I have a question for all you fuel system guru's.

[phloop]

I've been wondering what the thoughts are on filling the fuel filter housing with an additive like Power Service or Stanadine when the filter is changed. When I had my Power Stroke I would fill the housing with PS when I changed the filter, the thought being putting close to 100% additive though the injectors to give them a kind of cleaning. And as the injectors are similiar, I'm thinking that this would be a good idea for my new ride.

 

[phloop]

Just bringing this back to the top.

 

[jwilliams3]

If it makes you feel better, go for it!!

 

[rbattelle]

I disagree that the injectors are similar to a powerstroke HEUI arrangement. In fact, I don't think the two types could be any more different.



Nevertheless, that doesn't change the legitimacy of your question. Personally, I wouldn't do it. Additives like Stanadyne are meant to be diluted and work over time. Although I doubt a sudden shot of additive would hurt anything, I don't think it would have the desired effect (a sudden, intense cleaning of the injectors).



This is just my opinion, nothing more.



-Ryan

 

[Spooled-up]

I've heard that the Power Service is mostly diesel fuel anyway. Read that in one of the forums.

 

[bgilbert]

Yes do it. Not a thing wrong with it. Thats what I do every fuel filter change. Diesel fuel additives are easier to come by when doing fuel filter changes. That is you don't have to run to the fuel stop and get 1 gallon of fuel before you do a filter change, most of us already have some type of additive in the garage already.

 

[p-Bar]

My old Ford diesel 85' I used to fill the fuel filter with auto trans fluid,

 

[phloop]

I disagree that the injectors are similar to a powerstroke HEUI arrangement. In fact, I don't think the two types could be any more different.



-Ryan

As for being similar I was referring to the fact they are both electronically controlled high pressure common rail systems. I do agree that the small amount of the additive that is in the fuel filter housing would not really make much a difference as it is of such a small amount that does not spend much time in the injectors at start up. And as bgilbert noted, I do have a jug of the additive handy as compared to a jug of fuel.

 

[rbattelle]

As for being similar I was referring to the fact they are both electronically controlled high pressure common rail systems.

In my opinion the powerstroke is not a common rail system. I believe it uses unit-injectors, wherein there is no high pressure fuel pump and all the injection pressure is built in the injector itself. The injectors are then actuated using high pressure oil.



If I'm misleading anyone, then I apologize.



-Ryan

 

[LightmanE300]

That practice of filling the fuel filter housing with additive is extremely common in the MB and VW diesel community. How exactly the additives work with HPCR, I dunno. I honestly don't think you'll see any real benefit to doing this as far as injector cleanliness though. .

 

[Matt400]

I've been wondering what the thoughts are on filling the fuel filter housing with an additive like Power Service or Stanadine when the filter is changed.

In theory it sounds like a good idea but then you get to thinking PS is not a fuel the motor was designed to run straight on.



I posed your question to the tech service at PS and here is what they had to say:

It is a good thought and at first it sounds fairly reasonable, however

it is not a good ideal and Power Service does not recommend this

practice. If you have some fuel filter icing and the filter is plugged

with ice and wax then you can use our Diesel 911 in the filter to melt

the wax and ice and get the truck going again. In this situation dump

out as much as you can and then fill the plugged filter with Diesel 911.

When you do this you will still have diesel fuel in the filter and

probably 50 percent of it will still be fuel. This is to be done only in

an emergency situation to get the truck running again. If you don't have

a plugged filter and you think you have water in the fuel system then

use the Diesel 911 in the fuel tank to remove the water. If you are

trying to clean up injectors then the Diesel Kleen used in the fuel at

the recommended rate will give you all the cleaning power you need and

done safely.



When you take our products or any other product and add it in a fuel

filter without fuel in the filter then in all likelihood the product you

are adding is going to be much different than the diesel fuel the truck

was made to run on. The viscosity of the product, the various properties

such as lubricity, BTU value etc. are going to be different than the

fuel. An additive is just that. It is not a fuel it is added to the

fuel. When good products are used in the proper proportions they will

enhance the fuel and add value to the fuel. When you take an additive

and make it a fuel then you can hurt or harm your equipment in some

cases and add little or no value in other cases. You really have to know

all the properties of the product you are using, you need to know its

exact use and all the pros and cons before you can proceed safely.

Without significant knowledge of what you are trying to accomplish and

how a certain product works you are taking a big chance if you use a

product outside its label recommendations.



The problem is that some people are overly concerned about adding

anything to their fuel system while others are fool-hearted and will add

anything to their fuel system. The answer is to use a good proven

product according to the label and you will avoid problems.



Let me know if I can be of any other help.



Best regards,



Brian Wilson

Technical Support

Maybe someone will submit this to Stanadine for their thoughts.