This may have been talked about before, but . I have 1900 miles on my '03 2500 QC, HO,4x4.<br>Haven't used any additives as of yet. How much life would extend to my fuel pumps and system if i used additives?<br>I burn Texaco diesel so far. But this week going to make a 700 mile round trip, so i may be burning other brand fuels. <br> What is the best brand/type additives to use and should i use them every tank full or every other tank full?<br><br> Thanks

 

Well, I know many here are strong supporters of various additives - but I'm not. I'm on my 5th civilian diesel and add nothing to my fuel. ;D<br><br>Frankly, I think if you're running good fuel and doing proper maintenance you don't need additives. Exceptions would be for extremes of temperature and other severe operating conditions.<br><br>Now, understand I'm not saying additives don't work. There's plenty of users who'll chime in and say that using Additive XYZ solved their cackle, foaming, smoking, hard start (etc.) problem. For their particular application - I support their efforts. What I am saying is that if these people were getting good fuel they would probably not need the additives.<br><br>And, consequently, if you're on the road away from your primary (read &quot;good&quot fuel source and think you may be getting bad fuel, then running additives may make sense.<br><br>Best to y'all<br>Bill

 

I agree with UTAH 100%. I've driven Ram Diesels approx, 500,000 miles between the 3 I have owned. I've only ever used additives once every 50,000 miles in each. I got this advice from a friend and it does seem to help. When installing a fresh fuel filter, Fill the fuel filter with a high end additive product, start the engine and let it idle for 2 minutes. Let it sit over night and then go about your business. This seems to clean the pump and injectors. When I do it. I do notice some improvement in performance.<br><br>Other than what I have described every 50K miles. I don't use them.<br><br>I believe opinons on this will be like noses, everyone has one. ;D

 

<br><br>cackle, CACKLE?????? Hmmmm that seems like one of them powerjoke terms.... <br><br>I have also not used additives except for low temp conditioner in any of the diesels I have run. This is since '87 and I have had no problems with normal fuel...HTH

 

I agree with Utah as long as you are getting a good brand name fuel at a truck stop where the fuel is cycled frequently and you keep your fuel filter changed on time. Most people don't know that the different fuel companies have basically the same fuel from the refinery with mostly the same additives as required by DOT. Having said that, the major oil companies like Texaco, Fina, Exxon, etc. specify proprietary additives to their fuel that the off branders don't, and those additives are for fuel injector cleaning/lubrication, added cetane level, lower &quot;cold filter plug point&quot;, etc. Just get your fuel at a name brand truck stop and you won't have to worry about additives. I used to work for Champlin refining years ago and that is how I found out about the &quot;proprietary&quot; versus &quot;base&quot; delivery fuels.

 

[quote author=spots link=board=20;threadid=14149;start=0#133520 date=1051704560]<br><br><br>cackle, CACKLE?????? Hmmmm that seems like one of them powerjoke terms...[/quote]<br><br>Yep - The dreaded CACKLE is something Ford PSD owners watch for. I had a mild case of it on my '00 PSD Excursion.<br><br>Best to y'all<br>Bill

 

I tried different additives in my 2001 and some I couldn't tell they helped much at all. I settled on an additive I like very much and use at least 75% of the time, made by Amalgamated. Just before I sold my '01 I took the DD2s out and they were much cleaner with 55K on them than the 7K mile stockers I got from a friend.<br><br>I like the Amalgamated because I can really tell when I don't use it. . . considerably more noise.<br><br>Here is an interesting thread on NW BOMBers where a 12-valve guy used an additive regularly and never had to service his injection pump in over 500,000 miles:<br><br>[edit: the BOMBers forum is down, I'll dig that up when it's back in order ]<br><br>Vaughn<br>

 

This may be something discussed to death, but what is considered a &quot;Major&quot; brand of Diesel?<br><br>Just as an aside, I drove from Austin to Galveston last week with the tach on 1600 rpm, which is what I read somewhere is the highest torque? Is that right? Anyway, that translated to about 58 mph. I stayed in the right lane, trying to not cause anyone a problem, and it was kinda late so no real issues occurred.<br><br>Anyway, I was unloaded, no trailer, just me poking along. I pulled in the driveway and the econo-meter indicated 25.6 mpg. That seemed pretty good.<br><br>

 

Hmmm - I don't think it's so much the BRAND of diesel, but the store you get it from. I've seen it over and over - try to get your fuel someplace with a high turnover in their tanks - getting it where the big trucks get it is best. And once you find a good place (mine's a Mobil station that fuels all the farmers and construction dump trucks around here), keep it!

 

The only time I have ever used an additive in a diesel was a day when the temp was about -40 and I experienced gelling problems. The additive solved that immediate problem. So far (touch wood, {my head}) I have never had a pump, injector or other fuel problems.<br>However, having said that, I am not sure about the fuel I am using now. My area is notorious for having high sulpher fuels and I can't seem to be abe to find out if I should be counteracting it with an additive or not. A friend who runs the IH parts depot down here tells me that the high sulpher fuels have created problems for their trucks.

 

Mexstan, you might try contacting Cummins about any additive that may help the sulfur content problem. The high-sulfur content causes higher sulphur ash content in the exhaust and negatively impacts turbocharger life according to Cummins.

 

I would also agree that when youre getting good fuel, additives should not be necessary. I do use additives in my fuel though, and I do notice a difference. I run Power Service's diesel fuel supplement in -nearly- every tank. I've noticed it does improve mileage, power, and throttle response. It also has an anti-gel additive. Do I think its really necessary though, no. Just my .02<br>-Dave

 

Hey GR, good suggestion. Never thought of that. Will do it. See, that is an example of why I joined this forum. Don't have to think for myself.

 

[quote author=drafalske link=board=20;threadid=14149;start=0#134324 date=1051889997]<br>I would also agree that when youre getting good fuel, additives should not be necessary. I do use additives in my fuel though, and I do notice a difference. I run Power Service's diesel fuel supplement in -nearly- every tank. I've noticed it does improve mileage, power, and throttle response. It also has an anti-gel additive. Do I think its really necessary though, no. Just my .02<br>-Dave<br>[/quote]<br><br>Do you think on a cost per mile average the increased fuel economy vs. the cost of the product works in your favor??

 

As suggested, I checked with Cummin's re the high sulpher fuels in my area and here is their answer:<br><br>Summary: Diesel question <br> <br>Solution: <br>Thanks for your email. How high is high Sulfur? Don't <br>need to answer that question, but should probably check with <br>the Distributors there in Mexico to see what they suggest <br>based on their available fuels. Generally speaking, if the <br>S- level is similar to our previous &quot;high sulfur&quot; and the <br>same as U.S. off-road (dyed) high-S fuels then you're <br>probably fine on fuel systems, since the less-processed, higher-S <br>fuels had more inherent lubricity; but you need to check <br>with the fuel supplier to see if their fuel meet the <br>requirements outlined in the Cummins Fuels for Diesel Engines <br>Service Bulletin #3379001-07, dated October 2002. We don't know <br>what kind of fuel you are using.<br><br>Cummins recommends the use of Premium Diesel Fuels meeting <br>the requirements of Category 1 thru 4 as outlined in the <br>Worldwide Fuel Charter <br>(www.engine-manufactures.org/about/guidelines.cfm).<br><br>Additionally, higher sulfur fuels will contaminate the oil <br>more quickly due to the presence of sulfur contributing to <br>TBN depletion as sulfuric acids are produced as a result of <br>combustion byproducts. And this again depends on the <br>amount of sulfur in the fuel. The TBN oil contamination <br>guidelines are outlined in Cummins Engine Oil Recommendations <br>Service Bulletin #3810340-03, which - this is not a limit - but <br>a value above which the oil is definitely contaminated: <br>2.5 minimum, half the value of the new oil, equal to or above <br>the TAN; in the past we liked to see TBN fall to no more <br>than within 2.0 of the TAN.<br><br>&quot;High&quot; or &quot;Low&quot; doesn't really mean much without specific <br>numbers; the above guidelines should help. Again, we'd get <br>with a local/regional Cummins Distributor, branch location <br>or dealer who knows about the local fuels and can advise <br>you.<br>We thank you for your interest in Cummins products. Please <br>let us know if you need assistance in locating the nearest <br>Cummins-authorized Dealer or Distributor Service Provider. <br>For assistance in locating a Service Provider, feel free to <br>use Cummins North America Dealer Locator, which can be <br>found on Cummins website: <br> <br>http://www.cummins.com/service_locator/index.cfm <br><br>Please let us know if you have other questions and if away <br>from your computer or have a time-critical request that <br>needs more urgent attention, feel free to call us toll-free <br>(from North America) at 1-800-DIESELS (343-7357). Customers <br>may also call Cummins switchboard 1-812-377-5000 (worldwide <br>toll call) and ask for the &quot;800-DIESELS Call Center&quot; for <br>assistance.<br><br>Email direct: powermaster@cummins.com<br>Here's a link to distributors in Mexico: <br>http://www.cummins.com/mx/pages/en/d...ibutor_map.cfm<br><br>Regards, <br>-- <br>Powermaster<br>Customer Assistance Center<br>Cummins, Inc.<br>Columbus, Indiana, USA<br>