Howes Diesel treatement additive.

[JCyrbok]

I want to hear from those who use Howe's Diesel treatment with anti gel in their trucks.



Currently (and since the first tank load new) I have used Stanadyne Performance. I have never had a problem with it and have never gelled despite some very cold temps in Michigan. However I can't find anywhere local to get it have have to order it on-line, usually get a case at a time.



I think that the local Walmart and Sams Clubs carry the Howe's and I know that the truck stop about 10 minutes away does. I'm thinking that between cost of shipping and cost of the actual Stanadyne that it may be less expensive to go with Howe's.



It looks to me that Howe's if used by many with out problems, but it is hard to change from something that I know works. How does it do for mileage (they make some claims on their site about increases), How does it do with gelling/filter plugging (they have a tow gaurentee if you gell).



Will this be a good move or no? I have three full bottles of Stanadyne left which is 6 tanks for me so I am good for about 1. 5 months at this rate.



Also how about the Meaner Cleaner? Good to go with that too, stacked either with Stanadyne or with the Howe's treatment.



Any info, good or bad will be greatly appreciated. I did a search here and could not come up with many Howe's only threads but the other additive threads have good things to say.



Thanks/have a good safe holiday season.

J-

 

[steved]

I used it a couple winters ago... it still allowed the fuel to wax the filters at temps approaching 0*F. I was not impressed.

I use Power Service, it seems to work well. CRC also makes an antigel that works well...

 

[JMielke]

Howes is all I've ever used, does it's job, never had my 99 or 06 ever gel up. I've heard it helps to keep your tank as full as possible to keep condensation down.

 

[CurtLee]

I've used Howes from day one. Never have had any problems. And yes you'll need to keep the tank as full as possible so it doesn't get condesation on the inside.

 

[Woodenhead]

I've used Howes in every tank for at least the past 7 years, summer and winter. I've spend weeks in Northern Alberta Canada at -30 and colder and never had a problem with gelled fuel. Keep in mind winter fuel typically already has an additive to help with gelling. Howes is supposed to help with the lubricity of the fuel as well which is more of an issue with my old 12 valve.

 

[Oly]

Have used Howes Meaner cleaner from the beginning and have had no gelling. Truck is routinely outside to -40F without issues. I can't comment on other products, but if it has work for you go ahead.

There is a distributor in town that I purchase from by the case.

 

[ChrisOlson]

I have been using howes since 2002 I also use it in my fuel oil tanks for my rental properties in montana and Alaska truck has been in -40 for extended periods of time I cant get it in Juneau I have to buy in bulk in canada and keep it on hand. I also believe that has saved my VP 44 through my 7 lift pump failures.



my humble opnion.



I do not travel with out my howes



have a great day



chris

 

[WDaniels]

I have used Howes in my tank on #2 diesel down to -30 below with no problems. The only reason I went to diesel service is that Howes got to expensive. Never had a problem with condensation in the tank even when it was -60 and I put the truck into a warm garage. But then again, there is not much moisture around in subzero temps.

WD

 

[steved]

As I said, it caused my filters to wax around 0*F... and that was properly dosed.

I will not use it again... many other choices.

 

[Woodenhead]

As I said, it caused my filters to wax around 0*F... and that was properly dosed.



I will not use it again... many other choices.

Are you sure it was the Howes that caused the fuel to do this or did it just not prevent the #2 from waxing up?

 

[steved]

Are you sure it was the Howes that caused the fuel to do this or did it just not prevent the #2 from waxing up?

All I can say is it did not prevent it...



And I'm even running a FASS which means a stronger pump and larger filter... got about 45 miles into my 55 mile commute and started having low fuel pressure issues... again, it was right around 0*F. I pulled over, let the truck sit in the sun for a while, the air temp raised to around 10*F (and the heat from the truck was able to help I'm sure) and things went back to normal.



And I dosed based on a set tank size... I have an auxiliary tank and I rebottle the additives into smaller containers so I know how much I'm adding at each fill up... its not over dosed, nor under dosed.



I have ran Power Service (white bottle) to -30*F without a hitch...

 

[Hammer]

I have many many miles on Howes Lubricator in the class 8 truck I drive and never had issues with gelling or fuel freezing up. Howes Lubricator is one of the best products out there and they do stand behind their products is properly used with a Free No Gelling,You Go or We Tow Policy. I can not ever say I have heard or seen anyone who has had to use this policy. We used this product the entire time I ran Montreal,PQ from Harrisburg and even when it was the coldest we ran and had zero issues. I would recommend Howes to anyone and use it before I used Power Service... ... . Andy



P. S. -Steve...

I wonder if what you had that day was just a real bad load of fuel. I distinctly remember chatting with Lloyd awhile ago and him relating to me you had major injector issues due to water contamination. If I remember the talk correctly that night I was told the injectors were some of the worst Don had seen sent down to him. Maybe a change in fueling stations would warranted since I know your truck is back down at Lloyd's again with injector issues.

 

[steved]

I don't fuel from any one station... don't have that luxuary.

 

[JCyrbok]

Cool thanks for the info guys. I have deceided to either stick with Stanadyne (sometime the devil you know is better than the devil you dont know) or switch to Power Service.



Thanks



J-

 

[ChrisOlson]

All I can say is it did not prevent it...



And I'm even running a FASS which means a stronger pump and larger filter... got about 45 miles into my 55 mile commute and started having low fuel pressure issues... again, it was right around 0*F. .

No disrespect meant here but after 45 miles I would think that the fuel would be fairly warm in the tank by the returning fuel from the vp44 and by then you would have put 3 gallons thru the filter? IMHO.



As for me I run #1 in the winter as much as possible the stations here in Juneau use a blended fuel in the winter so maybe that helps.



I hope this might help.



chris

 

[steved]

No disrespect meant here but after 45 miles I would think that the fuel would be fairly warm in the tank by the returning fuel from the vp44 and by then you would have put 3 gallons thru the filter? IMHO.



As for me I run #1 in the winter as much as possible the stations here in Juneau use a blended fuel in the winter so maybe that helps.



I hope this might help.



chris

3rd gen = CP3, not VP44.



And its not gelling, its called filter waxing... research ULSD and its waxing point, its a lot warmer than LSD. In fact, IIRC by the time ULSD gets to its cloud point, it is very near its waxing point. And again, waxing filters does not equal fuel gelling.



I don't care what anyone thinks happened, this is what happened to me... take it for what its worth.

 

[ChrisOlson]

3rd gen = CP3, not VP44.



And its not gelling, its called filter waxing... research ULSD and its waxing point, its a lot warmer than LSD. In fact, IIRC by the time ULSD gets to its cloud point, it is very near its waxing point. And again, waxing filters does not equal fuel gelling.



I don't care what anyone thinks happened, this is what happened to me... take it for what its worth.

SteveD

as I said I meant no disrespect. and you are very right on several points 3rd gen is a CP3 not a VP44 so I am not even sure that the cp3 returns fuel to your fuel tank so I am very sorry for disrespecting your HP pump. and ULSD is by nature prone to waxing and or Gelling at a much warmer temp. than the other fuels. LSD old #2 and old #1 I never was debating that issues.

Gelling and waxing are the same go here and look it up. .

diesel engine: Definition from Answers.com



I was in the fuel Supply Business in Alaska for 10 years dealing with this stuff every winter. and as A shipboard Engineer I deal with fuel issues every winter in our external exposed fuel tanks. and also deal with the Bugs that form in our internal tanks. so I am not an idiot. and I did not mean to imply that you were an idiot. once again I apologize for offending you.



chris

 

[pwr2tow]

One thing most people don't understand is there is a difference between gelling (wax crystals) and fuel freezing from water contamination.

Most anti-gels keep the fuel from gelling but do nothing for water freezing. Specialty products like PS 911 and a few others will help unfreeze frozen water in fuel if used CORRECTLY. These specialty products are only to be used in emergency cases.

The best way to avoid water freezing in your fuel is to drain your filter once and a while. There is a drain valve on the filter housing just for this purpose.

 

[AABEN]

Howes has a Howes winter treat plus it contains an advance wax crystal modifer that is very good.

 

[steved]

Filter waxing is one thing, fuel gelling is another.

With filter waxing, you have wax crystals suspended in the fuel stream, and the fuel will still flow until the crystals plug the filters. Most of us have fuel heaters in the filter assembly to prevent the filter from plugging with wax crystals. The waxing temperature is slightly "warmer" than the fuel gelling number.

With gelling the fuel stops flowing because it has reached is pour point. It basically has turned into a solid.

Why do you think there are two numbers??? Cold Filter Plug Point (waxing) and a Pour Point (gelling)??