Who treats their diesel fuel?

[et2]

I know it's been discussed if you should on this forum and the associated debates. My question is to those "who do", have you had any issues?

In particular ours is stored from fall to spring 6-7 months without any road driving. So we keep the tank full at 100 gallons. Been using the Power Service products for years. Clear Diesel fuel and tank cleaner for stabilation and water removal. Use this all year and add at every fueling. In the fall I add winter fuel conditioner as well.

Just this last fueling added a Diesel Kleen and Cetane boost. Suppose to lube the injectors and clean them.

Now that just me. I lean toward a little prevention vs hoping everything will be alright. I got that attitude after flying private aircraft. A whole lot of required preventive maintenance goes into keeping a plane airworthy. Like keeping the fuel tanks full at all times. Every flight is preceded by a fuel check for water. Which I have found even with full tanks.

So that led me to believe our MH systems aren't any better. Except we do have water separators. I'd rather not put all my trust in them.

Anyone have problems caused by using these products?

[RayChez]

You only need additives if you are going to store your coach for over three months.

I never use any additives because I use my coach year round, but if I was going to put it in storage, you would be a fool not to add a additive.

[WILDEBILL308]

This is a common question and a good one. I was doing some reading on this subject. Both Cat and Cummins say you don't need any additives. The big caveat is "if the fuel meets the required standards." Now how do we know if the fuel meets all the requirements? Now it is interesting that Cat says that additives will not improve performance but may "restore" performance. They now recommend 256-4968 Caterpillar fuel conditioner can improves mileage by 2-3%. They also recommend, 343-6210 Caterpillar Fuel system cleaner.
Cummins only approves products manufactured by Cummins or it’s subsidiaries.

https://www.cumminsf.../LT32599_08.pdf

So while saying you don't need additives they sell and recommend them.
I am going to continue to run the Fleetguard Asphaltene Conditioner or Diesel Kleen.
Hear is a link to a test of additive that "The Diesel Place" did on several additives.
http://www.jatonkam3...ditive_test.pdf.

I posted this on a different forum and copied it hear to save typing.

Bill

[Blaster_Man]

w4phj wrote:
...I keep my tank full and use Biobor...

Agree, a full tank and a biocide are musts if your fuel will sit for months.

[FordDiesel250]

I use Power Service in my Motorhome and Pickup truck regularly. Just good preventive maintenance in my book.

[mowermech]

I strongly recommend you look up the MSDS for the additive you swear by, then look up the MSDS for that additive you swear at!
It is very likely you will find that ALL additives are made up of naphtha and light machine oil, mostly naphtha!
How much "lubricity" do you think 4 or 8 ounces of light machine oil (sewing machine oil, 3 in 1 oil, etc.) added to 40 or 50 gallons of diesel fuel REALLY adds to the fuel?
The ONLY additive I use is Sta-Bil in my gasoline. So far, it seems to be working for me. Oh, wait, I did run three bottles of "injector cleaner" through my present truck. It may have done some good, I'm not sure.
When I had a diesel truck, I used additives once, to prevent gelling of summer fuel when it dropped to below freezing. Once I got it running, I filled with winter fuel and never put another additive in. The truck had 276,000+ when I let it go.
Some of the MSDS that you look up will say the ingredients are "proprietary information" IMO, that means they are afraid you will mix it up in your garage from readily available ingredients. They want you to buy their little bottles, not mix it in gallon lots!

[gsf35099]

I use Howes in the DP probably 2/3 of the time. Been running a little additive in my F350 for 15 years and have 260k miles on it & still running strong. Figure it can't hurt in the DP.

[Mr_Mark1]

We have never used additives in our previous motorhome and have no plans to with our new one.

With fuel filters and the new engines manufactured for the new fuel, why waste the money for an additive?

MM.

[kidkasha]

I have not used an additive at all. Will research at Rileys or Pep boys

[robertbenita]

Diesel Kleen is all we add.

[dkreuzen]

I have been using "Amalgamated TDR-FL" additive for the last year. I use it to help keep the DPF clean. So far I have never had to do a forced re-gen.

[Pass42]

We use PennRay diesel prep. improves lubricity, increases cetane rating, etc.

[nevadanick]

DSDP, my Cat backhoe sits for months at a time and then gets its neck rung out without additives. Other than some Howes when it gets real cold i have seen no need for additives and probbly dont need that but it gives me piece of mind when its 20 below.

[mtrumpet]

I use Howes Diesel Treatment every three or four fillups.
HOWES DIESEL TREAT & LUBES

FWIW, We run our MH out to someplace practically every weekend during the summer months, so it doesn't "sit" much without running. If we do have a weekend that we don't go someplace, then the most it would sit would be about 12 days max. between trips. During the winter, it's stored in a heated building, and never sees less than 72 degrees.

[Skid_Row_Joe]

DSDP Don wrote:
For those running pick up trucks and farm equipment, it's great that they never needed an additive. But, were not talking about something that gets run everyday, we're talking about RV's that sit for long periods of time and then get their necks wrung for short periods of time.

Power Service here. My diesels don't get run every day, or every week. I think it's a good idea to have a Racor brand water separator installed, if yours doesn't have one.