What is the best Fuel Additive?`

[Champane Flight]

Test sheets

YUP - just like they have "enough" Cetane... :-laf

I look at the brand I work for, they are showing high lubricity, almost two times the minimum. Cetane has always been low in the US, 44-46 is not enough for the TDI.

 

[BLassiter]

I use Diesel Power Cetane Booster, and MMO every time i fill'er up

 

[Gary - K7GLD]

I look at the brand I work for, they are showing high lubricity, almost two times the minimum. Cetane has always been low in the US, 44-46 is not enough for the TDI.

It sorta depends on your personal opinion as to what's "enough" - just as in HP, MPG and other relative issues - a value that's "enough" for one individual rarely is "enough" for everyone, so we enthusiasts start searching for and upgrading to get MORE of what we are especially interested in - and others are willing to simply settle for... :-laf



Added to that, is the willingness of the individual to accept that EVERY tankful of fuel (in this example) will ALWAYS meet that "minimum" spec...

 

[JFaughn]

I am surprised that no one brought the recent thread , with the additive tests up .
The results were that using bio-diesel as an additive far exceeded everything els , most of the best/most commonly brought up brands did ok , there were some surprises .
But then there is the real world results not always matching up with tests of whatever .

Lubricity Additive Study Results - Diesel Place

 

[Gary - K7GLD]

I am surprised that no one brought the recent thread , with the additive tests up .

The results were that using bio-diesel as an additive far exceeded everything els , most of the best/most commonly brought up brands did ok , there were some surprises .

But then there is the real world results not always matching up with tests of whatever .



Lubricity Additive Study Results - Diesel Place

YUP - that was one of the test results I was referring to further above...

 

[DeezelDood]

I am surprised that no one brought the recent thread , with the additive tests up .

The results were that using bio-diesel as an additive far exceeded everything els , most of the best/most commonly brought up brands did ok , there were some surprises .

But then there is the real world results not always matching up with tests of whatever .



Lubricity Additive Study Results - Diesel Place

TDR continues to be the best $35 I'll ever spend. I switched to bio blend the day I read this post. I'm running 2-5% and mixing in the remainder of my Stanadyne. I'll start using Power Service (available at Wal Mart) for anti gel etc when my Stanadyne runs outs. All of the old performance results should be thrown out because most of them are with LSD or earlier DO. ULSD has made lubricity the #1 concern. Note that Cummins allows up to B20 on government/military vehicles. Same engine, but these vehicles are fitted with extra water removal equipment.

 

[Gary - K7GLD]

I'd *love* to be able to buy and use Bio-diesel locally, but no outlets. The closest is B99 in Bend - over a 250 mile round trip. A local fuel/oil distributor CAN get it - but only in a minimum of 275 gallon totes - a bit too much for my purpose...



BUT, I might be able to run my 50 gallon in-bed tank empty, and then fill it up with the B99 sometime when we go to Bend, then transfer it to a clean 50 gallon storage drum to add to locally purchased diesel fuel.

 

[steved]

I'd *love* to be able to buy and use Bio-diesel locally, but no outlets. The closest is B99 in Bend - over a 250 mile round trip. A local fuel/oil distributor CAN get it - but only in a minimum of 275 gallon totes - a bit too much for my purpose...



BUT, I might be able to run my 50 gallon in-bed tank empty, and then fill it up with the B99 sometime when we go to Bend, then transfer it to a clean 50 gallon storage drum to add to locally purchased diesel fuel.

I have a local place I can get 5-gallon cans filled with B99... I think I might try it in place of other fuel additives (a B5 mix)...



The midwest guys don't know how good they got it... most truckstops have bio at the main pumps... on the east coast, you got to either drive a distance or buy in concentrate (or bulk).



steved

 

[Champane Flight]

-30

I have a local place I can get 5-gallon cans filled with B99... I think I might try it in place of other fuel additives (a B5 mix)...



The midwest guys don't know how good they got it... most truckstops have bio at the main pumps... on the east coast, you got to either drive a distance or buy in concentrate (or bulk).



steved

Thats fine until the temps drop to -30 and your tank looks like jello...

 

[Wyomingcowboy]

I have heard of a local rancher around here putting a 1/2 gal of straight veggie cooking oil with every fill up. Anyone else heard this? (Not sure about winter time) My info is 2nd hand, but I hear he loves it... .

 

[JFaughn]

Wyoningcowboy , veggi oil is not bio-diesel , to be bio-diesel , it has to be processed [ transesterfication ] this removes the glicerins out of the veggi oil , but there is more to it than that , water content , PH ect .
There are a bunch of folks doing waste cooking oil , but this is where we run into [ this is also where making a point , people can be offended if they want to ] believers = a general view that they want to disregard the science / chemistry that states how to for the long term use a diesel replacement / alternatives .
Then there is the issue of which eng/fuel system & how much bio , there has been reports that the common rail fuel systems have a negative affect on the bio , then the change in the bio changes & makes problems .
With the older systems like the 12v there is a wider range of what will work , then if you go back far enough , Rudolf Diesel invented the diesel eng to run on veggi oil , but there is a lot of evolution of the systems since then , its my thought that the oil co. are trying with help from radical environmental , to evolve the systems ahead of our attempts at alt fuels .
All that said , a 1/2 gal in 34 1/2 of diesel may not do much if any harm , I've been running bio for a few yrs , 10-80% , averaging about 28% now .

 

[SHinkamp]

Best additives

I was a diesel fuel injection mechanic for 18 years. The only objective information on fuel additives I ever saw was an independent study by Southwest Research Institute which showed Stanadyne Performance Formula to be #1, John Deere Winter #2, and John Deere Summer #3. The study ranks 11 different additives. If I was more computer savvy, I'd put the whole study on this website.



I build elevators now so I'm not trying to sell additives.



shinkamp

 

[DPellegrin]

The problem with fuel additives (or lube oil additives for that matter) is that there is not much analytical info or meaningful test data. Just a lot of sales pitches and unsubstantiated claims. I see it this way: Fuel additives that improve fuel economy- NO WAY! JUST AIN'T SO! Fuel additives that improve exhaust emissions- NO WAY! JUST AIN'T SO! Fuel additives that improve lubricity- THERE ARE A COUPLE THAT WORK OK. Fuel additives that enhance Cetane- THERE ARE A FEW THAT ACTUALLY WORK AND SERVE A USEFUL PURPOSE.

 

[THoltz]

By what criteria does one arrive at a judgement of the BEST fuel additive?

 

[TAbbott]

Whenever my big truck starts running a little rough, a dose of Lucas Fuel Conditioner cleans it up within 100 miles or so of driving. I read the study that indicates it was neutral as far as improving lubricity is concerned, so I also add a little Wal-Mart 2 stroke oil for that. Before I changed to a DD clutch from SBC, I noticed that the addition of the 2 stroke oil alone was enough of a power adder to make the dual mass flywheel and clutch setup on my CTD slip a little under load where without it, the clutch would hold the power. I think perhaps it changed he combustion characteristics of the fuel burn by changing the cetane rating of the fuel, making it burn a little faster perhaps.

 

[DeezelDood]

By what criteria does one arrive at a judgement of the BEST fuel additive?

That's easy. The best fuel additive is the one that each of us is using, or no additive at all.

 

[bmoeller]

I have a local place I can get 5-gallon cans filled with B99... I think I might try it in place of other fuel additives (a B5 mix)...

The midwest guys don't know how good they got it... most truckstops have bio at the main pumps... on the east coast, you got to either drive a distance or buy in concentrate (or bulk).

steved

I wouldn't say most truckstops have bio at the pumps. Still have to know where to go, or stumble across it, unless you look it up on the 'net.

Biodiesel.org - Retail Fueling Sites

I won't touch any bio in the winter.

 

[CRuth]

Still amazes me in a city the size of Sacramento, I can't get biodiesel.

 

[bmoeller]

I doubt to many soybeans are grown where you are. Most processors are in row crop country. May be part of it. Or, Govn't regs.