Fuel additive

[DonR]

Does anyone add a fuel additive to their tank every so often? I usually run a bottle through my gas vehicles every few tanks but I've put right at 25k mikes on my new truck in the last year and have added nothing because I'm not sure if that would effect the regens.

Don

 

[SnoKing]

Here is what your owners manual says.

FUEL REQUIREMENTS
Use good quality diesel fuel from a reputable supplier in
your vehicle. Federal law requires that you must fuel this
vehicle with Ultra Low Sulfur Highway Diesel fuel (15
ppm Sulfur maximum) and prohibits the use of Low
Sulfur Highway Diesel fuel (500 ppm Sulfur maximum)
to avoid damage to the emissions control system.
For most year-round service, No. 2 diesel fuel meeting
ASTM (formerly known as the American Society for
Testing and Materials) specification D-975 Grade S15 will
provide good performance. If the vehicle is exposed to
extreme cold (below 20°F or -7°C), or is required to
operate at colder-than-normal conditions for prolonged
periods, use climatized No. 2 diesel fuel or dilute the No.
2 diesel fuel with 50% No. 1 diesel fuel. This will provide
better protection from fuel gelling or wax-plugging of the
fuel filters.
WARNING!
Do not use alcohol or gasoline as a fuel blending
agent. They can be unstable under certain conditions
and hazardous or explosive when mixed with diesel
fuel.
Diesel fuel is seldom completely free of water. To prevent
fuel system trouble, drain the accumulated water from
the fuel/water separator using the fuel/water separator
drain provided on the fuel filter housing. If you buy good
quality fuel and follow the cold weather advice above,
fuel conditioners should not be required in your vehicle.
If available in your area, a high cetane “premium” diesel
fuel may offer improved cold-starting and warm-up
performance.

84
STARTING AND OPERATING 83

Fuel Specifications
This diesel engine has been developed to take advantage
of the high energy content and generally lower cost No.
2 Ultra Low Sulfur diesel fuel or No. 2 Ultra Low Sulfur
climatized diesel fuels.


NOTE:
• If you accidentally fill the fuel tank with gasoline on
your diesel vehicle, do not start the engine. Damage to
the engine and fuel system could occur. Please call
your authorized dealer for service.
• A maximum blend of 5% biodiesel meeting ASTM
specification D-975 may be used with your diesel
engine without any adjustments to regular service
schedules.
• Commercially available fuel additives are not necessary
for the proper operation of your diesel engine.
• No. 1 Ultra Low Sulfur diesel fuel should only be used
where extended arctic conditions (-10°F or -23°C) exist.

 

[DonR]

Thanks Snoking

 

[lawdog1]

I had injector problems covered on my 2012 as a pre-lemon law final repair and dealer and chrysler rep chatised me for having not used an injector cleaner. I thought their whole stance on the issue and repair bs (I used bad fuel many months prior and all my months of problem related back to an unverified tank of bad fuel and the repair was done as a "courtesy") but they fixed it and advised use of a injector cleaner even after I directly questioned them about it. I now use Power Service Diesel Clean (silver bottle) every 5-10K miles. I understand this may be controversial but it makes me feel better given prior issues and advice.

 

[SnoKing]

I had injector problems covered on my 2012 as a pre-lemon law final repair and dealer and chrysler rep chatised me for having not used an injector cleaner. I thought their whole stance on the issue and repair bs (I used bad fuel many months prior and all my months of problem related back to an unverified tank of bad fuel and the repair was done as a "courtesy") but they fixed it and advised use of a injector cleaner even after I directly questioned them about it. I now use Power Service Diesel Clean (silver bottle) every 5-10K miles. I understand this may be controversial but it makes me feel better given prior issues and advice.

One dealer, one opinion! SNOKING

 

[lawdog1]

No, it was more than just a dealer, it was the Chrysler regional rep. That said, I understand it is not the norm and others may not have had a problem and have a different opinion with regards to their truck. I guess we can discuss it when I have 200K miles and see how it is working out.

 

[Newsa]

Many will recommend using additives to lubricate. I have used several. And use them on about every other tank.

The only lubrication (and cooling) your fuel pump gets and the only lubrication of your injectors comes from the fuel flowing through it. Ultra Low Sulfur Diesel doesn't lubricate very well. Some will argue that the fuel pump and injectors on these new trucks are designed to not need lubrication. But I don't buy that. These fuel systems are under such high pressure, the parts need lubricated and cleaned (IMHO).

As for cleaning, the filters do a good job of removing foreign particles, but it is possible for gum or deposits (slowly developing precipitations coming from the oxidation of fuel or pressurization of fuel) stick to things and could build up. As for cleaning, additives probably don't do a great job of cleaning gums and deposits unless you regularly use these additives. I have used opti lube and stanadyne for lubrication. I like opti lube slightly better. I use power service bio kleen annually to make sure there's no critters lurking in my fuel.

If it was available in my area, I would use a tank of B20 before each filter change even though Ram doesn't recommend switching back and forth between biodiesel and petro diesel. The solvent characteristics of the B20 will/would help clean out any gums or fuel deposits. I would just be careful with that because starving my fuel pump of fuel would overheat it pretty quick. That could happen if the fuel filter clogs from the gums/deposits collecting in the filter.

You will see in the owners manual that Ram recommends using a high cetane fuel if available in your area. The additives clean (a bit), lubricate (alot), and increase the cetane number improving your combustion. I saw a video where a guy said he virtually eliminated soot from his engine by using Amsoil's additive. But I know that was just hype. You probably won't notice reduced soot in your engine, but it could be possible that if your engine runs more efficiently, soot production might reduce slightly. But this last statement is debatable.

 

[jhenderson]

It's easy to paste excerpts from the owners manual that state to use clean fuel from a reputable dealer and no additives are needed. Travel away from home and tell me who is reputable and who isn't. You can't even find 93 octane gas in some parts of the country never mind good clean fuel in an unknown area. And don't even start on national companies or truck stops. Travel northern New England . You won't find either. I carry a Mr Filter in my toolbox if I have doubts. It's a slow fill but it works. Hold out for a known quality and you'll be on foot. If it makes you feel better use an additive. Particularly under 25 degrees.

 

[bigceltic]

I add Optilube XPD every tank.

 

[Newsa]

I add Optilube XPD every tank.

Yes, Optilube XPD is the best in my opinion unless you live in an area that needs additional antigel in winter.