Ok all...I just put 7000 miles roughly on my truck in a 2 week period of time. I posted up about my trip to WV and down to my hometown in VA and back out here to San Diego about 3-4 weeks ago...

It was suggested to me that I run some PowerService in my tank to increase fuel mileage...and so I did.

My mileage went up approximately 1-2mpg, so it added up as fuel savings either way I look at it...but here is the downside to additives.

I don't know if any of you all remember my review of Howes Meaner Power Cleaner about 4-6 months ago and how it gave me rough idle on start up with blue smoke about 25 miles into the first tank...then I filled up the next tank WITHOUT Howes and the problem went away. Then I changed my fuel filter just to see if that was the issue, filled back up WITH Howes and 25 miles later, my truck was back to rough idling when it was cold with blue smoke and the occasional hard start...so the Howes went away...ZERO issues since.

Now, although the PowerService DID increase my mileage a little bit...I am back to a slightly rough idle in the mornings (or just when the truck is cold) with a little blue smoke on start up and the occasional hard start...what gives? Anybody else out there experiencing these kind of issues when running additives?

I was putting roughly 10 ounces in on every fill up...I am beginning to think that my truck just does NOT like additives of any kind...will running my truck with this stuff and continued rough idle/blue smoke and occasional hard start be a bad thing? Hence making the slight increase in mileage irrelevant...Sorry for the long post.

 

In my opinion Dodge would be shouting from the rooftops to use additives if they believe the ULSD was a problem. I have not added anything for well over a year and a half and the truck funs fine (42k miles now). I use Mobil here and they do put additives in during the cold season. I believe it is important to fuel up from a reputable supplier too. I am sure you will get some different opinions than mine .

 

I haven't felt the NEED to put additives in my fuel...I was just looking for a little better mileage. Every tank of fuel I got on my trip for the 7k miles was from a Flying J...I have always LOVED their fuel and you can still get the occasional tank of LSD (I got one in Texas and got 21.3mpg on that tank at 69mph (2000 RPMs))...

I was just wondering if I was the only truck out there having issues with additives.

 

I have a 2007 and was thinking about using additives but with your test runs and what i have read in the manual. it says they are not required. so i will not be using any in my truck.

 

On the 92 I run 16 oz. of PS each tank because the ULSD will eat the seals in the pump. I had 1/2 a tank of ULSD run through it without additive when it first came out and it has a slight leak because of that. When it start when it's cold it has a ruff idle to it but no worse than without it and it's cold. It also has the blue smoke too but only for a mile or 2. It does definately make a difference in mpg and a slight noticeably power increase. I have run 16 oz. in the 06 since new and it makes a 2 mpg difference in that. No ruff idle or blue smoke in it though.

 

According to the power service web site you need ~1 quart per ~30 gallons. I've been running it since new. Occasionally I get busy & forget to add some. I do have a very subtle rolling idle. Just perceptible enough to tell. Never had any blue smoke nor hard start.

Tony

 

I run the PS at the recommended rate of 1 qt per tankful, or 1 oz per gal since new as well. I am trying to keep my injectors as clean as possible. No blue smoke, no rough idle, no hard start. I am getting a reasonable fuel mileage both towing and empty.

CD

 

I run 1/2 oz pr gallon with no ill affects, (and the 1mpg gain) I've done it since day 1. 62k so far.

 

Here is a good test on how additives work...power service is not the best to use.

Click here, it will open the study for you to read (its in pdf format).

 

I used to run additives faithfully till about 5 or 6 months ago. After working in a remote area and going without it for awhile, I seen a noticeable increase in MPG. Yeah I know it sounds crazy, but I loose about 1mpg with PS. I did a few test with and without, they all showed a loss.

You guys should try this as well, it was not what I was expecting at all. As far as keeping injectors clean, don't know about that either. I bought a set of cores to send to Formula 1, and when I got them back and commenced to swapping, I got the look at the ones removed. Granted I idle more than I should, but used to always use hefty doses of PS, and was sure to keep the heat up in the winter. Three of the injectors were newer as they were replaced under warrenty and the other three has been in there since day one. They were decently carboned, once again more than I had expected to see.

So now I just wonder if additives are all they're cracked up to be. I will still use PS in the winter as an anti-gellant.

 

I've been running 1/2 bottle of PS (silver) and have had great results - smoother, quieter etc... but lately it's been dipping to freezing here and I've started having the rough start/idle when cold issues - should I maybe try the PS in the white bottle now that it's colder?

 

You have to be a member of that site in order to access the .pdf file you refer to......any other way for you to post it here?

Thanks,