fuel additives

**Bob's Buzz** · 04.30.2011

I use Amsoil TWO STROKE, works great

**rollin coal** · 05.01.2011

Originally Posted by Hurryupandwait

I've never used any kind of additive in my car or truck. Never had my fuel gel even when my car sits for 3 or 4 days and it gets to -45 here in the winter. They put all the additives you need in it before you buy it if you check the websites they'll tell you not to use them due to fuel volatility or something like that. A company I used to work at used them (don't know what additive, it was before i started there) once they started blowing holes in the top of the pistons they stopped. Not saying it was the additive that did it but once they stopped using the additives they stopped destroying pistons. Don't know maybe the fuel is different here?

You live in northern Canada. Try fueling up down south where I live and park the truck in some overnight -35F up in Wyoming with the motor shut down and see what happens when you go to crank her up in the morning lol. I'm sure where you live fuel distributors take care of it and Howes is a waste of money. I can even imagine over doing it and maybe melting a piston or something.. But you probably have heaters in your fuel tanks etc as standard equipment up there.. I'm not hawking antigel additives or anything. I seldom ever use them myself but they are from time to time, down here, necessary..

**Kansas** · 05.01.2011

Originally Posted by droy

Another vote for Schaeffers!
Drawbacks are that it is hard to find on the road, and I don't think it has any cold weather protection, may be wrong there.

After fueling at the Loves in Albert Lea Lake, MN; then dumping two quarts of Howes in each 150 gal tank, my truck quit the following morning in Inner Grove Heights, MN (temp was -6*f); on top of a railroad track as I was pulling out of parking area, to enter plant and off load.

This happened the same week I mailed off the final truck payment; all I could think of is "would my insurance cover everything when the train came around that curve?" Train damage, plant damage, totaled out truck, totaled out company trailer, environmental impact, demurrage for all the trucks wanting to enter plant; my heart transplant?......... Another driver ran up with a quart of "Diesel 911", we filled the filters with that and the Shaeffers I had not put in after fueling,(it was too cold!), and it fired up, but was very sluggish. Got it off the tracks, went in to nearby truckstop and bought $154.00 of the Diesel 911, (everything that was on their shelf.)

Learned a couple of things......
(1) Even though it says blended fuel, always add anti gel.
(2) Howes did not work for me, even in the blended fuel.
(3) I don't think a fuel filter heater would be a bad investment.
(4) Maybe this 58 year old coonass, that has been driving trucks for around 35+ years doesn't know everything he should about driving.
(5) I LIKE driving in the south!!!!!!!!!!!!

Scaeffers has winter additives too.
Blue can for winter.
Red can for summer.

Ive been unlucky enough to fuel in Dallas, and then end up in Wyoming during a -20F bellow temp with 40mph winds. Dallas purchased fuel will gel rather quickly lol.

**Hurryupandwait** · 05.01.2011

Originally Posted by rollin coal

You live in northern Canada. Try fueling up down south where I live and park the truck in some overnight -35F up in Wyoming with the motor shut down and see what happens when you go to crank her up in the morning lol. I'm sure where you live fuel distributors take care of it and Howes is a waste of money. I can even imagine over doing it and maybe melting a piston or something.. But you probably have heaters in your fuel tanks etc as standard equipment up there.. I'm not hawking antigel additives or anything. I seldom ever use them myself but they are from time to time, down here, necessary..

Once it gets that cold I don't shut the truck off at night unless I'm at a terminal and can plug it in or have a mechanic there that can boost it lol. I have a webasto in the truck but I don't like to push my luck with it not starting. That being said I remember going to work to get my truck and the guy that had it before me didn't fuel it or plug it in, it was -40 but it started it didn't want to but it did, shook something aful for a few seconds but it evened out and was fine after that.

**$1 menu** · 05.18.2011

You guys using 2 stroke oil. How much do you use?

**Diesel Dave** · 05.18.2011

It depends but usually I put 1 quart per tank (120 gal tank) every 2 weeks or monthy. There been times I put 1/2 quart, it all depends if I feel the truck is running a lil rough.

**Cowpie1** · 05.19.2011

I primarily use a B5 biodiesel blend most of the time for lubricity and keeping the fuel system cleaner. Bio has a little higher flash point and it increases the cetane rating of diesel. I have used various anti-gel products over the years. Bio is pretty easy for me to get on a consistent basis since I primarily operate in the upper Midwest all year.

I started using Amsoil's product this last winter and actually prefer it over the others. I get it at preferred pricing, so pricing is not higher than the shelf brands you see in the truck stops. Even using bio in the winter, I never had a problem all winter long with the Amsoil additive. With almost all the other brands, I would get an occasional problem like when it was in the -20F or below range and the truck was off for a day or two. Never had that problem with the Amsoil stuff, even though I had bio in the tanks even at those cold temps.

**AUSSIE DAVE** · 05.20.2011

Originally Posted by Diesel Dave

It depends but usually I put 1 quart per tank (120 gal tank) every 2 weeks or monthy. There been times I put 1/2 quart, it all depends if I feel the truck is running a lil rough.

hey Dave , im guessing you use the 2 stroke as a injector cleaner? and lube? i ask because ive read a little on its use but still not convienced.

**Diesel Dave** · 05.20.2011

When I had my cummins I use ATF religously and it work. On my CAT I've been told that ATF is not good for the E-injectors, so I read on here and did some research and the most economical cleaner and lube would be 2 stroke oil. I've also tried Lucas and didn't notice any more difference than 2 stroke.

**AUSSIE DAVE** · 05.21.2011

Originally Posted by Diesel Dave

When I had my cummins I use ATF religously and it work. On my CAT I've been told that ATF is not good for the E-injectors, so I read on here and did some research and the most economical cleaner and lube would be 2 stroke oil. I've also tried Lucas and didn't notice any more difference than 2 stroke.

thanks Dave, i was actually tossing up between lucas and 2 stroke, but lucas here is about $70.00 for a 1 gallon bottle and 2 stoke oil is about $30.00 for a 1 gallon bottle. so 1 treatment of lucas will cost me $140.00 where as 1 treatment of 2 stroke will cost me about $7.50. think I will use the 2 stroke.

thanks