power service addative

[LBrown59]

What do you use to measure .58 ounces?

A 55 gallon drum.

32 Oz of PS divided by 55 gallon equals .5818181.
I just round it off to ------------ .5800000

 

[MikeD74T]

I'm an occasiopnal PSA user, keep it in the truck but don't use it with every tank. I get fuel in both ends of New Hampshire. Two weeks ago up north bought local mountains fuel and was fine at -22F. Yesterday at -14F with local seacoast fuel my truck died on the way to work in the parking lot. 3 short term starts got me into a parking space. Put in some PSA, DUH - a day late. Later in the day it warmed to 7 F but even heating the filter didn't help. Came back with a space heater & a blue tarp & in 15 minutes I was running again. If I could just remember to use PSA ahead of the forecast I wouldn't have to go through this. Same thing happened two years ago -beyond my apparent memory ??? At least this time I didn't have to pay for a tow. MikeD74T

 

[LBrown59]

I've done the same. It's quick and easy. Two squirts to the 1oz mark and then I'm off to fill the diesel can.
I've had no gelling issues using road diesel (pre treated I'm sure) and adding PS.

You should not with off road either since it is just red dyed on road.

 

[LBrown59]

I'm an occasiopnal PSA user, keep it in the truck but don't use it with every tank. I get fuel in both ends of New Hampshire. Two weeks ago up north bought local mountains fuel and was fine at -22F. Yesterday at -14F with local seacoast fuel my truck died on the way to work in the parking lot. 3 short term starts got me into a parking space. Put in some PSA, DUH - a day late. Later in the day it warmed to 7 F but even heating the filter didn't help. Came back with a space heater & a blue tarp & in 15 minutes I was running again.
*If I could just remember to use PSA ahead of the forecast I wouldn't have to go through this. Same thing happened two years ago -beyond my apparent memory ??? At least this time I didn't have to pay for a tow. MikeD74T

*The best way to do that is put it in every time you buy fuel.

 

[john_bud]

I know some swear by the PS products. I swear AT IT. Using PS in the white bottle has left me on the side of the road a half dozen times. 2 years ago I switched to "Howes Diesel Treat" and have had no problems since.

Here's a comparison;
Howes is made in Canada where it gets COLD
PS is made in Texas where cold means wearing socks with your sandals
Howes is cheaper than PS white
Howes is Guaranteed to not leave you stranded (has some requirements to prove use)
PS is NOT guaranteed to do anything except drain your wallet
Howes has a pleasant odor
PS - not so much
Howes can reverse gel on a filter (not its prime function, but it does)
PS does not do a dern thang to reverse gel

Naturally, this is my opinion and YMMV

jb

 

[MikeD74T]

*The best way to do that is put it in every time you buy fuel.

Between tractors & truck I buy about 900 gallons per year. Have only had trouble twice since Jan '02. Treating is the most reliable but is not necessarily the most cost effective. In that time I've never found water in my fuel. I just think the seacoast station, which has a high fuel turnover, blends fuel closer to higher daily temps than weekly or monthly lows. We seldom get more than a couple days below zero F before it warms. I get 3 weeks from a tank when I'm in the seacoast area 'cause I only drive 3 miles to work. Up north the daily temp can be below zero F for up to a month with lows in the -40Fs. They blend fuel accordingly but the fuel I buy there is gone by the time I get back to the south. I just need to get my head back into daylight sooner and treat per the forecast.

At work the chemistry department checks the quality of all fuel we buy for our fire pumps because the tanks are outside. They occasionally refuse fuel. Yesterday the diesel truck delivering that fuel died in the security inspection area because it's fuel filter froze & split. Doesn't speak well for their fuel, which is why we test it. MikeD74T

 

[escavader]

Have not had to use tractor in 4 days (but darn sure will need to move snow) tomorrow, Altough the diesel is winter blend , with three nites of O deg temp and worse tonigh i decided to add some power service, added 5oz to 6.5 gal tank started tractor and let it run about 20 min. all was fine. question WAS 5 oz TOO MUCH FOR 6.5 GAL. AND WILL IT HARM ANYTHING?

Heck ,ive used a whole bottle in 4-5 gallons before.diesal mechanic told me to,and it solved my water problem.Tractor ran fine
ALAN

 

[Soundguy]

I know some swear by the PS products. I swear AT IT. Using PS in the white bottle has left me on the side of the road a half dozen times.

Lets be fair... cold gelled fuel has left you by the roadside a half dozen times... it wasn't the PS.. in a 'blind' test of using PS or NO addative.. I bet using 'no addative' would have left you stranded as well!

Defining how good a product is based on the temp of the place it is manufactured in is almost as bad as saying you can't eat decent seafood in a land locked state... or that only wisc chees is good.. etc..

too many variables for those kind of statements..

soundguy

 

[DieselPower]

Good points Soundguy. Something else to consider when the temps drop real low is that using the suggested treat rate on the bottle will only raise the gel point so much. Most additives raise it 20 to 30 degrees F. So if your getting some of the fuel I have seen that gells at temps close to +40 deg. F. and use the suggested ratio at best your gel point has been raised to +10 deg. F and it's been a whole lot colder than that all over the US the last week or so. Another thing is that the same additive will effect different batch's of fuel differently. The gel point of untreated fuel can vary greatly now days and additives that raise the gel point 30 deg. on one fuel may only raise it 20 deg. on another batch.

 

[Skyco]

PS also changed their formula to a version for ULSD. I've seen the old stuff still on shelves a few times. Possibly using the old stuff in ULSD doesn't cut it.

 

[Soundguy]

Speaking of ULSD.. what about bio blends... I imagine they gell up worse?

soundguy

 

[john_bud]

Lets be fair... cold gelled fuel has left you by the roadside a half dozen times... it wasn't the PS.. in a 'blind' test of using PS or NO addative.. I bet using 'no addative' would have left you stranded as well!

Defining how good a product is based on the temp of the place it is manufactured in is almost as bad as saying you can't eat decent seafood in a land locked state... or that only wisc chees is good.. etc..

too many variables for those kind of statements..

soundguy

Fair? I'm not here to be fair. The things I've posted are factual - not fair. Using "no additive" would certainly have left me stranded as many thousands of vehicles were. Using PS has left me stranded. Using Howes, has allowed me to continue driving, whle people I know with other diesels were laying in the snow changing filters.

If anyone wants to use PS, they should feel free. If they want to use Howes, that's (IMHO) even better. There are other products like Stanadyne and even Scamsoil that can be used. Heck, if they want to rely on the guys blending the fuel to add enough that's ok by me too. I feel it's foolish, but it's their truck/tractor and wallet.

And a company that is in a cold (-40F and lower) location making a product to eliminate cold weather caused problems has more weight in my book that one based where the yearly low is +30F. It was posted that PS has changed the bottle and presumably the formulation to meet the needs of ULSD. Why did they wait until a year or more AFTER the change to ULSD? My thought is because the product failed miserably in cold weather with the ULSD. It also fails with bio-D, but many fail there too.

 

[AKfish]

I know some swear by the PS products. I swear AT IT. Using PS in the white bottle has left me on the side of the road a half dozen times. 2 years ago I switched to "Howes Diesel Treat" and have had no problems since.

Here's a comparison;
Howes is made in Canada where it gets COLD
PS is made in Texas where cold means wearing socks with your sandals
Howes is cheaper than PS white
Howes is Guaranteed to not leave you stranded (has some requirements to prove use)
PS is NOT guaranteed to do anything except drain your wallet
Howes has a pleasant odor
PS - not so much
Howes can reverse gel on a filter (not its prime function, but it does)
PS does not do a dern thang to reverse gel

Naturally, this is my opinion and YMMV

jb

John - I take your advice at face value. I don't doubt that Howes is a worthwhile product and it does what it's supposed to do.. I've never seen it available here in Alaska - it sure could be - I've just never ran across it.

I've only had diesels since 2000; so, my perspective isn't that long on the horizon..

Only gelled once in that time and that was my tractor. Never stuck out on the road someplace (knock on forehead)!

PS has worked for me. But, I sure do hate using that stuff each and every time I fill up! And the bottles always leak and that stuff is WAY NASTY! It has stained every vinyl or rubber type material in the back of my truck!

If I come across Howes - I'll give it a shot.

AKfish

 

[Ford850]

I'm on the fence between John Bud and Soundguy. After buying a large new bottle of PS this fall, and seeing they changed the doses, I planned to buy Howes next time to be safe. I finished the old bottle of PS with a double dose to summer blend diesel that I am still running. We had -17 and -19 degree nights a few days ago. I started the tractor with no problems (thanks to a block heater too) and ran for hours clearing snow. It was closer to -5 by the time I started it, but I think if the fuel would have gelled at -19 it would still be gelled today since it hasn't reached 20 degrees for a week.
PS has never failed me, but it has failed others. I think my fuel must react well to it, or at least better than others' fuel. I still might try Howes next time, as this new bottle of PS has me concerned (no double dose for winter).

 

[Soundguy]

And a company that is in a cold (-40F and lower) location making a product to eliminate cold weather caused problems has more weight in my book that one based where the yearly low is +30F. It was posted that PS has changed the bottle and presumably the formulation to meet the needs of ULSD. Why did they wait until a year or more AFTER the change to ULSD? My thought is because the product failed miserably in cold weather with the ULSD. It also fails with bio-D, but many fail there too.

That's a 'faith' type corelation. No facts to back it up.. just a feel good statement.

You can't determine a products contents or performance based on the physical location it was manufactured at! Product performance must be evaluated under controled conditions and testing.

soundguy

 

[Thumper & Buttercup]

Hey Guys,

My first diesel was a 1984 Blazer with a 6.2. I've been using Power Service since then. I have never gelled a tractor or truck, I do add extra, I also add it to my House fuel which is a indoor tank with #2 in it. I was driving a Semi that started to gel up, added a jug of PS and stirred the tank with a stick, in 20 min she was good to go.

That Blazer we traided her in with 250,000 miles, never had the injectors worked on, I did have the impeller drive replaced with a metal one on the pump but that was because it was a plastic one from the factory.

I trust PS, I've used her down to -40 degrees, but it's still important to have a good mix of #1 fuel with the #2.

 

[dirtworksequip]

I think it's more of a fuel problem than what additive you use. Anymore with the way they have been adding bio, you just have to chose your weapon and hope for the best.

Sincerely, Dirt

 

[kevinj]

John - I take your advice at face value. I don't doubt that Howes is a worthwhile product and it does what it's supposed to do.. I've never seen it available here in Alaska - it sure could be - I've just never ran across it.

I've only had diesels since 2000; so, my perspective isn't that long on the horizon..

Only gelled once in that time and that was my tractor. Never stuck out on the road someplace (knock on forehead)!

PS has worked for me. But, I sure do hate using that stuff each and every time I fill up! And the bottles always leak and that stuff is WAY NASTY! It has stained every vinyl or rubber type material in the back of my truck!

If I come across Howes - I'll give it a shot.

AKfish

I found Howes around here at the local NAPA store.

 

[kevinj]

but it's still important to have a good mix of #1 fuel with the #2.

Years back I drove for Amoco and Shell oil. We used a mix of 25% #1 in all diesel tanks and outdoor home heating tanks. Never had a problem with our trucks without any additional treatment. Of course this was in the 70's before LSD & ULSD

 

[LBrown59]

I'm on the fence between John Bud and Soundguy. After buying a large new bottle of PS this fall, and seeing they changed the doses, I planned to buy Howes next time to be safe. I finished the old bottle of PS with a double dose to summer blend diesel that I am still running. We had -17 and -19 degree nights a few days ago. I started the tractor with no problems (thanks to a block heater too) and ran for hours clearing snow. It was closer to -5 by the time I started it, but I think if the fuel would have gelled at -19 it would still be gelled today since it hasn't reached 20 degrees for a week.
PS has never failed me, but it has failed others. I think my fuel must react well to it, or at least better than others' fuel. I still might try Howes next time, as this new bottle of PS has me concerned (no double dose for winter).

All 3 of my BX tractors are filled with summer blend treated with
.5818181 ounces of power service per gallon.
A double dose would be .640000 ounces per gallon,so I'm only off .0581819 ounces per gallon .