Engine/Transmission (1998.5 - 2002) Fuel Additives

[stevek]

I have seen many post as to different additives to use in the fuel to keep everything running properly. I live in Ohio and right now we have temps around the 15-30 mark. What would a good all around additive be for me to use? Any help is much appreciated

 

[Fireman Dave]

Steve,



I use Power Service. It's a good product, easy to find, and economical. I've never had a fuel related problem yet. Stanadyne and Howe's are 2 other popular ones with TDR guys. I don't think they're quite as easy to get as Power Service, though. Walmart sells Power Service - among other places.



Dave

 

[me4osu]

fuel additive

My local Wal-mart sells Shell DFA (diesel fuel additive). It is supposed to clean the injectors and also lower the gel point of #2 diesel. Living in South Texas, I can't tell you about the gel issue, but it runs better after I used it.

 

[LSMITH]

I also use the Power Service. Like Dave said it is cheap, easy to get, and works well.

 

[sdalton]

I have ussed Howes since it was almost new. I have almost 35,000 miles on it and wouldnt used anything else.



P. S. I have tried several others in between. The engine seemed to run a little quieter with the Howes, and get just a tad bit better fuel milage with the Howes. Howes is difficult to find sometimes.

 

[Pit Bull]

They are all basically the same, get whatever is the best price at the time ( any of the major brands ). Use it every other tank. I think it helps keep the fuel system in better condition and it makes you feel better

 

[Snow man]

I use Shaeffers,premium 2000 with winterizer. It is good stuff,I order it by the 4 gallon case,it treats 4000 galons like that. I feel this is one fo the best pump lubricants availablr,and would put it up against any of them.

 

[fj40charles]

Can you do any damage if you add to much additive? I've been putting in 32 oz. bottle in my tank at each fillup. Also, I was planning on putting in like 96 oz before I dyno the truck. I figure this would raise the cetane number quite a bit.



Charles

 

[24V-DSL]

Charles...

Both a Redline and Howes tech line person told me there's no "too much" concern, but I would think 32 oz. is not cost effective. I add 4oz. every time I fill, but that's usually at half tank or little less.



BTW, Redline 85+ is supposed to have the highest cetane rating of all the fuel additives.

 

[alaterreur]

I have been using marvel mystery oil since new and it also makes the pump run quieter. You can also buy it almost anywhere. . I now have 22,000 miles and most of it is towing a 12,000 lb trailer. . I have not had any problems with the truck. The only thing I dont know is if it would help you in the cold due to I live in So. California. I will continue to use this hoping to make the pump last longer. .

 

[rhoads]

Never to much????

The guys selling it makes his income from WHAT???????????????

Well some one did you use the term cheap!! You didn't quite use that term. .

Now you wife will not like this test of your favorite Anti-Jel additive and it will also show you how much money you saved--at least you thought.....

Chem course 2002 Happy New Year!!!!

On to the test Take you howels and Power Service, best make sure you don't open the cap or break the seal. . Stink up the food Now when the Boss is not looking put it in the deep freeze... .

Chapter 2-- Water freeze's at 32 , Straight Anti-freeze also will freeze or turn to sluch in a freezer NOW take 50% water 50% pure anti-freeze combine and you are good to -30 deg. +/- say 5 deg. Now what makes this mix work??? Chemicial reaction!!!

Now lets take a quick step over to math class,,a gallon of pure antfreeze runs say $6 . Now we can buy pre mix that 50/50 mix at & $4. And the sales man is standing there and you say i have a 6 gal sys can i but to much of this in my system and his reply IS no!!

$$ in his and his company becaues he knows your system is full of filler(water) and his product is 50% filler(water) How many gal 's do you need to give you protection to - 30 deg?? 6x4+$24

Or the pure stuff $6 x 3= $18. BUT you say to your self when i pulled IT from the freezer it was frozen... Its' no good better buy the 50/50 mix WRONG.

Now what i didn't tell you was to buy a Qt bottle of say Nal/co by pennray. when you pull it from the freezer it ,like pure antifreez will be FROZEN. . Both are the pure thing,with out the filler.

The filler of choice in cheaper additives/anti jell is Petroleum distallents(kerosen/#1/or #2 d )and you allready have a tank full of that,same a your radiator full of pure water. .

Lets re-cap If that Qt cost is not around $8 or the gal is not 4 times that and won't freeze your not getting what ??anti-jel. .

Now as to the dodge/cummins it comes from the factory with a 300 w elec fuel heater installed. Nothing in the wordl will make a first time diesal owner go back to a gasser like a winter when he cant make that thing run. which if you note that alt cycling is more than the intake grid heater pulling on it. Which is why in all the miles ive run ive only bought 2 may three qts of the stuff,i put in when it is going to be parked say over x-mas /N-yrs/ say 3 days of non use and going -0. .

NOW i must state I do not have a tank(steel/alum) tank in the bed with an switch(moisture/ dam) hanging under the cab... . These owners are the one's that are going to have the fuel proplems. The tank in the bed has cold air wipping against it with warm fuel running back to it frost will form from the warm fuel level down on the outside WHAT do you think form's above the fuel on the inside of the tank?????

99. 9% of the time the owner will blame jell when the cause is water(moisture. Throw a water dog in the aux tank and it will suck it up. . Later

 

[tazzen]

hay i use lucas additive whats everybodys opinion on that. in the fuel.

 

[chuck3]

Lucas.

Like stated above ,they all have pretty much the same ingridents, just use the one that works for you or is avail. I've tryed several and went back to power service, seems to work for me. my 2 cts.

 

[WadePatton]

I'm on my first tank of LUCAS fortified fuel. No difference noted, but I'm only in it for the pump lubrication.



In one of these threads there's some misinformation on the price of Lucas FA. I paid 7-odd bucks for a quart which is good for 100 gallons.



My question is how many folks have had LP or VP44 failure while running fuel additives? My LP is practically new. The old one would go down to 2# or less as full boost/load at 54k.

 

[fj40charles]

I don't know if a fuel additive will increase the life expectancy of the lift pump since it being used to "pull" fuel when it really should be pushing it. I can see how it would help the VP44, but don't think it will help the lift pump much. .



Charles

 

[me4osu]

I used to use DFA

Now I use John Deere Summer (and the winter formula when it is cold). They both are the only ones on the comparison below that match the Stanadyne numbers.



BTW the JD stuff costs much less than Stanadyne Performance formula.



Additive comparison

 

[WadePatton]

Wow, Me4 you used their sales stuff against them!



You're right the JD looks just as good, you just have to remember whether it's Summer or Winter-big deal.



I'll be trying JD next.

 

[Rockcrusher]

Usining Stanadyne in old truck and new. Put 250K on old VE pump no problems.

 

[D6Diesel]

Would use Amalgamated DFA (can order from them) as per recent article in TDR. Other one would be Stanadyne's performance formula.

 

[HEMI®Dart]

I have been using Amalgamated. I like it alot. Howes is very good. Lucas I didn't notice any difference. Same for Stanadyne. Amsoil Cetane Boost works great too.