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

[Skyco]

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.

hey CatDriver, are you on the Sprinter forum? I read the exact same post over there!

 

[crashz]

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

Sorry - I meant no disrespect to women, or younger people for that matter (not that I'm old at 34). Just pointing out the lack of any technical expertise in their executive board. Which to me, indicates that the the technical aspects of this product are not a priority.

Most likely, and judging from the marketing flair, this product is riding the coat tails of the diesel "sport" truck crowd. Seems like a very popular thing for the past 5 years or so. Just look at the magazine shelves bursting with new diesel truck magazines. And each one has at least 100 pages of products, some of which are useless. Just like the throttle body spacer. Has anyone else noticed that nearly every tuner and filter kit company now also sells a throttle body spacer? Even through its been proven to be worthless? Now even the magazines have been pushing them!

Marketers are finding new and inventive ways to seperate a fool and his money...

 

[Diamondpilot]

Remember the big push 2 years ago for Nitrogen in your tires? Do not hear a thing about it now days. I think too many people figured out there was already about 80% nitrogen in good old air.

Chris

 

[mjncad]

Sorry - I meant no disrespect to women, or younger people for that matter (not that I'm old at 34). Just pointing out the lack of any technical expertise in their executive board. Which to me, indicates that the the technical aspects of this product are not a priority.

Most likely, and judging from the marketing flair, this product is riding the coat tails of the diesel "sport" truck crowd. Seems like a very popular thing for the past 5 years or so. Just look at the magazine shelves bursting with new diesel truck magazines. And each one has at least 100 pages of products, some of which are useless. Just like the throttle body spacer. Has anyone else noticed that nearly every tuner and filter kit company now also sells a throttle body spacer? Even through its been proven to be worthless? Now even the magazines have been pushing them!

Marketers are finding new and inventive ways to seperate a fool and his money...

I wasn't offended in the least. I just know there is a certain member on this forum who is easily offended.

I was noticing the same thing about Monster Diesel's executive management team seemed to be all show and no technical go.

 

[crashz]

Remember the big push 2 years ago for Nitrogen in your tires? Do not hear a thing about it now days. I think too many people figured out there was already about 80% nitrogen in good old air.

I really enjoyed telling people that I had a nitrogen blend. Most got the joke, but occasionally I'd get asked: "Where can I get this nitrogen blend?"

 

[Diamondpilot]

I really enjoyed telling people that I had a nitrogen blend. Most got the joke, but occasionally I'd get asked: "Where can I get this nitrogen blend?"

You should sell it too them. Only $5 a tire. Wait, that is now my idea... I am getting a copyright and a patent tomorrow.

I can advertise its a "GREEN" product and really pull them in.

Chris