Fuel Additive

[JCostello]

Hope this isn't a rehash of an old post from someone... . but I am a newbie and have a question. I fill up with ULSD, however; I see quite a few posts where folks are using additives to the fuel tank, either a mopar or something from Geno's. I thought the book that came with the truck said no additives and some folks are saying Cummins doesn't suggest additives.

What is the right answer since I don't want to void a warranty or cause any problems with the dealer. We love the truck but it is a loud clacker which is fine with me, but annoys the wife. But since I've been annoying her for over 25 years that really doesn't bother me

Thanks for any advice

 

[JFaughn]

With a new truck & warranty , you have to work it like a relationship / roommate /girl friend / wife .
When it over you can do it your way , or deal with what ever .
With all the after market products / studies out there its tough , over time with the change in systems different things work , or not with newer / old systems , as an example , bio-diesel has issues with the common rail fuel systems , the VP just plain is weak .
That said , if you can get a source for bio diesel , a 2 - 5% , should be ok , even by Cummins .
Heres a test that was posted recently .

Lubricity Additive Study Results - Diesel Place

 

[DeezelDood]

With a new truck & warranty , you have to work it like a relationship / roommate /girl friend / wife .

When it over you can do it your way , or deal with what ever .

With all the after market products / studies out there its tough , over time with the change in systems different things work , or not with newer / old systems , as an example , bio-diesel has issues with the common rail fuel systems , the VP just plain is weak .

That said , if you can get a source for bio diesel , a 2 - 5% , should be ok , even by Cummins .

Heres a test that was posted recently .



Lubricity Additive Study Results - Diesel Place

A Duramax guy posted it, but all oil burners are pretty cool in my opinion. That lubricity additive turned me on to bio. Web search on bio sites (ie biodiesel.org) closed the deal. Be sure to look for ASTM-compliant product (no home brews). It's nice to reduce my petro footprint just a bit. I splash blend B99 to 4 or 5% (1 gallon per fill-up) and stack it with an additive for anti-gel and water demulsification (Stanadyne, and switching to Power Service). Both of these additives are bio-compatible. Note: Consensus is to never use an additive that emulsifies water.

 

[JCostello]

Gentleman,

Thanks for the info, I think I'll leave the additives out until the 36K are over.

 

[DeezelDood]

The engine is covered by Cummins up to 100,000 miles. Attached press release from Cummins website. Read the lubricity additive study and see if it changes your mind. Note: To go to B20 extra water removal/filtration equipment is recommended.

 

[DeezelDood]

The engine is covered by Cummins up to 100,000 miles. Attached press release from Cummins website. Read the lubricity additive study and see if it changes your mind. Note: To go to B20 extra water removal/filtration equipment is recommended.

Oops, I grabbed the wrong file. Here's the Cummins B5 press releases for the 5. 9-610 and the 6. 7.

 

[JCostello]

Wow, good information, didn't know you could run it. And the extra filtration I guess would not void the warranty but I'll have to check and make sure. Thanks for the info.

 

[tgordon]

JC, welcome to the club. Just pull up next to something older like a first or second gen and the wife will then talk about how quiet yousr is:-laf



IMHO I wouldn't worry as much about ludricity in the CRD as the older VP, VE, and P series pumps as there are fewer moving parts. If you are into this truck for the long haul with the truck it might be worth it then.



Check out biodiesel.org web site for retailers they list as most of them are going to have a reputable supplier.

Biodiesel.org - Retail Fueling Sites



With being from FL you will not have to worry as much about it gelling, where I was getting it in MI they would quit selling the B99 about sept as it would likally gel up their pump and customers would have problems, but they would sell B20 all year. I only once had problems with it, -14 the truck would not go over 35-40 till the engine got warm enough to thaw out the filter, then no problem at all:-laf The retailer/distributer does add somethin gto their fuel.



Troy

 

[damar]

I think the Lubricity Additive Study is a little bit slanted. Opti-Lube had 3 entries, FPPS & Stanadyne 3 aht the rest only 1. For Howes the tested the Meaner Power Cleaner which is a good injector cleaner. Why didn't they test Howes Diesel Treat which is basically a lube fuel treatment and anti gel. My son has had 2 Freightliner OTR tractors and always runs Howes Diesel Treat. about every 3 months he would run Meaner Power Treat to do the injector cleaning. I full my truck when 1/2 empty, use 3 oz Howes Diesel Treat and 3 oz of 30 weight non-detergent motor oil. You can get it at Auto Zone. Over 161,000 miles and never had a fuel pump or injector pump problem. Be careful of so called studies, a lot are GIGO. (Garbage in & garbage out. It's your choice as were are at still a so called free country, at least until the next election.

 

[10.5 Dave]

You dont need any additives in your climate for your Cummins to last hundreds of thousands of miles. I've never used them and dont see the point fuel is expensive enough without wasting more money on stuff I dont need.

 

[tgordon]

Dave, I do not know what you are running for a truck, but with the lower specs the petroleum companies fallow compared to the injection companies, I. E. Stanadyne, Bosch, I have seen enough failures where I was working before that I am going to opt for adding at least something. I would like to be blending some bio, but none around since I moved, but vegetable oil off the store shelf is getting mighty close in price to fuel:-laf

 

[MN Cummins Lvr]

We love the truck but it is a loud clacker which is fine with me, but annoys the wife. But since I've been annoying her for over 25 years that really doesn't bother me

I pretty much agree with the others. I used to run Power Service only in the winter but now run it year round in both of my trucks because I am concerened about lubricity issues with the ULSD (especially in my 92 with the VE pump) If you ever get to MN, please take your wife for a ride in my 92... . she will then REALLY appreciate the quietness of your 07 :-laf:-laf Although my 92 has the "muffler delete" package:-laf



I envy you living in Tampa. My wife and I bought a timeshare though on Longboat Key in Jan.



Paul

 

[Crash&Burn]

To bad since they has a baseline fuel, they didn't test fuels from different stations just to see if they were really adding any lube additives...

 

[JFaughn]

Its called self def fence , we can not count on anybody but ourselfs to keep our trucks running , with a world that is as greedy/corrupt , a few pennies per gal , compared to the cost of trucks & repair .

 

[JCostello]

MN, good deal, Longboat Key is a great place from the cold winters of MN. Good thread discussion, appreciate all the comments. Looks like a variety of answers and concerns, all of which are food for thought. It still amazes me that if there are lubriticity issues that "someone" in the Dodge or Cummins field won't come right out and say adding a fuel additive "won't" void the warranty. There was a little yellow card (in fact a few), that came with the truck and it states that the addition of fuel additives is "highly" not recommended. Another one states that you can only use ULSD.

Being a newbie with a diesel I am concerned about the additive since it makes sense from all I've read. But being a "Maintenance" freak on all my vehicles which always go back to the dealer for "any" repairs or fluid changes, I'm hesitant to add anything since if they asked me, being a good Catholic I'd have to say yes I did.

However, the point still stands that this discussion is very good and I think I'm going to head over to the local "Cummins" garage here in Tampa and ask the experts and see what they say about it.

Thanks again, good comments and I appreciate all the responses.

 

[DeezelDood]

I pretty much agree with the others. I used to run Power Service only in the winter but now run it year round in both of my trucks because I am concerened about lubricity issues with the ULSD (especially in my 92 with the VE pump) If you ever get to MN, please take your wife for a ride in my 92... . she will then REALLY appreciate the quietness of your 07 :-laf:-laf Although my 92 has the "muffler delete" package:-laf



I envy you living in Tampa. My wife and I bought a timeshare though on Longboat Key in Jan.



Paul

Is it true that B2 is is standard for retail sale in MN? If so, lucky you.

 

[JFaughn]

DeezelDood , what you did not believe me the first time ?