Three years now I have had my Ram Eco-Diesel here in Colorado and only twice have I run into fuel gelling issues but the temps were south of -20 degrees F. In three years, I have never utilized a fuel treatment of any kind. My truck sits outside, as the motorcycles get the garage. I do have a block heater, and always "plug in" on cold nights.
This weekend we are supposed to have temps dipping to the negative 10 mark or lower and I thought I might add some treatment, but I have some questions.
1. If you are in a cold climate, do you always use a fuel treatment all winter, or only when the forecast is showing very frigid temps?
2. Is there a particular brand of treatment that is superior and even multi-use, in the fact that it also cleans up the injectors, etc.?
3. Seems I have read that some drivers use certain treatments that are great for pre-2007 diesels, but the newer engines shouldn't use. Is there anything to this claim?
4. Having a modern V-6 turbo diesel that has a DEF system.... is that an important consideration in this decision?
Thanks for the help!
Questions: Winter Diesel Fuel Treatment
- Thread starter BigJohn
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I have run Power service white bottle for years. Its easy to find and has benefits beyond being anti gel. As I understand, its compatible with post 07 trucks. You might double check their website to be sure. Almost equally as important is where you buy your fuel, a trusted source that sells a large volume is important.
Just found this.....
"For the first time in company history, Cummins has officially endorsed a fuel additive, recommending two Power Service products, Diesel Kleen + Cetane Boost and Diesel Fuel Supplement + Cetane Boost."
http://www.truckinginfo.com/channel/fuel...-additives.aspx
When I drove long haul, Howes never failed me. Other trucks would shut down overnight because their fuel gelled, but mine never did.
http://www.howeslube.com/dieseltreat.php
For my sins, back in the 80's, I was paid to try and flog Diesel Wax Crystal Modifiers to anyone who was daft enough to want to buy them!
These have been almost universally used throughout Europe since the 70's. All diesel (be it sold in Winter or Summer) & heating gasoil contains around 100-300 ppm of additive (it's usually Ethylene Vinyl Acetate copolymer) to reduce the fuel's Cold Filter Plugging Point (CFPP)
Things may have changed in the intervening years but my recollection is that the US never really liked these additives and resisted their mass adoption. My memory's a bit hazy but I sort of recall that the two reasons commonly cited for this were that American truckers seldom turn their engine's off (so the fuel's always warm) and US gasoline-orientated oil refineries (unlike European ones) have no economic incentive to increase diesel yield.
Adding WCM's to US fuel should work fine. Just make sure the gunk is warm and well diluted before you add it to your fuel tank. Big gobs of agglomerated EVA to not a WCM make!
+1 on the Power Service White Bottle. Use it all winter for my signature 2013 VW diesel Passat. Nary a gel problem even when we once hit -20 and car was outside for about 10 hours.
IMHO need for additives depends on whether you get 'winter grade' diesel or not.
Here you get winter and arctic grade diesel during the winter depending on location and at least I have never had any problems with diesels in the winter. Winter diesel here has typically cloud point of -29 degrees Celsius (-20 F) and arctic -40 degrees Celsius.
Howes or Power Service Diesel Fuel Supplement. Follow the directions on how much to use depending on the temps you expect to run into. Particularly important if you buy diesel fuel in a warmer climate than where you will be or you aren't sure what the fuel you are buying is rated to temperature wise.
Always fun to watch how many trucks coming north run into trouble when the weather actually turns cold here...
They dont have winter diesel in CO??
I dont use anything in WI. It sits outside all year long, and I rarely plug it in, maybe at -25+F.
We also drive out to WY, ID, MT, CO in winter to ride in the mountains. Never had to add anything then either.
Originally Posted By: BigJohn
Three years now I have had my Ram Eco-Diesel here in Colorado and only twice have I run into fuel gelling issues but the temps were south of -20 degrees F. In three years, I have never utilized a fuel treatment of any kind. My truck sits outside, as the motorcycles get the garage. I do have a block heater, and always "plug in" on cold nights.
This weekend we are supposed to have temps dipping to the negative 10 mark or lower and I thought I might add some treatment, but I have some questions.
1. If you are in a cold climate, do you always use a fuel treatment all winter, or only when the forecast is showing very frigid temps?
2. Is there a particular brand of treatment that is superior and even multi-use, in the fact that it also cleans up the injectors, etc.?
3. Seems I have read that some drivers use certain treatments that are great for pre-2007 diesels, but the newer engines shouldn't use. Is there anything to this claim?
4. Having a modern V-6 turbo diesel that has a DEF system.... is that an important consideration in this decision?
Thanks for the help!
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Howes is the best in my experience, plus has a better lubricity profile. No worries about the emissions system(s). DEF only cares about the NOX it's targeting in your exhaust.
Relying on the oil companies to always ensure proper anti-gel treat is not a very good idea if you are running in really cold temps (<-20) on a regular basis. Most people never have a problem, but only you can decide what the risk is worth.
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Originally Posted By: UberArchetype
Relying on the oil companies to always ensure proper anti-gel treat is not a very good idea if you are running in really cold temps (<-20) on a regular basis. Most people never have a problem, but only you can decide what the risk is worth.
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Originally Posted By: Srt20
They dont have winter diesel in CO??
Originally Posted By: UberArchetype
Howes is the best in my experience, plus has a better lubricity profile. No worries about the emissions system(s). DEF only cares about the NOX it's targeting in your exhaust.
Relying on the oil companies to always ensure proper anti-gel treat is not a very good idea if you are running in really cold temps (<-20) on a regular basis. Most people never have a problem, but only you can decide what the risk is worth.
Another thing to note about cold diesel fuel issues is that oftentimes water separators freeze and the problem gets attributed to fuel gelling, which is not actually the real problem. It's a good idea to get them in the garage to warm up once or twice each season and check/drain the water separator.
Originally Posted By: UberArchetype
Another thing to note about cold diesel fuel issues is that oftentimes water separators freeze and the problem gets attributed to fuel gelling, which is not actually the real problem. It's a good idea to get them in the garage to warm up once or twice each season and check/drain the water separator.
These two products are highly regarded and will have the cold weather benefits you are looking for. They can also be used all year around. K100 is easily available at Napa. Bell performance products have to be ordered but they are a good value.
http://k-100.com/fuel-type/diesel/
https://shop.bellperformance.com/collections/diesel/products/dee-zol-plus
For extreme cold weather:
https://shop.bellperformance.com/products/cold-flow-improver
https://shop.bellperformance.com/collections/diesel/products/quick-thaw
Here in CO I use both Howes and PS White bottle (gray bottle in the summers). I like all three since they are available at WM for a very reasonable price.
dnewton3
Staff member
I've used PS-DFS (white bottle) for decades in everything from tractors to my Dmax to an old diesel Escort and Tempo. Never had problems when directions are followed.
Honestly I look at this as if we'd be talking about lubes. There is no "best" fuel treatment. There are many good ones and probably some huckster garbage out there.
The big three (PowerService, Howes and Stanadyne) are the safe go-to products. I'm sure Amsoil, Schaeffers and others also make decent stuff.
If only Walmart had a house brand diesel fuel treatment ... Love those ST products!
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