Question regarding diesel fuel additives

[sixdogs]

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 ?

 

[nybirdman]

I use PowerService year round in my tractor,less than 100gal/yr .Diesel truck,I would use in winter only.

 

[Too many Kubotas]

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.

 

[Racer4]

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.

 

[oosik]

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.

 

[dodge man]

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.

 

[D&D]

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

 

[sixdogs]

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.

 

[Runner]

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.

 

[ruffdog]

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?

 

[ChiefBodie]

Did you change out the fuel filters yet?

Good starting point.

 

[Too many Kubotas]

Unless you have problems with your tractor why start adding an additive.

I think most people, myself included, use additives to avoid problems in the first place. Had to use 911 in my Peterbilt shortly after moving here, one lesson learned.

Being very skeptical about additives (and many other things) I did a fair amount of research on anything that went into my fuel tanks. That's one reason I still have 3/4 of a bottle of Lucas on the shelf, bought before I knew better.

And I almost hate to admit it, but the Howes (given to me) I started putting in the Ram 3500 seems to have a positive effect on mileage, something I keep close track of.

Is Howes the best? Probably not, but that's what I ended up using, and it didn't hurt to find out that when I got my first fuel delivery, that's what they had added to the early winter delivery. Obviously the anti gel version. For strictly lubricity purposes there are better options.

For those unfortunate enough to end up with bacteria in the fuel, Bio Bor did the job for me.

 

[California]

My 40 year old Yanmars run noticeably smoother using (gray) Power Service. I've read that they were designed for higher cetane diesel and the Power Service brings US diesel up to that spec.

The YM240 (1970's design, 2 cylinder) inherently has severe diesel knock. PS tames this, somewhat.

 

[sixdogs]

Did you change out the fuel filters yet?

Sure did. Almost first thing.

 

[sixdogs]

I think most people, myself included, use additives to avoid problems in the first place. Had to use 911 in my Peterbilt shortly after moving here, one lesson learned.

Being very skeptical about additives (and many other things) I did a fair amount of research on anything that went into my fuel tanks. That's one reason I still have 3/4 of a bottle of Lucas on the shelf, bought before I knew better.

And I almost hate to admit it, but the Howes (given to me) I started putting in the Ram 3500 seems to have a positive effect on mileage, something I keep close track of.

Is Howes the best? Probably not, but that's what I ended up using, and it didn't hurt to find out that when I got my first fuel delivery, that's what they had added to the early winter delivery. Obviously the anti gel version. For strictly lubricity purposes there are better options.

For those unfortunate enough to end up with bacteria in the fuel, Bio Bor did the job for me.

30 years ago my concern over reduced lubricity in diesel fuel led me to Stanadyne Performance Formula fuel treatment by a diesel repair shop. In all theses years and thousands of hours, I've never had a fuel or injector problem. Not one.

I also water block and regular filter my fuel kept in an outside building so that helps. That certainly helps too.

 

[dodge man]

Keep in mind anything built in recent times is designed to run on the diesel you get here in the US. If you have something older when sulfur was in the diesel then you might need to always add an additive. If you really feel the need for an additive do some research. Project Farm has a good video on diesel additives.

 

[mjonesnh]

Use Opti-lube XPD year round, also my summer diesel carries over to winter temps. Use a double dose in colder temps, never had gelling issue. Granted my local temps are never extreme , seldom below zero. have been out moving snow with rear blade and loader at 11F without issue. The XPD was well rated in an additive review from several years ago for added lubrication for diesel. Bought a gallon jug roughly 7-8 years ago. Still have maybe a quart left. Was using Power Service but the Opti-Lube seemed to give tractor a little boost that the Power Service didnt have. Maybe extra cetane?

 

[Too many Kubotas]

Yep, Opti-Lube is on the opposite end of Lucas on the test spectrum. Good stuff.

I have a bottle I use sparingly.

 

[sixdogs]

Yep, Opti-Lube is on the opposite end of Lucas on the test spectrum. Good stuff.

I have a bottle I use sparingly.

I'll gather that Lucas diesel products are not widely desired. Why? I have had great results with their oils and especially their greases. Fill me in.

 

[D&D]

I'll gather that Lucas diesel products are not widely desired. Why? I have had great results with their oils and especially their greases. Fill me in.

Just because a company does well with some things, doesn’t make everything a hit. Probably more word of mouth than actual road test data on this subject though.