New to forum, new to diesel. Have a 2020 Ram 3500 standard output 6.7 L. Currently use Howes Diesel treat. Wondering if I should use Howes Diesel Defender in warm months, Diesel Treat as an antigel in colder months. Any advice would be appreciated.
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Fuel Additive
- Thread starter Tom O
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Nick
Well-Known Member
I used Howes for about 30 years in big rigs and I use it in my 3500 . Personally I never had a water in fuel problem , no injector losses and my filters never jelled , but I passed many trucks that were jelled up waiting for a wrecker . Many will argue that it is snake oil and never use additives . I can only relate to my experiences and observations for over 3 million miles of trucking .
Ionicbrick
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I had the same question and then came across this video. Turned me on to Hot Shots Secret, and for the extra penny’s per tank I’ll go ahead and add it in the warmer months. The corrosion and lubricity tests in the video surprised me the most.
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H3LZSN1P3R
You're doing it wrong
Power service is the only one i use
Wholeo
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It's always important to get the treatment blended into the filters and fuel lines also. I find it funny when the guys at work see it's going to be cold and dump a bottle of treatment in the tank at the end of the work day not realizing the tank might not gel, but all the fuel past the tank could. I have gelled up on both Howes in a semi and Power Service in a F250 and yes I had it blended into the fuel system, just got some bad fuel even treatment couldn't help. The wrecker driver that hooked the semi up swore by just using #1 diesel if it's available. All that nonsense out of the way, I'm using Hot Shots Secret both winter and summer.
On new trucks like the 2020, cold starting isn't as big of a challenge as on older diesels. Newer diesels are much better able to take cold weather. TFL truck was able to start their Ram 2500 SO in -15 weather with no plug in or additives. They also show how poorly older trucks run in cold weather.. https://tfltruck.com/2022/12/video-its-the-coldest-day-of-the-year-will-my-ram-cummins-diesel-start/
During the same time period that this was shot I was in Big Bend Ranch State Park and had not problems with the truck sitting out over night (camping) and starting in 15 degree weather. Which is about as cold as it ever gets in west texas.
Not saying anti-gel isn't helpful, just saying that diesel engines and fuel systems have had a lot of improvements making additives for cold weather less necessary. But thats not to say unnecessary in all situations, but light freezing weather I wouldn't think an additive would be necessary. My old 7.3L powerstroke starts just fine with no additives in 20 degree weather. But I have new glow plugs and relays etc.
Additives in warm weather are generally unnecessary. I have 336,000 miles on my 7.3L never ran an additive.
During the same time period that this was shot I was in Big Bend Ranch State Park and had not problems with the truck sitting out over night (camping) and starting in 15 degree weather. Which is about as cold as it ever gets in west texas.
Not saying anti-gel isn't helpful, just saying that diesel engines and fuel systems have had a lot of improvements making additives for cold weather less necessary. But thats not to say unnecessary in all situations, but light freezing weather I wouldn't think an additive would be necessary. My old 7.3L powerstroke starts just fine with no additives in 20 degree weather. But I have new glow plugs and relays etc.
Additives in warm weather are generally unnecessary. I have 336,000 miles on my 7.3L never ran an additive.
DammitDave
Well-Known Member
I'm another firm believer in Power Serve, been using it for 20+ years, no problems.
joshuaeb09
Well-Known Member
Using additives really depends on your local fuel quality since Diesel is so poorly regulated. If you're lucky enough to have access to Top Tier, "Premium", or Renewable diesel, then additives typically are not needed at all. If you're filling up with bare minimum 40 cetane diesel then I would treat the fuel with a quality additive of your choice. The best example I can give is how fuel quality drastically changes here on the edge of the TXLED counties. TXLED counties mandate 48 cetane minimum with restrictions on aromatic content for a higher quality fuel while non TXLED counties follow the US minimum of a 40 cetane fuel. I can directly quantify the difference and I more heavily treat non TXLED diesel as my DPF will start to soot load much more unless I'm just doing steady state highway driving.
If I get stuck in traffic with untreated non-TXLED diesel in the tank my DPF noticeably soot loads as compared to TXLED diesel under the same conditions. I treat all my fuel with HSS EDT and LX4 adjusting my dosages depending on which fuel I'm pumping in the tank. If its TXLED Diesel I'll use less EDT and more LX4 while if its non-TXLED fuel I'll use less LX4 and more EDT since EDT also contains LX4. DPF regen % as well as DPF differential pressure are two things I monitor on my iDashes and treating the lessor quality fuel does have a noticeable impact for my truck.
I won't touch on anti-gel additives as this isn't a problem for us down here in South Texas 99% of time.
If I get stuck in traffic with untreated non-TXLED diesel in the tank my DPF noticeably soot loads as compared to TXLED diesel under the same conditions. I treat all my fuel with HSS EDT and LX4 adjusting my dosages depending on which fuel I'm pumping in the tank. If its TXLED Diesel I'll use less EDT and more LX4 while if its non-TXLED fuel I'll use less LX4 and more EDT since EDT also contains LX4. DPF regen % as well as DPF differential pressure are two things I monitor on my iDashes and treating the lessor quality fuel does have a noticeable impact for my truck.
I won't touch on anti-gel additives as this isn't a problem for us down here in South Texas 99% of time.
John Jensen
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The manual was written before the pumps started to fail in part for a lack of lubricity in the fuel. The manual was written before Cummins announced their recommendation of Power Source. For many of reasons, the manuals are always going to say additives are not needed. Additives may not be needed but they sure can help to improve, cure, clean, lube and extend a variety of conditions.
While not specifically anti-gel related, lots of info in this sticky.
hdrams.com
CP4 Changes - additives discussion
I have seen better results with xdp over edt. That would be the old style pump. Below is the new style. With the single dimple marking and other dimples below. The designation is the single larger dimple in the circled location. That is the only way to tell is if that single dimple is there the...
hdrams.com