Diesel Fuel Additives

[JohnC]

Mark's experience not withstanding, when I had my 6.5 I did tens of thousands of miles of comparison testing of Stanadyne additive and the conclusion I came to was that it netted a 5% mileage boost, just enough to offset the cost of the additive.

YMMV...

[Kennedy]

I run FPPF Total Power in all of my diesel fuel. Wouldn't have it any other way. The primary benefits are fuel system life and combustion. Minor MPG gains help offset the cost which is just pennies per gallon of fuel treated.

I buy my fuel 500 gallons at a time and store in an outside storage tank. I run Amoco Premier #2 non winterized whenever possible and treat myself with FPPF. My present batch is the afformentioned blend, but I'm getting low and will have to buy some winterized fuel by the looks of it....

[MacDR50]

Is a cetane improver required? I have read so much about this topic I am pretty much befuddled by it all. Some point to low cetane levels in ULSD, I have been told that Ford recommends a certain cetane level that is higher than that found in most USLD. I read that cetane levels are different based on whether you buy fuel that meets Canadian versus US specs.

What does GM say? After all they warrant the engine.

[More Power]

From a piece I wrote a while back....

"Opposite to octane, a cetane rating indicates a diesel fuel’s level of combustibility. A higher cetane number is generally better – better for cold starts, less smoke, more power, a small bump in fuel economy and less combustion rattle. ASTM D-975 currently sets the minimum cetane level at 40. Bosch tested diesel fuel around the U.S. during the summer of 2002, and found a cetane range of 44 to 57, though low forties are commonly reported by others. By comparison, Bosch found European diesel fuel tested at 51 or greater during the same period.

Commercial diesel fuel additive manufacturers offer products that improve the cetane rating by up to four numbers. While they closely guard their formulas, we know the compounds amyl and hexyl nitrates have been used to improve the cetane rating in diesel fuel."

As far as GM is concerned - and to answer your question, as long as you're using ASTM certified diesel fuel (commercially available pump diesel) you're fine as far as fuel quality in general and cetane in particular are concerned.

Jim