Diesel Additives

[misra]

Does anyone have experience with Diesel Additives such as Power Service? How do they effect performance and millage on the Bluetec? Thanks.

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[listerone]

Unlike some I wouldn't touch any additives...at least not while my Bluetec is under warranty.It runs very nicely without them and I've even been able to (easily!) start my previous diesel on a -31F morning with nothing but *locally blended* diesel in the tank.The warranty on my Bluetec (and,I suspect,other late model MB diesels) specifically forbids the use of any additives.That,alone,is why I won't do it.And,luckily,I don't seem to need them...warm weather or cold.

Of course some here (many?) would disagree,but....

[2slowcdi]

I used Power Service on my last car a 2003 VW TDI from day one to 200,000 miles.
The injectors that I put in went for 150,000 miles with no problems.
My VW was far from stock so I wanted the most cetane I could get.
I never had a problem water , injector pump.

The cheap diesel here in the U.S. is not good for much but large trucks that is why I have used it in every tank of fuel I put in.
Just go to MB and ask if they have a fuel additive I bet they do.
The dealer I go to did , but they never had much demand so they dropped it.

[Carsy]

Originally Posted by misra

Does anyone have experience with Diesel Additives such as Power Service?

How do they effect performance and millage on the Bluetec?

Thanks.

Have a look at the bottom of this thread regarding additives to diesel.


Wintering Diesels in Cold Climates.

[iankayem]

Times have changed, and so have fuels. I always used an additives in the past but now we have low sulphur fuel and high pressure injection. We do not tend to have the same grunge build up on the injectors with the erratic starting and black smoke as we had 20 years ago once past 100,000km.

My last car I checked the injectors at 116,000 and they were spotless without any additive.

We have better water traps and rust preventive treatment in the tanks so the bio bug risk is somewhat diminished.

We also have different rubbers in the injectors which could perhaps be affected by some lesser additive.

I will not use an additive unless:-
1/ A new problem is found to exist; and
2/ The additive is specifically designed to suit the OM642 engine, by a reputable manufacturer.

[zemun1234]

Originally Posted by iankayem

I will not use an additive unless:-
1/ A new problem is found to exist; and
2/ The additive is specifically designed to suit the OM642 engine, by a reputable manufacturer.

I am using Power Service from Day one ...

First of all, diesel in NA is in range ~40 octane and in Europe ~ 55 (not expert but it could damage injectors on long run).

Power service is increasing octane value for ~8 and it brings to Europe octane value.

As for cleaning, I agree that current USLD is clean enough that you don't need extra cleaning but from time to time, you can get diesel from bottom of tank which it could include some dirt, water etc.

Also, a lot of additives are designed for OM642, bio-diesel engine and you have to check label before put in tank.

In my case, I see difference in power and engine work with Power Service additive - I put EVERY time around one glass when I fill tank ..

My 0.02 $ ...

[ImInPA]

I have used Power Service Diesel Kleen (gray bottle) in every diesel I have owned from day one to well over 100K miles on each one. A great product. Diesel has a natural affinity to moisture, and over time, water collects in the tank. This particular additive helps to remove water from the tank. How can that be a bad thing? Great product.

[isstay]

Modern low sulfur diesel fuel has lower lubricating abilities and your expensive high-pressure fuel pump and injectors would definitely appreciate some additional lubricity from those additives, plus increased cetane number. I am using this product:
http://www.schaefferoil.com/diesel-t...00-winter.html

[FWhite]

Another problem with additives that "remove water from the tank" is that they remove water from the tank. Where does it go? Through the injectors which is where you don't want it. You want water to seperate out and be removed by the fuel filter. It is designed to do this. It can not handle water that is emulsified by additives that Mercedes tells you not to use. My 2 cents.

[2slowcdi]

Originally Posted by FWhite

Another problem with additives that "remove water from the tank" is that they remove water from the tank. Where does it go? Through the injectors which is where you don't want it. You want water to seperate out and be removed by the fuel filter. It is designed to do this. It can not handle water that is emulsified by additives that Mercedes tells you not to use. My 2 cents.

Power Service Gray Bottle does not remove water , the White bottle does.
So on the gray bottle the fuel filter stops water and the white its emulsified.

[ImInPA]

Thanks for the clarification. I knew one of the PS products removed water. I use the Gray bottle regularly. A good product.

[Carsy]

I am lucky to have a fuel filter with a water sensor & bleed tube.

I would not use any additives other than the ones recommended by MB.

[isstay]

Originally Posted by OelMotor

The prior statement has been corrected to show factual information;

Modern low sulfur diesel fuel has no lubricating problem, its entirely a marketing myth, and your expensive high-pressure fuel pump and injectors are designed to use it. Adding anything to your fuel tank except clean diesel is no different than adding money to your toilet.

Let see what BOSCH and others (Delphi, Denso, and Siemens) are saying:

[isstay]

This is true and Mercedes is the one making money when comes to service due to premature failure of fuel system components. By the way, who makes fuel system parts (HPFP and injectors) for MB?

[isstay]

OelMotor = 240D 3.0T?

[mi benz]

Originally Posted by isstay

OelMotor = 240D 3.0T?

I came to that same conclusion & reported it to the moderator.

So long, 'OelMotor'

edit: Wow! they blackholed his posts too! LOL- good job Moderators

[Whargoul]

All additives are a waste of money. If any actually worked then a fuel station company would be using it and advertizing/featuring it.

[isstay]

Originally Posted by Whargoul

All additives are a waste of money. If any actually worked then a fuel station company would be using it and advertizing/featuring it.

Is this you 240D 3.0T?

[DubVBenz]

Originally Posted by isstay

Is this you 240D 3.0T?

of course it is. He also uses the following monikers: OM617" ,"forcedinduction", "zedd", "240d" ,"Cran",OelMotor, "Diesel_Benz", "NakedApe", depending on how many times he's been banned from a particular forum. It's not only mbworld that he gets banned from, he's literally banned from every single forum he's ever been a member of.

[Snipe656]

Originally Posted by Whargoul

All additives are a waste of money. If any actually worked then a fuel station company would be using it and advertizing/featuring it.

Fuel makers(Chevron, Exxon, Shell, etc.) do add additives to their fuels. The amount and type of additives will greatly differ depending on the region someone is in and the source of the fuel(just because you buy at say Shell does not mean the fuel source was one of their refineries). Now why none appear to want to market this for their diesel fuels is beyond my knowledge. Although I know at one point Chevron was testing Techron-D out in some parts of California and was marketing it there.

I personaly do not feel the need for adding additives. I know some people will always toss out the claim they used them since day 1 and achieved X miles without issues but can always find other people who achieved X miles and never put in an additive since day 1.

[2slowcdi]

How much does peace of mind cost?
I keep most of my cars and trucks a long time and drive a lot.
The last thing I want is to break down 1000 miles from home.
So I do all the little things to keep my car new.
When I change my fuel filter I fill it up with power service.

[Snipe656]

How do you know for certain that any additive you add is not actually causing problems in the long run? No gurantees it helps things and none that it does not hurt either. Just playing devils advocate here because I doubt any hurt but know some do help none.

[zemun1234]

Originally Posted by Snipe656

How do you know for certain that any additive you add is not actually causing problems in the long run? No gurantees it helps things and none that it does not hurt either. Just playing devils advocate here because I doubt any hurt but know some do help none.

How do you know for certain that any additive you add is not <actually causing problems> HELPING in the long run?

I am using additive for long time (for every MB car in past) and so far, no problems ..Considering what it could be in today diesel (all kind of dirt along with water), a small glass of 'something' cannot be wrong, isn't it?

[Snipe656]

Originally Posted by zemun1234

How do you know for certain that any additive you add is not <actually causing problems> HELPING in the long run?

I am using additive for long time (for every MB car in past) and so far, no problems ..Considering what it could be in today diesel (all kind of dirt along with water), a small glass of 'something' cannot be wrong, isn't it?

I suppose I just have a different outlook on additives since I am married to an ex-additives engineer who now works with alternative fuels. I though have never used an additive and put 100's of thousands of miles on my vehicles and never had a problem related to the engines/fuel systems. The only exception would be my current truck has had some injector failures BUT that particular engine design is plagued with injector failures and no additive in the world is going to fix that design issue. I actually know of an oil that causes long term problems yet is marketed to somehow be better than mainstream oils which is why I played devils advocate on the fuel additives comment.

[Whargoul]

Originally Posted by 2slowcdi

How much does peace of mind cost?

Far more than its worth.

The last thing I want is to break down 1000 miles from home.

The only way to ensure that is to not drive your car 1000 miles from home.

When I change my fuel filter I fill it up with power service.

Thats not its intended use, also, the fuel pump flows all the fuel out of the filter and back to the tank before its even been running 5 seconds.

Considering what it could be in today diesel (all kind of dirt along with water)

Unless you're sucking fuel out of a tank thats been sitting in a farmer's field for 20 years, modern fuel is cleaner than ever.

I though have never used an additive and put 100's of thousands of miles on my vehicles and never had a problem related to the engines/fuel systems.

You and millions of fleet vehicles around the world proves recreational fuel additives are not needed or useful.