Diesel Additives

[KNorthcutt]

Does anyone put additives in with there fuel. I talked to a hotshot driver yesterday who puts an additive into his diesel and is getting 2 miles per gallon more. He was not able to remember the brand name. He went further and said that diesel suppliers are reducing the amount of oil in diesel to improve the emissions side of the house. Most truck stops carry these additives. Any suggestions on which brand may be best.

 

[CougFan]

The guy who said hes getting 2 mpg better with an aditive most likely is not telling the truth. It does seem to be good for your fuel system to use an adititive though. I use a product called power service occasionally just for good measure but I dont use it all the time. Mostly in the winter. Helps keep fuel from gelling. Do a search and you will find lots of info on this topic.

 

[klenger]

I use Power Service in every tank. I suspect that it increases fuel milage some just because I added 8 oz more fuel to burn in the form of the treatment. It's about $11 / gallon at WalMart.

 

[Vaughn MacKenzie]

Power Service is better than nothing but not the best to use. Stanadyne, Howes and Lucas are better choices but my favorite is amalgamated www.amalgamatedinc.com



I see very little MPG improvement but I do notice more power and the main benefits is keeping your injectors a lot cleaner and it lubes the injection pump and fuel system.



Vaughn

 

[rbattelle]

Originally posted by KNorthcutt

Does anyone put additives in with there fuel. I talked to a hotshot driver yesterday who puts an additive into his diesel and is getting 2 miles per gallon more. He was not able to remember the brand name.

If I were putting a fuel additive in at every tankful and getting 2mpg improvement, I think I'd know what brand I was using.

 

[Ron Civita]

Vaughn:



Which one of the amalgamated products do you use?



Thanks, Ron

 

[Tony T.]

Additives

If fuel additives are so good then why does'nt Cummins an Dodge recommend using them. Looks like they would want every advantage for themselves to keep cost down on warranty replacement parts.

 

[y-knot]

I have been using the Amsoil diesel contitioner and C-tane booster for the last 5 years. I have had no plroblems, my EPA checks have always been extremely good, and I think it helps the mileage some, but I would not base the mileage alone for it's use. You will mostlikely find a wide assortment of responses about this subject, some love'm and some it not most don't think they are of any value. I could care less what others think, it works for me and so far it's been alomost 8 years of trouble free service.

 

[sbentz]

Unsolicited success stories for Lucas

Yes, Lucas is our sponsor, but I must say I was sold on their product after using the transmission additive to seal up a front pump oring years ago.



At the Muncie event and a recent drag race, many people came up and told me how the Lucas fuel additive gave them 2-3 MPG better economy, and reduced the white smoke on startup. Got rid of some of the "Smell" as well.



Cummins does not endorse or condemn anyone's fuel additive, even the Valvoline, Fleetguard, or any other associated brands. Their position is run good oil and good fuel and all should be OK. I can tell you after 27 years of Cummins repair business, that all fuel is not created equal. We have many vehicles come in in the winter for hard start and miss, and after running them on know good feul, all the symptoms go away. Hook back up to their tank, and the symptoms re-appear. Add some cetane booster or other fuel improver, and all is good again.



My suggestion, is use them if you need to , and play around a bit with controlled tests, and you will likely find that you will get better performance and MPG with some of them.

 

[redram]

Originally posted by KNorthcutt

Does anyone put additives in with there fuel. I talked to a hotshot driver yesterday who puts an additive into his diesel and is getting 2 miles per gallon more. He was not able to remember the brand name. He went further and said that diesel suppliers are reducing the amount of oil in diesel to improve the emissions side of the house. Most truck stops carry these additives. Any suggestions on which brand may be best.

The guy supposedly has a product that gets him 2 mpg and DOESN"T REMEMBER the BRAND NAME! Now there's a credible referral!



Stanadyne, P/S, Racor,



Diesel fuel additives are designed to do four things generally.

Biocide to control algae

Cetane improver (octane for diesels)

Anti-gel for low pour point.

Lubricity additive for pump / injector wear protection and cleaner



You usually get only get two or sometimes three of these.

Check your treat rates.



I've tried many many different brands and have yet to be able to document any fuel savings.

I currently use a synthetic TCW-III oil which only provides the lubricity - my P7100 and injectors arenoticeably quieter than without.



Cheers,

 

[C Schomer]

I've used a lot of Stanadyne PF and LE DCI plus - for the lubricity. Best I can tell is 1/2mpg better - MAYBE. I've settled on the LE because it's as economical as the others, more concentrated and the long-neck bottles are great! Just like my Bud! Craig

 

[klenger]

I would expect to see at least a 0. 2% increase in calulated economy with fuel treatment becasue you are adding 8 oz of fuel (in the form of treatment) to a 35 gallons (4480 oz) tank that was not accounted for at the pump.

 

[Gary - K7GLD]

"If fuel additives are so good then why does'nt Cummins an Dodge recommend using them. Looks like they would want every advantage for themselves to keep cost down on warranty replacement parts. "



UMMMMm - well, Cummins DOES market their own fuel additive, regardless of what they seemingly "recommend" - could be that they sorta prefer that you buy THEIR company brand, instead of the competitions!



As far to varying claims by users as to "their" brand being superior, welllllll... . Sorta depends on what your purpose is for using it in the first place - I use Power Service Diesel Kleen for 3 reasons,



1. It is formulated specifically to improve diesel fuel lubricity, according to an Email from them to me when I asked them what the difference was between their DK and the Fuel Supplement they also sell - the Fuel Supplemet is more to address cold climate fuel gelling.



2. I read a lab test comparing the top diesel fuel additives, and there saw documentation showing PS came in a VERY close second in added fuel lubricity to the top-rated brand - no, I don't remember what the top one was, because...



3. PS is easily and cheaply available right at my local Walmart - so little need to run around and probably pay MORE for very little improvement.



One added comment - for those using additives specifically for the added lubricity - but only in "rare occasions" - why bother? You never know WHAT batch of fuel is most lacking in lubricity, and may harm your injection pump - and only using additive PART of the time is like a guy with a bad heart only "occasionally" taking his heart medicine - might as well play Russian Roulette for all the good it's likely to do ya!

 

[Ken F]

Does anybody ever use Marvels Mystery Oil as a lubricity additive?

 

[jersey diesel]

Marvels Mystery Oil? still around?

 

[curatchko]

I used Marvel in my 2nd gen truck for a while and came to the conclusion that I was dumping money down the tank for nothing... . I also started having fuel gauge problems that were 'possibly' from using it... . can't verify it, but even some other membes here began to notice things.

 

[sbentz]

Old Wife's Tale!

For those that may not have heard, there are mony "old truckers" that claim a quart of ATF in the fuel filter (or dump it in the tank) every time you change it is good for the fuel system, as it has high detergent qualities, and lubricates the system.



DON'T do it.



The viscosity of ATF will slug a pump, and cause high hydraulic loads. We could get away with this years ago, with our old PT systems, but not now...



ATF and Marvel Mystery oil... Bringing back memories...

 

[rbattelle]

Speaking of ATF, an old "trick" for cleaning out carbon deposits from a gas engine is to pour some ATF down the carbuerator while the engine is running. I've never tried it, but I've heard it makes the internals squeaky clean. Better than motor flush, if you can get past the Chernobyl smoke the engine will pump out.

 

[mlove]

Has anyone ever heard of an additive called Hammerdown? I work on Ship thats powered by Paxman high performance diesels and our engineers put an additive called hammerdown in the fuel. They swear by it. I wonder if it would work in my cummins?

 

[Gary - K7GLD]

I wonder if it would work in my cummins?



Maybe for a little while...