What does everyone do for winter fuel treatment ? Last winter I just bought bottles at the truckstop and basically overtreated just to be safe. I'd like to be a little smarter about it this winter.
I see rural king has Howe's 1/2 gallons @ $9.99 (treats 300 gallons). I also am looking at some concentrated formulas from Shaeffer and Pri-D. Anyone have experience with those ? Do you measure it out by the ounce when you fill or mix up some quart bottles ahead of time or what ??
winter fuel treatment
Discussion in 'Trucks [ Eighteen Wheelers ]' started by dannythetrucker, Oct 25, 2014.
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I get the Schaeffer Oil products. I get them at very good prices and shipped free to my door. When I put in an order for oils, I usually add in the order for some fuel additive. There stuff is pretty good and VERY cost effective compared to the truck stop stuff. Schaeffer winter treat additive is dosed at around 1 oz per 7-8 gallons of diesel. Getting ready to order again, so haven't seen the current price, but it has usually been around 3-4 cents a gallon of diesel for the winter additive. you can use that as a comparison for how cost effective the stuff from the truck stop is. About the same, I guess, compared to the Howe's pricing at Rural King you mentioned. Howe's is a decent product. Keep in mind on the Howe's stuff, what is shown on the label is the how much it treats ABOVE 32F. If you look at the back, it says to double the dose below 32F, so that bottle will only treat 150 gallons in cold weather. So it would come out at around 7 cents a gallon for the Howe's at the Rural King price. Twice the cost of Schaeffer.
I have some 16 oz bottles with measuring marks on the side I fill from a bulk 5 gallon can that I get my additive in. I use a beer six pack container to keep them in, stashed in the sleeper side box. Just waiting for the day some LEO that wants to look in there and sees the beer six pack container! I will offer him one of the bottles and ask him if he wants a sip.dannythetrucker Thanks this. -
I found the concentrated PS at Bomgaars year before last. $100 for the jug and it lasted most of the winter up in the Dakotas. I just kept a plastic measuring cup in a ziploc in the sidebox. If remember right you can order it thru Autozone, too.
dannythetrucker Thanks this. -
My company uses Arctic Fox in-tank heaters that run coolant lines through the tank. The coolant is circulated through engine and APU so it will always have heat to keep the fuel from gelling.
We never add anything to our fuel. Yes, it's an up-front investment vs paying a little extra with each fill up.dannythetrucker Thanks this. -
If you fill up, and then run north you may need to put in an additive, if you are going to be shutting the motor off, if you are running local there is no need to be wasting you money the fuel is all ready treated for the area you are in.
We had owners that used a cover on the front section of the tank to keep the fuel a little warmer. The use of in tank thermaticaly controled heating coils is a great addition, I have seen very few units with this option. -
#1 Canadian diesel is good to at least -40
That's what I run. Never had a problem in 12 years.Ezrider_48501 Thanks this. -
Last year everybody ran out of fuel treatment around here. I ended up having to use clear kerosene, half gallon in each tank kept it good till -30
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There is no need to treat diesel at 32...DrtyDiesel and loose_leafs Thank this. -
How some may answer this will depend on a number of other factors not mentioned. How do you operate? Where do you operate? Do you have an APU? Bunk Heater? Do you spend weekends home with nothing running? Where is home? Do you have a newer engine that will reliably start at ?? temperature? Do you often fuel in southern tier states then head north? Can you fuel when/where you choose?
My recommendation is always Power Service. Double up on initial treatment when you're headed into 5 or lower temps, then the recommended dosage for added fuel, plus a pinch more. Make sure you don't let the fuel filter(s) go too long before changing. These will be the first place you begin to have flow issues if fuel treatment is too weak.dannythetrucker Thanks this. -
so what is the besr fuel treatment to use for winter?
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