Question regarding diesel fuel additives

   / Question regarding diesel fuel additives #1  

sixdogs

Super Star Member
Joined
Dec 8, 2007
Messages
13,310
Location
Ohio
Tractor
Kubota M7040, Kubota MX5100, Deere 790 TLB, Farmall Super C
I bought a new-to-me '97 Ford F250 and it had 4 to 5 year old diesel fuel in it. It ran pretty cr@ppy on that fuel. On fresher fuel it ran much better.

Then I bought some Power Service diesel treatment and some Lucas lubricity additive and injector cleaner and wow, it ran shockingly better than expected. It also had fresh fuel but I am now wondering if I should keep using one or both of these additives and even the Lucas certain improver on a regular basis. Both truck and tractor? I already put Stanadyne Performance Formula in my bulk tanks.

Anybody use additive to a diesel pickup or tractor ?
 
   / Question regarding diesel fuel additives #2  
I use PowerService year round in my tractor,less than 100gal/yr .Diesel truck,I would use in winter only.
 
   / Question regarding diesel fuel additives #3  
You may want to consider that Lucas consistently place at or near the bottom in all tests having to do with lubricity.

I use mostly Howes, both in storage tanks and vehicles. Still too early to tell if the diesel version of Star Tron is even nearly as good as the gas one, but my 15Kw generator doesn't seem to mind almost 10 year old diesel.
 
   / Question regarding diesel fuel additives #4  
I’d keep using the power service year round. It boosts the cetane up and keeps the injectors clean. The winter formula has anti-gel in it. I always give my tractor a drink before winter. It gelled up once on winter fuel when it was really cold. No issues since I started using it.

I also use it in our 2010 VW Touareg TDI. No injector or pump issues in 220,000 miles.
 
   / Question regarding diesel fuel additives #5  
I use power service in the fuel for my Kubota M6040 - year round. A certain amount of my summer fuel will carry over to winter. I've experienced fuel gelling - once. I don't need that again.

Short story. I have a mile long driveway. Half way down the driveway my first tractor - Ford 1700 - came to a slow stop. Soon determined - fuel jelling. Back to the house. Get my portable generator and commercial heat gun. Took better part of an hour to heat the fuel and get it running again. Learned two things - use an anti-jelling product and be darn certain it is REALLY important to be out in minus 18F weather.
 
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   / Question regarding diesel fuel additives #6  
I don’t like to use an additive in gas or diesel unless you are doing it for a specific reason. For example anti gel as winter gets near or stabilizer for long term gas storage. In your case adding something to the tank of old fuel makes sense. Unless you have problems with your tractor why start adding an additive.
 
   / Question regarding diesel fuel additives #7  
I bought a new-to-me '97 Ford F250 and it had 4 to 5 year old diesel fuel in it. It ran pretty cr@ppy on that fuel. On fresher fuel it ran much better.

Then I bought some Power Service diesel treatment and some Lucas lubricity additive and injector cleaner and wow, it ran shockingly better than expected. It also had fresh fuel but I am now wondering if I should keep using one or both of these additives and even the Lucas certain improver on a regular basis. Both truck and tractor? I already put Stanadyne Performance Formula in my bulk tanks.

Anybody use additive to a diesel pickup or tractor ?
I use power service diesel Kleen (grey bottle) Mar thru end of October, then switch to the fuel additive (white bottle), November to end of Feb
 
   / Question regarding diesel fuel additives
  • Thread Starter
#8  
I use power service diesel Kleen (grey bottle) Mar thru end of October, then switch to the fuel additive (white bottle), November to end of Feb
That is what I may do. Also add the Lucas cetane improver.
 
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   / Question regarding diesel fuel additives #9  
I have been adding 3oz of Power Service Diesel Additive to 5gal of fuel consistently for 17 years. Started doing this because I was concerned I might have gelling if I didn't, but never tried running without it. Also, it says it improves "lubricity" which is supposedly good for the injectors.

I have no idea whether doing this has helped anything or not, but have not had any fuel-related or injector problems in this time and it doesn't cost much to add, so I will probably just keep doing it.
 
   / Question regarding diesel fuel additives #10  
I bought a new-to-me '97 Ford F250 and it had 4 to 5 year old diesel fuel in it. It ran pretty cr@ppy on that fuel. On fresher fuel it ran much better.
Did you change out the fuel filters yet?
 

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