Fuel additive?

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I've never used a fuel additive. From what I've read here it seems like I should. What is a good brand or type? Are there any I should avoid? Thank for the advice.

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Tom W in Austin Tx 98 24v 2500 Quadcab, auto, 3. 54, lsd, Rhino, white/driftwood, Banks Stinger Plus, Manix grill, nerf bars , DTT's TC, valvebody, cooler, Mag-hytec pan, Pac brake.

 

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There are lots to choose from.

You want an additive that is ashless and does not contain alchohol. Ash will do a number on your catalytic converter (if you got one) and alchohol is not good for your pumps.

You want one that will help disipate water, kill microbes, increase lubericity, increase cetane and keep the fuel system and injectors clean. Most of them will also help gelling in cold weather.

Redline Diesel Catalyst is a good one. 2 oz. per 10 gallons of fuel does good job.

PowerService makes several different additives. The general all purpose 'white bottle' keeps everything clean and lubed and boosts cetane a bit. Their 'gray bottle' is more of a cleaner if you think you got dirty hardware. 3 oz. per 10 gallons work well. The 'blue bottle' is their cold weather package.

Amsoil makes diesel conditioner and separate cetane boost products.

Several of the VW diesel guys swear by Chevron Dieselmotive, Standyne, and TFP (total fuel... uh. . power(?))

Pep Boys sells Redline, your friendly neighborhood Amsoil dealer can help you with the Amsoil stuff. Most truck stops carry PowerService and other additives.

You can go to www.tdiclub.com and do a search on 'fuel additives'. They have tons of stuff on the subject.

 

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If you live in a cold climate, you should use an aditive in winter to avoid jelling, disapate water and keep fuel filter/water trap from freezing. Most adatives are OK, but I've found Power Service to work best for me. I even get an increase in fuel milage.
Also, good aditives like power Service will help lubricate the fuel pump and help[ keep injectors clean.

 

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I am very impressed with the Lubrication Engineers product. Really quiets the engine when it's cold so it doesn't feel like its rattling itself to death. Very smooth when warm. I'm running . 8 oz per 10 gallons in summer and would go 1 oz per 10 gallons in winter. Stanadyne didn't seem to work nearly as well imo.

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2001 HO 6 speed Regular Cab SLT 4x4 3. 54 anti spin 2500. Used for the daily grind and sneaking away to some secret Baja beaches toting a cabover

 

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Thanks for all the replies. I'll talk to my L. E. distributor, I'm going to pick up some L. E. oil for my differential when I install my Mag-hytech cover. Cover should arrive today.

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Tom W in Austin Tx 98 24v 2500 Quadcab, auto, 3. 54, lsd, Rhino, white/driftwood, Banks Stinger Plus, Manix grill, nerf bars , DTT's TC, valvebody, cooler, Mag-hytec pan, Pac brake.

 

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Stanadyne Performance Formula is a good product and you can get it by the case lot at Diesel Injection Service, Lubbock, TX. I've got over 150,000 miles using it and when I changed out the injectors the originals were still good. No problems with the pump either.

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98. 5 24v 3500 2wd 3. 54 lsd pyro & boost in A pillar DD1's E-brake by Jacob U. S. Gear over/direct O'Reilly Air Horns 105 gal aux tank 35' Prowler 5th wheel with three slides Firestone air helper springs

 

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Stanadyne Performance Formula is what i use in all my diesel enegine . I even use it in my John Dear tractor, we swear by it and recamend it to all out customers... We use it year round and have not had a problem with jell ups yet( knock on wood)



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1996 3500 4x4 extended cab daul wheel cummins 12 valve, 1999 3500 4x4 quard door extended cummins 24 valve both 5 speed and plow trucks even thow the 1999 is my baby and the 1996 is my beater.

 

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Originally posted by Dane:
I am very impressed with the Lubrication Engineers product... I'm running . 8 oz per 10 gallons in summer and would go 1 oz per 10 gallons in winter.

Dane, how did you settle on that mix ratio? I just started using the LE DCI+ with my last tank, but the 16 oz. bottle says "treats up to 125 gallons", which figures out closer to 1. 3 oz per 10 gallons. Did you just experiment until you found what worked by sound or mpg or other criteria, or did someone in the know recommend the lighter mix?

P. S. - Trip computer suggests a "slight" increase in mpg, but until I manually calculate several tanks in a row I won't publish any numbers.

 

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I've been using Howes. They say if it gells, they'll pay the tow.
I honestly think that no additive will get you more MPG's,(at least I havent found any) but this DOES make the exhaust smell different. #ad

 

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HC - I'm trying to find the point where the additive works without adding too much. I also am lousy at dividing 125gallons by 16oz in my head. Senility is sneaky #ad
I do know in my climate 1 oz per 10 gallons works very well.

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2001 HO 6 speed Regular Cab SLT 4x4 3. 54 anti spin 2500. Used for the daily grind and sneaking away to some secret Baja beaches toting a cabover

 

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Has anybody tried the Amsoil diesel fuel additive? I’ve been using it in my 94 for about a year and I’ve never had any problems, but don’t really know if its helping any.

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2001 Driftwood 3500 Quad Cab 4x4, Long Bed, 5. 9L HO Cummins Diesel (ETH), 6-Speed HD Manual (DEE) Loven the shift thing (Arrrrrh), 3:54, SLT+, 3. 54 Anti-Spin Axle, Camper Special Group, Trailer Tow Group, 18,000 LB 5th Wheel Hitch, Leather, Sliding Rear Window, BDs E-Brake, Rhino Liner (gray), Velvet ride shackles, cup smoothy, Power Edge box w/elbo, DD Stage III injectors, SPA Gauges, Jardine Exhaust, 16cm turbo housing. Love the smell of diesel in the morning.

 

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I have been using Howes & Cummins additive. I use 4oz. of Howes "meaner cleaner" and 4oz. of the Howes anti-gel and 4oz. of the cummins brand. I use this mix in the summer. In the winter I increase the anti-gel and the cummins by 2oz. each. The cummins quiets the beast down a bit and the Howes seams to make it run a bit smoother. I now have 90k on my 98. 5 4x4, and not had any trouble with my engine. I was using red line but this seems to work for me.

 

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Originally posted by Cliffman:
Has anybody tried the Amsoil diesel fuel additive?

Not yet. I got a case of Amsoil's diesel modifier and their cetane boost in the garage. I'll start using it when I finish up the last bottle of Redline.

I kind of agree with The Patriot. I dont think any of them boost your MPG... a whole lot, anyway. But they do quiet down boh the Cummins and the VW and make them run smoother with less smoke and soot.

When you consider the games played by the distributer in CT. and the general crappy fuel quality in the US, a few ounces of additves goes a long way.



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Gregor Switca
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96 2500 4x4 auto SLT.
Torque is a beautiful thing