I never used Diesel additives until today

[Oldoak]

Or you could say one of the worst beefed up gas block engines running a lousy diesel top end.

That would be the old 350 engine.

People paid a premium price to get the diesel engine and a few years later received a lower trade-in price if the vehicle had that diesel engine in them. A double whammy!

 

[rScotty]

I didn't used to use any fuel additive at all except sometimes some anti-gell winterizer from JD if I was late in the season changing from #2 diesel fuel (summer) to #1 fuel for the winter.
Then when the ULSD fuel started getting popular in the early 2000s I noticed that the fuel I was buying seemed more like the old #1 year round but even less oily to the feel.....so I began using an additive. Sometimes two stroke oil, but usually Opti-Lube XPD in the dosage recommended on the bottle. Opti-lube is sort of expensive, but not when compared to diesel problems. And the price isn't so bad buying in larger quantities.
Sometimes I'll miss dosing the tractors for a few tanks - particularly in the busy summer. I've never noticed any difference in the way it runs with or without the additive.
rScotty

 

[Texasmark]

I remember in the 80's there was this guy pouring tranny fluid in his tank on a olg GM diesel in a suburban. Of course I had to ask him about it. He said he had 900K miles on ( one of the worst diesels ever made) and he poured in tranny fluid every third tank of fuel.

in OTR usage, back in the early '90's, I used 1 quart of ATF to every 100 gallon tank fill up, running a tank a day, Big Cam Cummins 800 cu in, 400 hp....that was before I "discovered" PS products.

 

[Texasmark]

That would be the old 350 engine.

People paid a premium price to get the diesel engine and a few years later received a lower trade-in price if the vehicle had that diesel engine in them. A double whammy!

I remember waiting for the diesel to come out, the disappointment, the problems, the disgrundled owner's, one in particular, a guy that bought a 98 Olds and got swapped a Chevy V8 gasser.....he was pizzed and let everyone in town know it....ran an ad in the local news paper. Don't know how that all came to rest.

 

[Buggs67]

in OTR usage, back in the early '90's, I used 1 quart of ATF to every 100 gallon tank fill up, running a tank a day, Big Cam Cummins 800 cu in, 400 hp....that was before I "discovered" PS products.

On a tangent: I had a friend in my 20s who was a mechanic. He said ATF had more detergent in it and advised putting in a qt or so in the crankcase and running the engine awhile to remove sludge etc. In the 70's before syn oil was common and we changed our oil every 2500-3k mi.

 

[Buggs67]

.....so I began using an additive. Sometimes two stroke oil, but usually Opti-Lube XPD in the dosage recommended on the bottle. Opti-lube is sort of expensive, but not when compared to diesel problems. And the price isn't so bad buying in larger quantities.

rScotty

I was playing with the cost of some of these additives and it was $.08-.10/gal. Not so awful. I just wish I knew what was in the offroad I'm buying at the local Shell so I don't duplicate anti-gel/lubricity/cetane/etc boosters.

 

[ovrszd]

I was playing with the cost of some of these additives and it was $.08-.10/gal. Not so awful. I just wish I knew what was in the offroad I'm buying at the local Shell so I don't duplicate anti-gel/lubricity/cetane/etc boosters.

If your supplier isn't touting additives on the pump or store signage, there's nothing added.

Red diesel is simply dyed for tracking purposes in avoidance of road tax.

 

[Buggs67]

If your supplier isn't touting additives on the pump or store signage, there's nothing added.

Red diesel is simply dyed for tracking purposes in avoidance of road tax.

I know about the dye. I just figure the off-road isn't being formulated for just this station; there are many large farms around here who are prob getting off-road delivered and it's prob a basic formula. Maybe anti-gel in winter. No one advertises anything about any fuel.

 

[ovrszd]

I know about the dye. I just figure the off-road isn't being formulated for just this station; there are many large farms around here who are prob getting off-road delivered and it's prob a basic formula. Maybe anti-gel in winter. No one advertises anything about any fuel.

My point was dyed fuel isn't "formulated", it's dyed.

The far North guys get treated fuel with little fanfare. It's expected.

I'm guessing you are served like I am. If it's winterized fuel there will be notice posted.

I never trust a supplier to treat my fuel.

 

[CMV]

So a few dumb questions:

1. let's say I do nothing and have summer fuel and it gets cold enough to gel. But the tractor is just sitting & next time I go to use it it's warmer - say 45* F or so....Would the fuel have gelled and then went back to normal and be transparent to me (I would never know it gelled) or does it stay gel until fixed somehow?

2. I did add the PS white bottle winter stuff. What's the reason to switch to a silver bottle or other brand or whatever for the summer? Any harm in just using the white bottle PS all the time? Reason I ask is I mostly fill at gas station about 1/2 mile away, but if I don't want to be bothered running down the road, will use stored 5 gal cans instead. The 5 gal cans can sit for months so it would make sense for me to add the PS white to those in case I don't think about when the fuel was purchased (if we even get a different flavor of diesel in NC for winter months).

3. Is there one that just does everything that can simply be used year-round? Prevent gel, boost cetane, add lubricity, deposit fairy dust on cylinder walls....whatever they all do....Is it necessary to use X this time of year, use Y that time of year, sometimes add in some Z too....seems like a "do everything" solution would be less hassle.

4. With the newer tier 4 & DPF filters....does that change what you should/shouldn't add? Like the deep fryer oil , ATF, 2 cycle, unicorn tears, whatever - are there some things that you should never add with CRDI and DPF?

 

[Buggs67]

3. Is there one that just does everything that can simply be used year-round? Prevent gel, boost cetane, add lubricity, deposit fairy dust on cylinder walls....whatever they all do....Is it necessary to use X this time of year, use Y that time of year, sometimes add in some Z too....seems like a "do everything" solution would be less hassle.

When I was in TSC yesterday it appears that the white bottle (with anti-gel) has lubricity now as does the grey bottle Diesel Kleen. My plan is Grey bottle summer; white bottle winter.

 

[LouNY]

Once the wax/paraffin particles form they will stay in your fuel till it gets quite warm.
They will precipitate out of fuel and restrict your filter before the gell forms,
the gell will dissipate out and blend back into the fuel at moderate temps.
If you have pulled a plugged fuel filter in the winter the hard white specks are the paraffins,
the gell that you will find at times is a lighter wax that has stayed softer.
if you are running dyed fuel the gell will have the reddish orange color to it.

I believe the reason to switch between the white bottle (winter) and the silver (summer) is that the anti gell
is not needed and the summer is more of an added lubricant and fuel booster.

 

[oldballs]

Maybe it depends on the extremes of winter temperature that makes the difference to any one of us. Around here the winters are relatively mild.
For example, the past few winters have not even reached zero deg F. I use the white bottle PS year around and probably never get diesel #1 from my fuel source......seems they don't know anyway. It works for me in my two Kubotas.
Cheers,
Mike

 

[dalola]

I run Opti-Lube XPD year around in my BX. It's a quality "all-in-one" additive. I'm sure there are others.

I get 5 gallons of diesel at a time, pour the OL in the can, then fill the can at the pump through a separation funnel (Mr Funnel).

Never had a fuel problem. (knocking on wood....)

 

[PA Scott]

3. Is there one that just does everything that can simply be used year-round? Prevent gel, boost cetane, add lubricity, deposit fairy dust on cylinder walls....whatever they all do....Is it necessary to use X this time of year, use Y that time of year, sometimes add in some Z too....seems like a "do everything" solution would be less hassle.

I use the AMSOIL All in 1 as does at least one ambulance service and a few fleets around here. It has everything you need year round so while you could switch in the summer most don't just to avoid having 2 different products to use at different times of year. That is important when you have employees that have trouble remembering to dump in the additive when fueling. Don't want to add even more complexity.
When I took delivery of my tractor the dealer told me the most important factor with fuel is not using old fuel so buy it from a truck stop that sells a lot of it. He also said an additive to boost lubrication is absolutely required and a cetane boost wouldn't hurt either. He said pretty much any additive as long as you use something. I am using the all in one now too because I expect some of my fuel supply to span seasons.
There is a link in my signature if you want to check it out.

 

[rScotty]

I use the AMSOIL All in 1 as does at least one ambulance service and a few fleets around here. It has everything you need year round so while you could switch in the summer most don't just to avoid having 2 different products to use at different times of year. That is important when you have employees that have trouble remembering to dump in the additive when fueling. Don't want to add even more complexity.
When I took delivery of my tractor the dealer told me the most important factor with fuel is not using old fuel so buy it from a truck stop that sells a lot of it. He also said an additive to boost lubrication is absolutely required and a cetane boost wouldn't hurt either. He said pretty much any additive as long as you use something. I am using the all in one now too because I expect some of my fuel supply to span seasons.
There is a link in my signature if you want to check it out.

PA Scott, are you an AMSOIL dealer or representative?

 

[Buggs67]

PA Scott, are you an AMSOIL dealer or representative?

Certainly seems like it.

 

[LouNY]

Well seeing as how the link in his signature takes you to his dealer webpage..
Been thinking about trying the All in one but I know that power serve winter works for me, I'm a bit
hesitant to change.
That said the advertised lubricity increase is very interesting, may try it in the pickup with the common rail.

 

[crashz]

Most additives have a cetane booster that will really make a diesel run better. Our diesel fuels have much less cetane than the engine manufactures require.

Being in cold country, I run a anti-gel add too, but typically anything off the shelf. I've been running a blend of PS grey bottle and Howes lately.

 

[PA Scott]

PA Scott, are you an AMSOIL dealer or representative?

I am an independent dealer. I want to make sure everyone understands that when I post so I clearly disclose that in my signature even though I make no money off my recommendations unless someone buys directly from me. Some people recommend products they sell. I sell products I recommend and that is a big difference.