Favorite Diesel Fuel Additives

[Wolfy]

We had 10 wheel dump trucks in our family business, but I only got diesel at regular gas stations with truck pumps. Therefore, I could not say for long haul truckers that buy at commercial truck stops. Maybe they have it blended in? Nor could I speak for the military or FedEx or UPS. But for the little diesel, which I believe are more prone to gelling to begin with, I think it is a regional issue. Take Caterpillar machines for example. Some will end up in Africa and some in Russia. It seems logical that the same diesel runs both machines but that same diesel behaves different in such extreme climate differences. The U.S. has that on a smaller scale. And no, I do not buy the lubricity aspect. But I can't afford to have my engines gell up.

 

[wildbranch2007]

I totally understand the gelling issue as you and rswyan have noted. That should be an issue only in mid winter and in the northern states however and I believe the distributors already deal with that by having winter blends of fuel. ?

they did this the first year of low sulfur fuel, they were not even close to getting it correct. the stuff was gelling up in all the vehicles up here. only the ones using additive's escaped the fun.

Stanadyne Performance and Lubricity is what I use.

on a side note, stanadyne came out with a diesel injector cleaner a while ago. I used it in my 2007 duramax, mileage went from 14-15 to 19.5. I don't sell it, but have told everyone I know about it. The older dodges went form 20 to 22. and all showed more pep, also the duramax cleaned up the dark smoke on heavy acceleration. Most of the claims of these products I have always had my doubts about, but the injector cleaner worked for me and most of my friends.

 

[sweep]

I have been using Stanadyne Performance w/o any problem.. last year it was -10 below and tractor ran just fine.

 

[IslandTractor]

Googling "are diesel additives necessary" gives a lot of references to clearly commercially supported websites that unsurprisingly are all quite enthusiastic about at least one diesel additive. However, when I looked at a subscription supported site (dieselnet.com which I cannot afford to subscribe to and seems directed at industry) I found the following executive summary to a report on diesel additives:

"Aftermarket Additives. Some users use additives to further improve the fuel to meet their particular needs, for instance cold climate operation, or because they believe they need a higher quality fuel. A wide range of aftermarket additives are available from a number of suppliers. Some of these additives may have legitimate uses. For instance, the use of de-icers may be warranted under cold weather conditions and/or when problems with fuel system icing are encountered. In many cases, however, aftermarket additives packages consist of compounds such as detergents, lubricity improvers and cetane enhancers that would normally be added at the refinery or fuel terminal by the fuel marketer.

Users should be cautious when considering the use of any aftermarket additives. Some aftermarket additives are aggressively marketed, with performance claims that are often too good to be true. Yet, in most cases, they are not needed and should be avoided. Quality commercial fuels from reputable marketers contain all the additives that a fuel needs and have been extensively tested to minimize the possibility of adverse interactions between different additive and/or fuel components.

If the user still feels that additives are needed, they should be chosen based on careful research, and used in accordance with the recommendations of the supplier and the engine manufacturer. Inappropriate use of additives may have adverse effects on the engine, and may affect engine warranties (for example, some engine makers require that alcohol based de-icers not be used)."

So, it seems to me that marketing hype aside, the only real reason to consider additives is for anti gelling properties and that would only be during the coldest winter months in northern climates. Many additives are good but are already incorporated into fuel by big oil and distributors.

 

[rswyan]

I understand that normally available "truck stop" fuel is formulated differently in summer and winter. And, it is certainly possible that the DOD has special formulations delivered to military bases that might differ from what is routinely sold for civilian purposes.

You countering your own (previous) argument.

However, I have a hard time imagining that big companies (I'll use FedEx and UPS as examples) would allow their equipment to operate with routinely available diesel on our nation's highways if there was some additive missing.

Well, there's the world how we imagine it is ... and then there's he world how it actually is ...

At least some (most ?) Fedex (Ground) Terminals have fuel tanks and pumps ... so the OTR big rig fueling at truckstop may be somewhat limited (discounted fuel prices at the terminal)

Those companies must have pretty sophisticated maintenance engineering divisions that work hard to optimize engine longevity and reliability in order to maximize profits.

LOL ... oh yeah ...

The "sophisticated maintenance engineering divisions" at the Richfield (OH) Ground terminal is a ... (wait for it) ... subcontractor ... (his business is it's own corporate entity - owned by him)

If plain vanilla truck stop diesel, seasonally adjusted, was not "optimal", wouldn't you expect 1) that FedEx and UPS trucks would always supplement with an extra additive

Probably depends on what the temps are going to be ...

Like I said: down to 15F or so you're pretty safe with truckstop fuel ...

and 2) if the did that the company that sold that additive would be bragging to high heaven about it?

No ... for a single primary reason:

I actually know something about how Fedex operates ... as opposed to operating off assumptions. UPS is no doubt a somewhat different deal.

First thing is Fedex makes wide use of subcontractors (moving towards a non-asset based business model ... )

All those Fedex Ground and Home Delivery Sprinters and Parcel Delivery vans you see out on the road ?

Fedex don't own hardly any - if any at all - of them ... they belong to contractors - whose responsibility it is to ensure that their vehicles are available to service the area they are responsible for. (Failure to do so would be cause for termination of your contract with Fedex)

That (that Fedex doesn't own them) may also be the case with the OTR big rigs that Ground uses you see pulling doubles all the time ... although I wouldn't bet money on it one way or another.

All of the above trucks have the green Fedex Logo. You probably see more of these than anything (in terms of various Fedex divisions) out on the road.

Fedex Custom Critical (Red Fedex Logo, used to be blue) which is the division that provides emergency/expedied/exclusive use services ?

All subcontractors ... (Fedex don't own the equipment, other than maybe some trailers for tractors, which they may lease to contractors)

That leaves Fedex rolling stock vehicle asset base consisting primarily of the vans they use for Fedex Express (orange logo), Fedex Freight (red logo - a general LTL freight operation that was an existing company that was purchased/acquired by Fedex), and the jet fleet (orange Express logo I think) which services the "Express" division.

So ... you see all these Fedex trucks running around everywhere and think "Wow ... they have a really big fleet ... a lot of assets ... undoubtedly with "pretty sophisticated maintenance engineering divisions" ...

Not necessarily the case ... appearances can be deceiving ...

As far as bragging rights ... yeah, just try using Fedex's (good, in their mind) name and see where that gets ya ...

I see these various additives on sale at local auto parts stores and track stops and typically in modestly sized pint and quart containers. If they are used at even 0.5% concentration in fuel (note: wildazz guesstimate) then where are FedEx and UPS trucks getting it? An average big rig must go through at least a hundred or more gallons of fuel per day. Where are they getting the additives?

Don't spend much time in truckstops do ya Doc ?

Next you're one in the winter have a look around ... especially at what is being bought at the big truck fuel counter

A large jug (half gallon ?) of Power Service will treat 125 to 250 gallons of fuel IIRC ...

Though I appreciate the anti gelling issue is critical, I imagine the routine fuel available nationwide is appropriately adjusted by the distributor for 99.9% of needs. To put it another way, why is there any real need for additional or supplemental additives for a guy running a pickup or tractor in Texas?

I use Power Service Silver in the spring, summer, and fall to boost the cetane number. It provides a noticable improvement in mileage ... and has an injector cleaner in it as well.

If you're running a lot of miles it may be cost-effective from the mileage standpoint alone ...

BTW ... I take it you don't treat your fuel ?

 

[firemanmike69]

Test results from diesel place I think independent lab results

Note that "untreated" fuel means that before different retailers add their own additives, to illustrate a "worst case"

 

[houstonscott]

<img src="http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/files/oil-fuel-lubricants/397828-favorite-diesel-fuel-additives-image-3978207329-jpg"/> Test results from diesel place I think independent lab results Note that "untreated" fuel means that before different retailers add their own additives, to illustrate a "worst case"

Saw this report years ago when I started buying diesel cars, I was surprised to see using bio diesel if you can in your area is one of the best things you can run in the fuel. I use power service in winter when the bio comes out, the diesels all run better with power service. HS

 

[IslandTractor]

You countering your own (previous) argument.


Well, there's the world how we imagine it is ... and then there's he world how it actually is ...

At least some (most ?) Fedex (Ground) Terminals have fuel tanks and pumps ... so the OTR big rig fueling at truckstop may be somewhat limited (discounted fuel prices at the terminal)


LOL ... oh yeah ...

The "sophisticated maintenance engineering divisions" at the Richfield (OH) Ground terminal is a ... (wait for it) ... subcontractor ... (his business is it's own corporate entity - owned by him)


Probably depends on what the temps are going to be ...

Like I said: down to 15F or so you're pretty safe with truckstop fuel ...


No ... for a single primary reason:

I actually know something about how Fedex operates ... as opposed to operating off assumptions. UPS is no doubt a somewhat different deal.

First thing is Fedex makes wide use of subcontractors (moving towards a non-asset based business model ... )

All those Fedex Ground and Home Delivery Sprinters and Parcel Delivery vans you see out on the road ?

Fedex don't own hardly any - if any at all - of them ... they belong to contractors - whose responsibility it is to ensure that their vehicles are available to service the area they are responsible for. (Failure to do so would be cause for termination of your contract with Fedex)

That (that Fedex doesn't own them) may also be the case with the OTR big rigs that Ground uses you see pulling doubles all the time ... although I wouldn't bet money on it one way or another.

All of the above trucks have the green Fedex Logo. You probably see more of these than anything (in terms of various Fedex divisions) out on the road.

Fedex Custom Critical (Red Fedex Logo, used to be blue) which is the division that provides emergency/expedied/exclusive use services ?

All subcontractors ... (Fedex don't own the equipment, other than maybe some trailers for tractors, which they may lease to contractors)

That leaves Fedex rolling stock vehicle asset base consisting primarily of the vans they use for Fedex Express (orange logo), Fedex Freight (red logo - a general LTL freight operation that was an existing company that was purchased/acquired by Fedex), and the jet fleet (orange Express logo I think) which services the "Express" division.

So ... you see all these Fedex trucks running around everywhere and think "Wow ... they have a really big fleet ... a lot of assets ... undoubtedly with "pretty sophisticated maintenance engineering divisions" ...

Not necessarily the case ... appearances can be deceiving ...

As far as bragging rights ... yeah, just try using Fedex's (good, in their mind) name and see where that gets ya ...


Don't spend much time in truckstops do ya Doc ?

Next you're one in the winter have a look around ... especially at what is being bought at the big truck fuel counter

A large jug (half gallon ?) of Power Service will treat 125 to 250 gallons of fuel IIRC ...


I use Power Service Silver in the spring, summer, and fall to boost the cetane number. It provides a noticable improvement in mileage ... and has an injector cleaner in it as well.

If you're running a lot of miles it may be cost-effective from the mileage standpoint alone ...

BTW ... I take it you don't treat your fuel ?

1) Thanks for the update on FedEx operations. I keep forgetting about "outsourcing" in business these days.

2) I would still rely on the engine manufacturers both to state maintenance requirements (fuel type) and to work with fuel suppliers (big oil) to insure that fuel for sale equals the fuel needed. Understood that there are extreme condition exceptions but in general I have a tough time imagining that fueling up anywhere on US 70, 80 or 90 across the country is going to cause any harm to an engine.

3) Firemanmike's chart shows that some additives actually decrease ?lubricity. How do you know that you are not harming your engine by added something that increases fuel mileage by a few percent?

4) I usually use straight diesel from a truckstop in my tractor. I used to add a bit of 2 stroke oil based on what someone on TBN said a few years ago. Don't do that consistently anymore.

5) I haven't done the cost/benefit calculations on cetane additives. A two or three percent increase in mileage is certainly something to consider but only if that benefit is not eaten up by the cost of the additive.

6) You are correct, I don't hang out in truckstops anymore and have never seen gallon plus size jugs of fuel additives that I would imagine big rig guys must go through on a regular basis.

 

[TomSeller]

If I had only new diesels I might consider running without additives, but some of my engines are 40 to 50 years old, designed around more lubricated fuel.

 

[dsgsr]

Most people that consider using diesel additives are those that have bulk tanks. Not the little guys that run too there local gas station for five or ten gallons of diesel fuel.

David