Monster Diesel Fuel Additive....Anybody use it?

[megaboz]

Well I pretty much take everything I hear with a grain of salt. While there is usually some truth to every product's claims, I don't always buy the cow if I just want milk.

I just think some of their statements are a little bit out there, and this one distributor well, he is trying to make money, so I can't completely blame him. But the theory that there is as much energy in a quart of that stuff as 25 gallons of diesel to me is just screaming "snake oil". Then with this distributor claiming if you too much of this stuff it is dangerous to your engine, well I begin to wonder.

Also there is no proof that this stuff has no ill affect to pollution systems either in vehicles or injector issues. We all know that bio-diesel isn't safe/good in all injector systems.

 

[Cat_Driver]

Testimonials on the benefit of Cetane improvers are pretty much worthless because there are so many variables relating to the fuel to whitch the booster is added.
Diesel is primarily a blend of medium-weight hydrocarbons designated C8 - C21 (in contrast to gasoline which is a blend of lighter hydrocarbons C5 - C12). Diesel distilled from a crude oil base rich in C8-C21 will yield a high quality base diesel fuel with a high Cetane number; no additive required . Most modern refineries, however, are equipped with "cracking" units that break-up heavier hydrocarbon molecules (those heavier than C 20) . This makes diesel cheaper by adding heavy oil and asphalt to the available feed-stock for diesel; but it also results in a product with a lower Cetane number . When diesel is made from these inferior feed-stocks, the Cetane number can be improved by adding 2-EHN (2-Ethyl Hexyl Nitate) and other chemicals . The addition of 2-EHN, however, can only go so far . So if a batch of diesel started life with a poor feed-stock and has been improved with 2-EHN to the max, adding more 2-EHN from a bottle of after-market Cetane Boost with do nothing .
There are then three basic situations (with an infinite number of variables in between):
(1) Diesel distilled from high quality feed stock has an adequate Cetane number and adding a Cetane boosting chemical is worthless .
(this situation is likely rare in the US owing to the prevalence of sophisticated high-yield refineries that are tuned to "get all the squeak out of the hog").
(2) Diesel made from a low quality feed-stock that has been treated to the max with 2-EHN and other enhancers cannot be improved by adding more such chemicals from a bottle of after-market Cetane Boost.
(3) Diesel made from a mid-quality feed-stock that has had only a little 2-EHN added at the refinery, can be improved by adding more of the same from a bottle of Cetane Boost.
So whether a bottle of Cetane Boost really increases the Cetane number of a given tank of diesel depends on the chemical composition of the last fill-up (this is why the bottle says "improves Cetane up to 4 numbers"). And, don't think that one fill-up will be anything like the last, even if you always use the same station . Many (if not most) refineries run different batches of crude each week, leading to constantly differing mixtures of diesel feed-stocks. AND wholesale distributors that supply filling stations are constantly receiving different batches from various refineries. Only a tiny minority of stations are in a supply chain that delivers the same diesel mixture throughout the year.
Add Cetane Boost if you can afford it (I always do). On some infrequent occasions it might actually be doing some good.

 

[mjncad]

Testimonials on the benefit of Cetane improvers are pretty much worthless because there are so many variables relating to the fuel to whitch the booster is added.
Diesel is primarily a blend of medium-weight hydrocarbons designated C8 - C21 (in contrast to gasoline which is a blend of lighter hydrocarbons C5 - C12). Diesel distilled from a crude oil base rich in C8-C21 will yield a high quality base diesel fuel with a high Cetane number; no additive required . Most modern refineries, however, are equipped with "cracking" units that break-up heavier hydrocarbon molecules (those heavier than C 20) . This makes diesel cheaper by adding heavy oil and asphalt to the available feed-stock for diesel; but it also results in a product with a lower Cetane number . When diesel is made from these inferior feed-stocks, the Cetane number can be improved by adding 2-EHN (2-Ethyl Hexyl Nitate) and other chemicals . The addition of 2-EHN, however, can only go so far . So if a batch of diesel started life with a poor feed-stock and has been improved with 2-EHN to the max, adding more 2-EHN from a bottle of after-market Cetane Boost with do nothing .
There are then three basic situations (with an infinite number of variables in between):
(1) Diesel distilled from high quality feed stock has an adequate Cetane number and adding a Cetane boosting chemical is worthless .
(this situation is likely rare in the US owing to the prevalence of sophisticated high-yield refineries that are tuned to "get all the squeak out of the hog").
(2) Diesel made from a low quality feed-stock that has been treated to the max with 2-EHN and other enhancers cannot be improved by adding more such chemicals from a bottle of after-market Cetane Boost.
(3) Diesel made from a mid-quality feed-stock that has had only a little 2-EHN added at the refinery, can be improved by adding more of the same from a bottle of Cetane Boost.
So whether a bottle of Cetane Boost really increases the Cetane number of a given tank of diesel depends on the chemical composition of the last fill-up (this is why the bottle says "improves Cetane up to 4 numbers"). And, don't think that one fill-up will be anything like the last, even if you always use the same station . Many (if not most) refineries run different batches of crude each week, leading to constantly differing mixtures of diesel feed-stocks. AND wholesale distributors that supply filling stations are constantly receiving different batches from various refineries. Only a tiny minority of stations are in a supply chain that delivers the same diesel mixture throughout the year.
Add Cetane Boost if you can afford it (I always do). On some infrequent occasions it might actually be doing some good.

Good response CatDriver.

Well the website lists an executive team of three members. All marketing and sales specialists. The last one on the list, Christina (can't be a day over 25) has an automotive background. Yet all of her professional experience is with marketing.

Add a formal NFL star and a politiacian and you've got a winning combo there!

I'd buy some but I have my savings tied up in Prolong Engine Treatment....

Careful what you say about Christina, Crashz as I was chastised by a certain Epic Contributor for mentioning that she is an attractive woman.

Been owning/operating my own big rig for about 18yrs. Never use additives on a regular basis. IMO, if it'll do what it says, the fuel companies would be putting it in their tanks and selling the diesel at an even higher premium. Talked to many a rep from motor companies, tell me to save my money. I will use a qt of powerservice in each tank, if i get a big temp swing(20 above to -30). Just a little extra insurance, for i do a lot of night running, on back roads. Keep a gallon of 911 with me. Still have it after 5yrs or so.

Not saying it won't work, but it would have to be tried out on an unsuspecting driver for about a month(10,000 miles) of running. Then put a pencil to the mileage figures. Best thing to keep performance, mileage, and overall costs down is to change fuel and air filters on a regular basis.

That's kind of my attitude towards snake oil and "As seen on TV" products. If they are so good, why aren't the engine manufacturers in the case of 'Monster Diesel' additive jumping on the bandwagon; and why aren't ASOTV products sold in stores if they are so good?

 

[mrutkaus]

Yesterday an ounce or so of Red Line cetane enhancer in 6 gal of fuel really seemed to increase power in 30hp Kioti.

Mike

 

[SPYDERLK]

Yesterday an ounce or so of Red Line cetane enhancer in 6 gal of fuel really seemed to increase power in 30hp Kioti.

Mike

Yeah. Try it. It doesnt seem like it would be too hard to check it in terms of power increase; get your tractor up to operating temperature, find a hill/gear that it will barely climb [rpm start/finish], then pour the stuff in and run around abit to circulate, then try the hill again and compare. I think a pretty small % increase could be detected this way.
larry

 

[Spudland_Dave]

That's kind of my attitude towards snake oil and "As seen on TV" products. If they are so good, why aren't the engine manufacturers in the case of 'Monster Diesel' additive jumping on the bandwagon; and why aren't ASOTV products sold in stores if they are so good?

What do you mean? They do sell some ASOTV stuff in stores...I just picked up those little "squeegie" things for making nice beads of Caulk & Silicone at Home Depot... ROFL! They do work nice...but then again, its not hard to validate those claims...

 

[Ductape]

Drink the stuff!

I was just going to rub it on.

Rub it on ? I suggest putting it in cider !

 

[flyingcow]

Yesterday an ounce or so of Red Line cetane enhancer in 6 gal of fuel really seemed to increase power in 30hp Kioti.

Mike

Best way to get the feeling of more power is to run straight pipes. It sounds like more power, there for it is. i know a lot of Super Truckers that run straight pipes/octane boost/wirly gigs in air intake.............. man they feel like they're pullin' the hills! But, I'm still ridin' behind them! no further back. occasionally passing them, but that tends to hurt their feelings.

Sorry, I'm a grumpy old man when it comes to additives. an occasional splash of the octane boost won't hurt, but do it small doses. IMO..change fuel/oil/air filters often and/or as the book says to. Dump fuel filters into a clean container(clear milk jug works the best) and let sit for a while. The water and gunk will settle out. You will find small amounts, but keep an eye on it. If more than usual, figure where the problem is. Clean filters will make her pull good!!!!!

 

[Luremaker]

"Alkane, Inc. filed its 10-12G on October 07, 2009 for the period ending June 30, 2009. In this report its auditor, De Joya Griffith & Company, LLC, gave an unqualified opinion expressing doubt that the company can continue as a going concern."

Their share price went from $0.01 to a high of $0.62 (Jan 11/10) and is now trading over the counter at around $0.28.

ALKANE INC (ALKN:US): Stock Quote & Company Profile - BusinessWeek

 

[mjncad]

What do you mean? They do sell some ASOTV stuff in stores...I just picked up those little "squeegie" things for making nice beads of Caulk & Silicone at Home Depot... ROFL! They do work nice...but then again, its not hard to validate those claims...

I ask my brother-in-law to do the caulking as he is the absolute best man with a caulking gun I've ever seen.

On the other hand, I make the kind of mess shown on the TV ads.