Cummins dealer says to use powerservice addative over the standadyne diesel fuel condtioner.Your thoughts?? This is my first diesel.Just kind of curious.coobie

 

I have been using Diesel Power Service for a long time in all types of equipment for many years. When filling up at a local filling station this fall the owner saw me adding a shot to the Old School Ram's tank. He asked to see it, and proceeded to pour a little in my hand (we're pretty good friends). He then asked me to watch that spot on my hand until it dried. It left a white place on my skin which became dry and flaky for several hours. He said that is from the alcohol in the product and the same thing was happening in my fuel system everywhere there was rubber or plastic. He then gave me a bottle of Howe's fuel additive and asked me to watch and see if I noticed less white smoke at start-up. Next tank I added the Howe's and huh....sure enough, didn't smoke near as much at start-up and when cold. I figured that if that was true, then the rest of the stuff on the bottle must be true as well. I have been using the Howes additive all winter and have had no gelling problems in sub-zero weather, yet have still enjoyed the benefits (mileage and lubricity) of running #2 fuel. Of course, I've never had any gelling problems with the Power Service either. Still, having said that, the only way to be sure to have no gelling problems is running #1 fuel, or a mix of the two.

 

You'll find out there are ALOT of Standadyne fans around here for what I am sure is good reason, but I have never found it for sale around here. I have been using Power Service since I bought the rig and even in sub-zero weather running #2 & Power Service I have had no probs whatsoever.-Steve

 

You can get the standadyne from these folks http://www.dieselpage.com/main.shtml Its cheaper for me to get it from them and pay shipping than what I can get it for here in Austin at some places that sell it.Been using it for quite a few years.

 

The fuel additive market is interesting. The company with what appears to be the most OEM endorsements, Stanadyne, seems to have a much more limited distribution than others. To find my Stanadyne I used their dealer listing on their web page, and ended up buying it from a diesel repair outfit in a part of town that I rarely go thru.

Excluding some long term problems, like additives with water emulsifiers and/or alcohols, it appears that adequate performance rather than what is maybe best is well, adequate :^) An all purpose additive that boosts cetane, increases lubricity, and lowers the plug or pour point seems to work, based upon testimonials from users.