fuel additves which one or any??

[Kubota 2007]

I use a lube additive all year round, never had a problem, well worth the extra few dollars per tank full for peace of mind, sure can't hurt.All diesel injection shops recommend adding lube, but warn about using any additive that contains alcohol. Most winter additives do contain alcohol.

 

[number two]

What is wrong with the engine that makes them believe additives would have prevented?

 

[JOHNTHOMAS]

Grew up in the 60s and was not a Motor Honey believer and yes I did add a can one time. I''m generally a non addative in a bottle person. over 170 vehicles and around 20 Kubotas and still not a big believer in addatives. But......wanting to always be open to new ideas that seem to have a degree of logic I'll ponder, meditate and seek advise. Over the past 12 years of Kubota ownership there have been to many supporters of Power Service addative in the white bottle here on TBN soooo I started doing a little bit in each tank full when I remembered it. Did it ever help/hurt? I don't know or didn't until our historical cold winter this past winter in Ky. My RTV1140 froze up at -15 with my wife and grand kids who shouldn't have went out to get groceries as late in the evening as they did. Vehicle wouldn't come up my 15" deep snow drive way so they RTVed down to truck and then was half way back up with a bunch of groceries and the RTV stopped and wouldn't start. I went out the next day and couldn't get it to start. Remembered a had some Power Service in the white bottle. Trugged up to the garage and back with the small bit I had and poured it in the fuel tank and about 30 minutes later I went out and the RTV1140 started, sputtered a bit and then smoothed out. Do I believe in white bottle Power Service? Yes, for severe winter service I do but after my experience I started paying more attention and came to the conclusion that the White bottle is just for cold weather and the silver bottle is for the rest of the year. Am I a diligent user? No but I have a big bottle of silver Power Service and I'll pour some in each tankful when I remember it. Does it help? I don't know but I don't think it hurts and with the other requirement being faith and confidence in my fuel distributor.............I'll just keep using Power Service in the silver bottle when I remember to and when winter comes I'll get a bottle of the White one and keep for another unusual Ky winter,
Still mostly skeptical of super stuff in a bottle but technology has came a long way and many incompetent workers that are supposed to do......................

 

[Turbys_1700]

I use Power Service Diesel Kleen Silver in my tractors. Used it in my Power Strokes for years. Does it help? Don't know for sure but to date have never had an issue with an injector or pump. If it ain't broke don't fix it.

 

[Sawyer Rob]

If it ain't broke don't fix it.

I agree, that's why I don't use any or see the need to use any!

SR

 

[aeblank]

I agree, that's why I don't use any or see the need to use any!

SR

I think this sums it up. One person's experience is not proof. Without knowing the chemistry/engineering (materials & systems involved), we don't really know what is going on. There's lots of magic potions out there, maybe one might do good, might do bad, or might do neither. In all cases the "ain't broke don't fix it" can apply.

Personally, I'm a no-goop guy. That said, I did use some marvel mystery oil on a crappy old car I used to drive. It got rid of the knock that was there previously.

I'm impressed that the anti-gel additives work on an already gelled system. That is good to know!

 

[sixdogs]

The dealer is confused on what an additive would have prevented. The two aren't really related.

Separately, I have used Stanadyne Performance Formula for maybe 20 years and have never had a problem in maybe 3000 hours on eight different tractors. A friend of mine that owns a diesel repair shop suggested it a long time ago and I have used it ever since. Zero problems.

 

[varmint]

Another question that borders on the mystical! Since I have my heating oil guy fill up a 5 gal. jerry can when I need diesel (he tells me that the fuel depot doesn't differentiate between heating oil and diesel, other than red dye) I figure adding the Power Stroke stuff can't hurt, might help, in terms of storing the fuel for who knows how long until I use it. Not ideal, but then again, I have never had a problem. My boiler guy added some stuff to our 250 gal. heating oil tank to kill the crude that was developing in the bottom, and he swears by it. (he doesn't sell anything but service). I would think that moisture and algae could be an issue in a tank subject to condensation.

 

[dodge man]

I will add in my opinion, there are some good reasons to add an additive. Storing fuel for a long time, gas seems worse than diesel though. The second, as someone above mentioned, diesel will grow algae. If algae is growing, there are additives that will kill it. Another is gelling in the winter, although if you buy blended fuel, your probably OK. When it gets really cold, as in near zero, I do add stuff to my truck and tractor for gelling.

 

[Sawyer Rob]

I will add in my opinion, there are some good reasons to add an additive. Storing fuel for a long time, gas seems worse than diesel though. The second, as someone above mentioned, diesel will grow algae. If algae is growing, there are additives that will kill it. Another is gelling in the winter, although if you buy blended fuel, your probably OK. When it gets really cold, as in near zero, I do add stuff to my truck and tractor for gelling.

Algae will only grow in diesel IF it has water in it, keep the water out!

I store fuel for more than a year without problems, I have some now more than 2 yrs old... (I just came in from raking hay with some old fuel in my tractor)

My neighbor get's one fuel drop a year, and he doesn't have any problems either...

SR