[tek4tex]

I know what my manual says about not using additives. What are the real world experiences of these kind of engines using the low sulphur diesel? I have used Howe's in cold weather conditions below 10F. Is there an additive to use that will provide better lubrication to the fuel pump?

[OILPowered]

The TDI forum is a great resource for the additive discussion. In fact, it's been more than beaten to death.

I use OptiLube XPD (about 4 ounces per fill up) with every tank. If you do a search on "Spicer Report" it may shed some light on the subject. Though I wouldn't take the report as pure truth, it does show that some products are better than others. Biodiesel as an additive has the best lubricity, but some of the additives like the Opti add demulsifiers (help with water issues), cetane booster and anti gelling compounds.

[NRG]

I've tried running a few, like Amsoil, PowerService, Lucas etc mixing it with Shell V-Power diesel and found no improvement in MPG at all. A little more torque in a gear, less likely to downshift that's most evident difference which I didn't like, considering the tranny/diff is already too lazy for my taste. Now I just use the V-Power, I find it the best of everything. Works fine in Canadian winter as well, since it's already premixed with antigel additives.

[TotalPower]

said it once, i'll say it again: petroleum based fuel additives are 95% all the same. Doesn't matter which one you use, the ingredients are mostly identical and will all yield little to no results.

If you are looking for a good product use a synthetic oxygenating fuel additive with some detergency.

[Puerto Rican 335d]

I use Amsoil Cetane Booster and Diesel Cleaner, car seems to be running better with the booster, the SHELL stations where I live have the large Noozle so I cant use them Ive been using Gulf Diesel

[OILPowered]

Originally Posted by TotalPower

said it once, i'll say it again: petroleum based fuel additives are 95% all the same. Doesn't matter which one you use, the ingredients are mostly identical and will all yield little to no results.

If you are looking for a good product use a synthetic oxygenating fuel additive with some detergency.

I'd have to disagree with this statement- additive packages for diesel fuel do vary quite a bit. Your statement is more in line with gasoline additives- detergents generally are part of a gasoline package to remove carbon build up from spark ignition. Detergents also by nature (a base) remove lubricity, which is bad for a Diesel engine that uses fuel to lubricate its pumps.

[acerboo]

i thought bmw recommend not to use additives?

[DieselDiner]

Acerboo, already mentioned in the op:

Originally Posted by tek4tex

I know what my manual says about not using additives.

[TotalPower]

Originally Posted by OILPowered

I'd have to disagree with this statement- additive packages for diesel fuel do vary quite a bit. Your statement is more in line with gasoline additives- detergents generally are part of a gasoline package to remove carbon build up from spark ignition. Detergents also by nature (a base) remove lubricity, which is bad for a Diesel engine that uses fuel to lubricate its pumps.

If you know that gasoline requires detergency, why wouldn't diesel? It is a less refined fuel...

Detergents are capable of removing lubricity-think dish soap- or capable of adding lubricity- think hand soap.

I agree that additives vary quite a bit more for diesel than gasoline since diesel is used in a larger variety of situations and comes in a variety of qualities. Cetane, lubricity, water content, cold flow, stability-all reasons to get a single synthetic diesel fuel additive, instead of 5 different additives (formulated similarly).

[Deezl]

PowerService, silver bottle... ...I've *ahem* heard... ...saw it on a T.V. show once. Would never use an additive myself, though, as it says not to right on the filler cap.

[Puerto Rican 335d]

This is what i just put on, NO NOT the beer, LOL

[Socom]

Lubricity worries are overrated as our fuels systems a ULSD compliant. In fact the wear scar requirment has remained the same for years (lower is better and did not go up with move to ULSD).

All additives which contain a cetane booster contain 2EHN or Xylene, Napthalene, Ethylbenzene, etc.

Diesel combustion is already over 99 percent although quality varies with fuel characteristics and engine type. Additives may change the quality of the combustion but won't yield significant increases in power.

Diesel fuel is not the same from every supplier. Each batch responds differently to a booster. When I say respond I mean increase in cetane level. Fuel X may go up 6 proints while fuel Y may go only 3. Fuel X may start at 40 whereas fuel Y is at 45 but you don't know because federal law says 40 is min and pumps always state min.

Higher cetane works its magic at cold start for emissions reasons and it smooths out the engine (wont knock when cold). I suspect a cold start is where fuel is saved. At operating temps cetane does little other than at very high engine speeds (higher than what we normally drive at).

[acerboo]

Originally Posted by DieselDiner

Acerboo, already mentioned in the op:

sorry missed that