 and all was well until on the road to MT the fuel gelled in the filters at the lift pump (air dog) Snow was caked on the filters and had turned to ice, changed the filters and made a make shift therm blanket and continued with no other problems.

Now that I have had time to think about it, I have always used Amalgamated summer and winter anti gel in the truck when Dino Diesel #1 or #2 is used.

Could have this been the difference and made the fuel gel in the filters by using the Shaffers rather than the Amalgamated?

have ran the truck using the same filters in FAR WORSE !!! temps than -5 and had no problems using the Amalgamated, one other consideration would be the fuel difference from MT to TN. When Traveling from MT to TN the fuel was MT fuel, with Shaffers didn't have to fill the truck until the 1900 mile trip to TN was made. Filled the truck used the Shaffers and then again when it was fueled for the return trip to MT again using the shaffers anti gel, the TN is the fuel that gelled. Wife's car and our Case IH tractor use the Shaffers and have been in -27 and lower temps lately and they didn't gel??

 

[Axtell3]

maybe the Tennessee fuel doesn't have as much anti gel added. I hav'nt been using any per se. I do use an anti ethanol treatment, that I started using in my 2 stroke and off road gear. Startrol, or startron, something like that. It is supposed to clean up the sugars left in the ethanol added to fuels. They have a diesel version, and I began using it a year ago. I get about a MPG improvement using it, and no issues yet.

 

[jgillott]

We use a little bit of Power Service at every fill here. No issues to date. I did notice that my fuel pressure was ~1 psi lower than normal this morning. But at -12, I'm not going to complain.

 

[BarryG]

Matt:
There was an article in the mag perhaps upwards of ten or more years ago about additives may have been in 2002 or 2003 might be worth looking up. A company called Amalgamated Inc provided much of the info. It was not necessarily about cold fuel problems but additives in general. http://www.amalgamatedinc.com/
It was good but certainly not all encompassing. After the article they got enough feedback from the readership that they formulated an additive for the TDR. It was even called TDR-S (summer) or TDR-WDA (winter). Problem was they were/are not a retail company. They primarily sold to refineries and large commercial users only. There were only two options to buy it 55 gallon drum or 5gal pail. Checks only no credit cards. It was a pain to get, you had to transfer from the larger container to a smaller user friendly one. Originally it came with no spout to pour from etc. For quite some time now the 5 gal unit has come with a spigot. Which made it easier to get it out but most types of plastic bottles wont hold the additive for long as it eats it up (I went to REI and purchased 6 aluminum liquid fuel bottles, fill them, keep them in the toolbox in the truck been using the same ones now for 10 years or so). Over the years they have slowly but surely made it more retail user friendly. They now take credit cards and I know they still sell the 55 gal drum, 5 gal pail and they have added 2.5 gal pail and I thought I read that they also do quarts of it as well but unsure on the last one. IIRC 5 gallons will treat 1500+ gallons of fuel. I have never had a fuel gel or filter plugging problem while using it even in temps below -30f ( I use the winter blend year round). I cant say I noticed any mpg improvements or at least if there were it was negligible. I know that Ram and Cummins don't recommend additives but the reality is that US diesel fuel standards are a joke and sometimes you need them not for the engine but for the fuel conditions whether it be poor fuel quality or very cold temps. I have no problem not using an additive in the summer time (though I usually do) but the winter time is another story. It might be 50 degrees in Denver then that night a couple hundred miles away I might be in Alamosa where it is -25 and the vehicle sits all night with no plug in. In any case not many folks use it as you will not find it in a retail store, it is still a phone, mail or internet order and you still have to transfer it to user friendly size bottles. However for me I can live with it as I only have to order it once a year or so and it works for me.

 

[Fireman Dave]

I run Power Service in every tank year round because I don't trust the low sulpher fuel to lubricate my VP44. Never had a fuel problem in over 145,000 miles.

 

[DonFitzwater]

I use no additives and run #1 year round. I have no fuel related issues.

 

[mickeymack#1]

Lubricity research results from tdi -

1) 2% REG SoyPower biodiesel
HFRR 221, 415 micron improvement.
50:1 ratio of baseline fuel to 100% biodiesel
66.56 oz. of 100% biodiesel per 26 gallons of diesel fuel
Price: market value

2)Opti-Lube XPD
Multi-purpose + anti-gel
cetane improver, demulsifier
HFRR 317, 319 micron improvement.
256:1 ratio
13 oz/tank
$4.35/tank

3)FPPF RV, Bus, SUV Diesel/Gas fuel treatment
Gas and Diesel
cetane improver, emulsifier
HFRR 439, 197 micron improvement
640:1 ratio
5.2 oz/tank
$2.60/tank

4)Opti-Lube Summer Blend
Multi-purpose
demulsifier
HFRR 447, 189 micron improvement
3000:1 ratio
1.11 oz/tank
$0.68/tank

5)Opti-Lube Winter Blend
Muti-purpose + anti-gel
cetane improver
HFRR 461, 175 micron improvement
512:1 ratio
6.5 oz/tank
$3.65/tank

6)Schaeffer Diesel Treat 2000
Multi-purpose + anti-gel
cetane improver, emulsifier, bio-diesel compatible
HFRR 470, 166 micron improvement
1000:1 ratio
3.32 oz/tank
$1.87/tank

7)Super Tech Outboard 2-cycle TC-W3 engine oil
Unconventional (Not ULSD compliant, may damage 2007 or newer systems)
HFRR 474, 162 micron improvement
200:1 ratio
16.64 oz/tank
$1.09/tank

8)Stanadyne Lubricity Formula
Lubricity Only
demulsifier, 5% bio-diesel compatible, alcohol free
HFRR 479, 157 micron improvement
1000:1 ratio
3.32 oz/tank
$1.00/tank

9)Amsoil Diesel Concentrate
Multi-purpose
demulsifier, bio-diesel compatible, alcohol free
HFRR 488, 148 micron improvement
640:1 ratio
5.2 oz/tank
$2.16/tank

10)Power Service Diesel Kleen + Cetane Boost
Multi-purpose
Cetane improver, bio-diesel compatible, alcohol free
HFRR 575, 61 micron improvement
400:1 ratio
8.32 oz/tank
$1.58/tank

11)Howe’s Meaner Power Kleaner
Multi-purpose
Alcohol free
HFRR 586, 50 micron improvement
1000:1 ratio
3.32 oz/tank
$1.36/tank

12)Stanadyne Performance Formula
Multi-purpose + anti-gel
cetane improver, demulsifier, 5% bio-diesel compatible, alcohol free
HFRR 603, 33 micron improvement
480:1 ratio
6.9 oz/tank
$4.35/tank

13)Used Motor Oil, Shell Rotella T 15w40, 5,000 miles used.
Unconventional (Not ULSD compliant, may damage systems)
HFRR 634, 2 micron improvement
200:1 ratio
16.64 oz/tank
price: market value

14)Lucas Upper Cylinder Lubricant
Gas or diesel
HFRR 641, 5 microns worse than baseline (statistically insignificant change)
427:1 ratio
7.8 oz/tank
$2.65/tank

15)B1000 Diesel Fuel Conditioner by Milligan Biotech
Multi-purpose, canola oil based additive
HFRR 644, 8 microns worse than baseline (statistically insignificant change)
1000:1 ratio
3.32 oz/tank
$2.67/tank

16)FPPF Lubricity Plus Fuel Power
Multi-purpose + anti-gel
Emulsifier, alcohol free
HFRR 675, 39 microns worse than baseline fuel
1000:1 ratio
3.32 oz/tank
$1.12/tank

17)Marvel Mystery Oil
Gas, oil and Diesel fuel additive (NOT ULSD compliant, may damage 2007 and newer systems)
HFRR 678, 42 microns worse than baseline fuel.
320:1 ratio
10.4 oz/tank
$3.22/tank

18)ValvTect Diesel Guard Heavy Duty/Marine Diesel Fuel Additive
Multi-purpose
Cetane improver, emulsifier, alcohol free
HFRR 696, 60 microns worse than baseline fuel
1000:1 ratio
3.32 oz/tank
$2.38/tank

19)Primrose Power Blend 2003
Multi-purpose
Cetane boost, bio-diesel compatible, emulsifier
HFRR 711, 75 microns worse than baseline
1066:1 ratio
3.12 oz/tank
$1.39/tank

CONCLUSIONS:

Products 1 through 4 were able to improve the unadditized fuel to an HFRR score of 460 or better. This meets the most strict requirements requested by the Engine Manufacturers Association.
Products 1 through 9 were able to improve the unadditized fuel to an HFRR score of 520 or better, meeting the U.S. diesel fuel requirements for maximum wear scar in a commercially available diesel fuel.
Products 16 through 19 were found to cause the fuel/additive blend to perform worse than the baseline fuel. The cause for this is speculative. This is not unprecedented in HFRR testing and can be caused by alcohol or other components in the additives. Further investigation into the possibilities behind these poor results will investigated.
Any additive testing within +/- 20 microns of the baseline fuel could be considered to have no significant change. The repeatability of this test allows for a +/- 20 micron variability to be considered insignificant.

 

[DaveHess]

I know I am late to this party but thought I would throw my 2 cents in since I operate in North Dakota. I have used Stanadyne Performance Formula in every tank fill since I bought this pickup 11 years ago. I drive it mostly in the summer and then park it inside over the winter months only bringing it out if needed. Quite often over the years the last fill-up for the calendar year will be with #2 diesel and I have not gelled up in 10 winters here. That is the only proof I have that Stanadyne PF works as advertised. I have seen guys with D-Maxes not start with Howes in them at -15 after sitting here for 8 hours at work. I have no idea if they added it correctly. Mine will fire every time. May not like it, but it does.

 

[car_man]

Here in Alberta, I use Bardahl's Fuel Conditioner with antigel. It's supposed to be effective in temps up to -57 degrees C. I've used it for 4 years now with no problems at all.

 

[BDaugherty]

At what point is the temp beyond what a treatment can do and fuel heating is required? Either by an element in the filter housing or by engine heat from return fuel?

 

[S.Morris]

treatment will lower the cloud point and cold filter plug point but will not ultimately lower the Gell plug point. Summer fuel Gell plug point is -20C for summer fuel and -40C for winter fuel in Ontario.

If you can get fuel moving to start, the return fuel to tank (CR) will generally keep the tank temp warm enough even in severe cold if you are using treatment.