Sylvie Willis
Diesel fuel additives are products that aim to improve a vehicle's performance and fuel efficiency, but do they work? Various brands are available on the market, such as Howes, Lucas, and Cummins, each promising enhanced engine operation, increased fuel economy, and reduced emissions. Some users swear by these additives, claiming noticeable improvements in their vehicles' performance, especially in cold weather. Others, however, are sceptical, arguing that additives are unnecessary and provide no tangible benefits. While some additives may help prevent issues like fuel gelling in cold climates, opinions vary, and the effectiveness of these products remains a topic of debate among diesel vehicle owners and enthusiasts.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Purpose | To improve diesel engine performance and longevity |
| Use cases | Cold weather, engine cleaning, improving lubrication, enhancing combustion, reducing ignition delay, preventing corrosion, improving fuel efficiency, reducing soot and emissions |
| Effectiveness | Varies with the product and engine type; some users report no noticeable difference, while others claim improved performance and longevity |
| Examples | Cummins, HSS Winter, Archoil, Hotshot, Opti-Lube XPD, Power Service, Seafoam, AMSOIL Diesel 4-in-1, Lucas Upper Cylinder Lubricant |
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What You'll Learn
Diesel fuel additives improve cold weather performance
While modern diesel engines have improved in their ability to withstand cold weather, low temperatures can still impact performance and cause long-term damage. Diesel fuel additives are an effective way to protect your engine and fuel system in cold weather.
Diesel fuel is susceptible to gelling in cold weather, which can clog fuel filters and fuel lines, causing issues such as difficulty starting the engine or power loss. This happens because diesel fuel contains wax in suspension, which drops out of suspension and solidifies as temperatures drop. Diesel fuel additives work by lowering the temperature at which the wax in diesel fuel solidifies, preventing the formation of gelled lumps and keeping the wax dispersed. This, in turn, prevents the clogging of fuel lines and filters, improving fuel flow and engine performance.
Diesel Winter Anti-Gel is a popular additive that improves cold weather performance by lowering the Cold Filter Plug Point (CFPP) and the overall Pour Point of the fuel. It also improves detergency, stability, lubricity, and winter operability, and boosts the fuel's cetane number. Other additives, such as Howes Diesel Treat, not only prevent gelling but also act as diesel conditioners, providing lubricity, preventing deposits, and improving fuel economy.
To ensure the effectiveness of diesel fuel additives, it is important to follow the instructions on the bottle and add the specified amount to the fuel tank before refueling. Additionally, it is recommended to start using additives as soon as temperatures approach freezing and to prepare in advance for anticipated cold fronts.
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They can increase fuel efficiency
Fuel additives are chemical compounds added to the fuel tank of a gasoline or diesel vehicle. They are designed to optimise combustion, allowing for better fuel efficiency. By enhancing the fuel’s properties, additives enable efficient fuel combustion, reducing fuel consumption and potential cost savings for businesses and vehicle owners.
Fuel additives can be particularly beneficial for older vehicles, which were created for different fuel types and have different needs than modern cars. Older valve seats, high-compression engines, and old parts may require additives to keep them functioning as intended. For example, leaded petrol was withdrawn from sale in 2000, and for owners of cars built before 1992, a lead replacement additive is a convenient alternative to converting the cylinder engine to run on unleaded fuel.
Additives can also be useful for seasonal vehicles, such as boats, RVs, lawn care equipment, and generators. A stabilizer can prevent the separation of gas and water, which can cause hard starts and engine corrosion when fuel is left sitting for a long time.
In cold climates, fuel additives can be used to prevent diesel fuel from congealing or thickening, which can cause blockages in the fuel system and make it difficult for diesel vehicles to run efficiently in winter.
Additionally, fuel additives can improve fuel efficiency by reducing harmful emissions and cleaning engine components. For example, Hydrogenated Vegetable Oil (HVO), derived from renewable sources such as vegetable oils and fats, reduces engine emissions and greenhouse gas emissions. AdBlue, a diesel exhaust fluid, reduces nitrogen oxide emissions by converting harmful NOx gases into harmless nitrogen and water vapour.
Overall, fuel additives can play a critical role in enhancing the performance and longevity of diesel fuel, improving fuel efficiency, increasing power and performance, reducing engine wear, extending diesel fuel life, and minimising fuel-related problems.
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They reduce the quantity of soot produced
Diesel fuel additives can help reduce the quantity of soot produced by diesel engines. This is achieved through several mechanisms:
Firstly, additives such as detergents or soap act like cleaning agents, removing gunk, grime, and deposits from fuel injectors and other parts of the fuel system. This cleaning action ensures better fuel combustion, resulting in reduced soot production.
Secondly, cetane improvers enhance the ignition quality of diesel fuel by increasing its cetane number. A higher cetane number indicates that the fuel ignites faster and burns more completely, leading to efficient burning and reduced soot formation.
Additionally, some additives act as lubricants, protecting fuel system components like pumps and injectors from premature deterioration. This lubrication improves engine performance and helps maintain a clean combustion chamber, further contributing to reduced soot output.
The use of fuel stabilizers is also important, especially in extreme cold conditions where diesel fuel can transform into a waxy gel. Stabilizers prevent fuel degradation and maintain its stability, ensuring that it burns efficiently and reducing the formation of soot.
While diesel fuel additives offer these benefits, it's important to note that their effectiveness may vary. Some sources suggest that it can take several tanks of treated fuel before noticeable improvements in soot reduction are observed. Additionally, the quality and type of additive can play a significant role in their performance, with some products delivering better results than others.
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They can prevent fuel gelling
Diesel fuel additives can help prevent fuel gelling, a common issue in winter when the wax in diesel fuel crystallizes, impeding the flow to the engine and causing potential clogs in fuel lines and filters. This can lead to reduced fuel pressure and delayed response times, with engines lagging in response due to slower fuel movement through lines and injectors.
Anti-gel additives work by lowering the pour and gel points of the fuel, allowing the engine to perform better at lower temperatures. This means that even in freezing temperatures, engines can be started. Some additives can also help dissolve gels, returning the fuel to a liquid state.
The amount of anti-gel additive required depends on the temperature, with lower temperatures requiring more additive. It is recommended to add the additive before filling up the tank to ensure a proper mix.
Some common diesel fuel additives that can help prevent gelling include Power Service, Stanadyne, and Hot Shot's Secret Diesel Winter Rescue. These additives can be used in conjunction with other methods, such as using winterized diesel, employing engine block heaters, and storing vehicles in a garage during cold weather, to effectively prevent fuel gelling.
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Additives can help stabilise fuel during storage
Diesel fuel is a heavy fuel that is more susceptible to change over time, even when stored. Additives are often used to condition the fuel and provide lubricity. Lubricity additives are particularly important in the Midwest, where soy diesel is commonly used, as soy diesel lacks lubricity. Lubricity additives are also important for preventing premature engine wear and tear, as the chemical method of sulfur removal and hydrogenation reduces diesel fuel's lubricating properties.
AMSOIL Diesel 4-in-1 is a fuel additive that can prevent fuel gelling in cold weather, stabilize fuel during short-term storage, and fight ethanol problems. AMSOIL Upper Cylinder Lubricant is another additive that delivers 18% more lubricity than Lucas and 20% more than Sea Foam, improving horsepower and fuel economy.
Other additives can help improve cold weather performance. For example, anti-gel additives can be used in cold weather to improve engine performance, and lubricating additives can be used to prevent premature engine wear and tear. Cummins, a manufacturer of diesel engines, recommends using a fuel additive when operating below 20°F (-6°C) to avoid fuel gelling.
While some sources claim that additives have improved their vehicles' performance, others claim that additives are unnecessary and have not made a difference. Some motorists expect to see benefits from fuel additives immediately, but it often takes several tanks of treated fuel before any noticeable improvement occurs.
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Frequently asked questions
Diesel fuel additives are chemicals that change the properties of untreated diesel fuel.
Diesel fuel is prone to change over time, even in storage. Diesel fuel additives protect its cold-weather performance, stability, lubricity, and cetane rating.
You should use diesel fuel additives when the temperature drops to 11-15°F to lower the gelling point and improve your engine’s performance.
