fuel additive difference question, Howes vs Power Service

[pwr2tow]

From what I have read my understanding is that power services fuel additive disperses water in the fuel while Howes additive incapsulates water and passes it along with the fuel. My question is if water is dispersed then it will settle at the bottom of the fuel tank and after a while the accumulations could get so great that you take the chance on growing micro-organizm's, or plugging fuel filters more often. If water is incapsulated and passed through the fuel system then you don't run the risk of fouled fuel. I know running large amounts of water through the fuel system is not good but the only amount that could be passed through would be in the amount of additive that was added and it would be incapsulated to protect things??? The reason I ask is I use to use Power services but was worried about too much water in the tank, now I use Howe's and with winter coming on i want to be prepared.



Is the above information correct or have I missed something?

Thanks, Ron

 

[illflem]

I used Stanadine(sp) for years till I took a long trip and compared mileage with three tanks of several different additives each separated by a untreated tank. All fuel was Flying J. The only increase in mpgs was with Howe's. Now it's all I will use, another plus is that it readily available. Works for me.

 

[Blackcloud]

Ron-I have used Power Service in all 4 of the different Ram/Cummins trucks that I have owned(totaling over 350,000 miles)and have never had any problem with water. I used P. S. because it is readily available here.

 

[Cooker]

There are three different flavors of PS that I know of. Grey, Red, and White bottles. I am not familiar with PS products, but it seems like one might be more geared toward winter use than the others. Just make sure you are using the one with "winter" additives in it an you should be fine.



FWIW - Howes also makes different additives. The Anti-Gel is primarily their winter additive. I don't know about the specifics of their Meaner Power Cleaner.



-Ryan

 

[KB0OU]

Heat

The best additive when it gets really cold is HEAT.

If ya go to Alaska in the middle of the winter better have some heat.

 

[BigDaddy]

Very interesting synopsis.

I use HOWES Lubricator®; Diesel Treat Anti-Gel (If it gels they will pay the tow) in the Fall/Winter, and HOWES Meaner Power Kleaner® in the Spring/Summer. Both, “Removes Water Harmlessly”.



ronsram1999,

I agree with your theory that, “If water is incapsulated and passed through the fuel system then you don't run the risk of fouled fuel… the only amount that could be passed through would be in the amount of additive that was added and it would be incapsulated to protect things”.



However, until this post and further reading at HOWES site, I was under the assumption that once the “treated fuel” entered the fuel filter/water separator the water would remain there



I think this question warrant’s an e-mail to HOWES -- email address removed --. Send it, to the attention of Mr. Sikorsky. HOWES top engineer. IMO. Tell him Joe from Sikorsky Aircraft sent you No relation BTW.

 

[pwr2tow]

Joe, I don't have the time to e-mail right now, I'am going away for the weekend.

I don't think the water would stay in the fuel filter because my theory is when the water is encapsulated it is the same weight as fuel, there by it will not seperate out and stay at the bottom of the filter.

That would be a good question for Howe's though.

Thanks for the reply's,

Ron

 

[JohnE]

think about it

If water ever settled to the bottom of your tank, the fuel pickup would collect it and send it toward the injection system. AFAIK, a cellulose filter does not stop water. Alcohol based additives (Heat) bind with water and it passes through the engine. (If your 80 proof whisky is only 40% alcohol, the other 60% is mostly water. ) Non-alcohol additives should use a similar chemical reaction to bind with (disperse) water and take it away.



I've tried a few brands of additives. My favorite is the Cummins, but it is too plain expensive for regular use. The Power Service is great, but is not a peer with the Cummins IMHO. I just bought a jug of Howes Meaner Power Cleaner to try. I use Howes Diesel Treat in winter with great success. I mention these brands as all are easily found in my area.



My brother currently uses Penray additives and loves the stuff. I cannot find the stuff here to give it a try.



My final opinion, It it works for you, use it!



-John

 

[LSMITH]

I have used the power services for the last 2 years with no problems at all. I have not seen any mileage gains with any additive.



As far as I know the Cummins brand treatments are made by Penray, at least the ones that I have seen at the local Cummins are.

 

[BushWakr - RIP]

I've had the good fortune to get my Howes free so I used it for quite some time. My younger brother has a 92CTD and he has always used the Stanadyne PF. He convinced me to try it and I found a marked difference with the Stanadyne. I saw a huge difference in smoke reduction with the Stanadyne. Absolutely no way to mistake the improvement. Also I found the CTD ran smoother and seemed to have a touch more 'pep'. I was using the Howes for its lubricant properties originally.

If the water in fuel is 'encapsulated' it should be carried to the fuel/water seperator, and there, get trapped. I drain the sep. with each fill-up, and change it every 10,000 miles.

In winter (since its free) I compliment the Stanadyne PF with a hit of Howes for 'cold start/weather' needs.

So far I've never had a starting or water problem with ANY of the fuel I've put in the tank.

Well, almost... . once, in the interior of the province on a late season hunting trip the ole' beast would kick and fire but just would not keep running. I had the indignity

of needing a PSD to jump-start me. Course the daytime high was only -30*F and in the bush there are no

plug-ins handy for the block heater either.

If I had only ONE choice, it would be the Stanadyne PF.



Regards, Bob

 

[Cooker]

Bob,



What Howes treatment were you using?

 

[BushWakr - RIP]

I started with the original Howes, (no special designation to it) and when the new Meaner Power Cleaner came in I used that. Now I just "top up" with a bit of the same in the cold months, (Nov. - Feb. )

I did not find the same effects, (using only the Howes) as I did with the Stanandyne only, to be sure.

I've also never seen the "official" analysis of both in order to compare them. I have no idea if Howes uses, or claims to have cetane improvers in it.



Bob

 

[Jeff H]

I use PS. I do gain in mileage when I use it. I only use the stuff maybe once a month.

 

[HC]

At the Stanadyne website, they have a chart showing a test performed by Southwest Research in 1996, which shows that Stanadyne lowered the pour point and raised the cetane more than "Howes Diesel Treat". This same test also showed that while Stanadyne improved lubricity, Howes had almost no impact.

http://www.stanadyne.com/dsg/dsg_dfa.asp



That said, I don't know if this is the same Howes formulation now on the shelf or not. At least the name has changed, and Howes' website makes some claims of its own that are impressive:

1) Test Results Include A "Superior" Rating By Cummins L-10 Test Specifications

2) 4. 8% Improvement in Fuel Economy

3) 35% Increased Lubricity

4) Guaranteed to save double the product cost or your money back! (USA only)



I'm sure BOTH websites are telling the absolute truth.

 

[Cooker]

BushWakr Thanks.



I am suprised the MPC didn't work as well for you as the Stanadyne.



I have tried all of the more popular additives at least once. Because of my irratic driving patterns (towing/empty, in town/highway) I was not able to document MPG's gains with any of them, but I can say that with all of the additives I have used I seem to get better mileage. My worst mileage numbers have been when there was no additives in then tank. I have documented every tank of fuel since I bought the truck 23,000 miles ago.



Just my $. 02

-Ryan

 

[QRTRHRS]

Best place to buy Stanadyne?

I think this has been mentioned in past posts. Guess it is about time to try it.



I only ever used PS and the Lubrication Engineers. My gut feeling is that the engine runs smoother but I never saw positive mileage results either.

 

[EOliver]

I use the Power Service, mostly because it is readily available. I have noticed that when I use it my truck seems to idle smoother and get about 1 mpg better economy across the board.



Eric O.