The Best Diesel Additives (Review & Buying Guide) in 2023 | Autance

The global diesel prices continue to rise partly because of raw material scarcity. Fuel refineries are now starting to look…

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The Best Diesel Additives (Review & Buying Guide) in 2023 | Autance © The Best Diesel Additives (Review & Buying Guide) in 2023 | Autance
Best Choice Lucas LUC10013 10013 Fuel Treatment Lucas Fuel Treatment
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Premium Pick Stanadyne Performance Formula One Shot Stanadyne Performance Formula One Shot
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Best Value Howes Diesel Treat Diesel Conditioner and Anti-Gel Howes Diesel Treat Diesel Conditioner and Anti-Gel
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The global diesel prices continue to rise partly because of raw material scarcity. Fuel refineries are now starting to look for crude oil alternatives just to meet the growing demand of the public. If you’re one of the millions of consumers affected by this alarming diesel concern, you’ve come to the right place.

This listing teaches you all about diesel additives. Unknown to many, additives are invented not only for an efficient engine performance and affordable fuel option but also for a cleaner engine emission. To use additives is to help maximize your family’s finances and help save the environment, therefore. If you’re new to the game, choosing diesel additive products can be overwhelming. We feel you and so we prepared you a list for comparison.

The Best Diesel Additive

Lucas may not have the name of a big, branded multinational corporation, but it’s one of the few names in the automotive industry that people trust to provide them with the best possible solutions to their vehicle issues. Take the Lucas fuel treatment, for example. It comes in a very unassuming 1-gallon container that looks like some cheap product from China. However, you can bet that this is 100% made in the US of A.

If you’re on the hunt for the best diesel additives, Lucas should always be at the top of your shortlist. The formulation is already complete as it cleans and lubricates your diesel-powered ride’s fuel system to give you that instant boost not only in terms of engine performance but also in terms of fuel economy. Best of all, you’ll never have to be boggled by faulty pumps and injectors ever again as the Lucas diesel additive protects your vehicle’s most sensitive parts. This is one name that motorists trust when it comes to squeezing out every ounce of performance parameter from their rides.

Key Features
  • Performance and fuel economy booster
  • Efficient fuel system cleaning and protection formula
  • Lengthens lifespan of injectors and pumps
  • ULSD-compliant formulation
Specification
  • Brand Lucas
  • Model LUC10013
  • Weight 8 lbs

One good thing about the diesel fuel additive formulation of Stanadyne is that it looks a lot like a nifty bottle that’s so easy to pour into your fuel tank because of its long neck. This greatly eliminates the need for a separate funnel. Best of all, this diesel fuel additive can be used on the different type of diesel fuel systems regardless of the make and model of your ride or even the year. As long it has a diesel engine the Stanadyne diesel fuel treatment should work.

Considered as the best diesel fuel additive because of its all-purpose nature and ease of application, the Stanadyne diesel fuel additive can increase your fuel’s cetane rating by up to 5 points. While this may look modest, at least it gives you an idea of just how much of an increase you’ll get with each treatment. With it is an overall improvement in your ride’s torque, power, and acceleration as well as fuel economy by as much as 9.6%. You’ll get to drive your ride the way you’ve always wanted it.

Key Features
  • For all kinds of fuel systems regardless of vehicle make or year
  • Year-round diesel engine performance booster
  • A 5-point increase in cetane rating
  • 9.5% gain in MPG
  • Enhanced cleaner and protectant capabilities
Specification
  • Brand Stanadyne
  • Model 38564
  • Weight 14.4 lbs

Improving the properties of the diesel fuel you put into your engine shouldn’t be difficult especially if you’ve got the likes of the Opti-Lube XPD diesel fuel conditioner. This diesel treatment provides your engine and fuel system exceptional lubrication while improving your ride’s mileage. You’ll definitely have more adventures to come with the XPD in your engine and fuel system.

But that’s not all that the XPD diesel additive can bring to your car. While boosting your fuel’s cetane rating, it also cleans and protects your fuel injectors as well as other important components of your fuel delivery. Reduced deposits also mean cleaner emissions. The unique formulation of the XPD diesel treatment also helps improve water separation, ensuring your fuel won’t have any of those nasty bugs that can undermine the lubricity of your diesel fuel. The best news is that the engine additives in the XPD are especially formulated for all types of emissions systems so it’s basically pour-and-drive.

Key Features
  • Boosts cetane rating
  • Enhanced lubricant properties
  • Fuel system cleaners and protectors
  • Improved cold weather performance
  • Compatible with different emissions systems
Specification
  • Brand Opti-Lube
  • Model OPT-XPD1-NA
  • Weight 7.9 lbs

If you feel like your diesel engine is hard at work trying to pull your load over a not-so-steep-hill, then perhaps you’ll need Hot Shot’s Secret to give your engine that much-needed boost in power. One of the best diesel additives in the market, the Clean and Boost can increase your fuel’s cetane rating by as much as 7 points. Translated into raw power, you’ll definitely be conquering more terrain while also ensuring that every single component of your fuel system is cleaned and well-protected.

One added benefit of the Diesel Extreme is that you will regenerate your diesel particulate filter a lot less frequently. That’s one item that you can tick off from your regular vehicle maintenance work. At the heart of the Diesel Extreme is a diesel fuel additive with top-of-its-class lubricity enhancement technology, giving you improved power, cleaner fuel system, and better mileage. And with its friendly price, it sure is a great product to put into your diesel engine.

Key Features
  • Top-tier lubricity enhancement
  • 7-point cetane boost
  • 50% reduction in DPF regeneration
  • Enhanced fuel system cleaning and protection formulation
  • Cetane booster, fuel stabilizer properties
  • Corrosion inhibitor
Specification
  • Brand Hot Shot's Secret
  • Model P040464Z
  • Weight 4.05 lbs

This diesel fuel treatment from Archoil may look very expensive at first, costing about a Ulysses Grant note for just 8 ounces. But don’t be fooled. This highly concentrated formulation of the best engine additives is already good for 250 gallons of fuel. That is how cost-efficient the Archoil is. It is so efficient that you only need less than 1 mL per gallon, 0.95 mL to be exact. The best diesel fuel additive for those requiring a highly concentrated form of treatment, the Archoil provides a variety of benefits that can easily translate to better driving performance.

Depending on your engine and driving habits, the Archoil diesel treatment can improve mileage by at least 2%, topping at 8%. You won’t have to worry about a very frequent regeneration of your diesel particulate filter, too. Archoil stabilizes your fuel, cleans your fuel system, and gives you the kind of vehicle emission that can easily pass tests with flying colors. It surely is one of the best diesel additives in town.

Key Features
  • 2-8% increase in MPG
  • DPF regeneration frequency reduction
  • Cleans and protects fuel system
  • Increases engine response and power
  • Enhanced lubricity formula
Specification
  • Brand Archoil
  • Model AR6200-8
  • Weight 9.6 oz

They call it the diesel bugs and if you think your car has some of these nasty contaminants you’ll definitely want to pour into your fuel system the Biobor JF diesel fuel treatment. It’s designed specifically to kill bacteria, algae, and fungi that may already be present in your fuel tank. And if there are none of these bugs yet, then the Biobor JF will make sure that none will ever find their way into your fuel tank and wreak havoc in your engine.

It has a highly concentrated formulation, too. A single 16-oz container is good to effectively treat 1,280 gallons, making it one of the best diesel additives for individuals with problematic, germ-laden fuel tanks. The other good news is that the Biobor JF doesn’t limit its bug-killing capabilities to diesel engines of cars. It can also be used on almost anything that is powered by a diesel engine. Boats, farm equipment, and even heavy machinery can all benefit from the engine additives provided by Hammonds.

Key Features
  • Anti-diesel bug formulation
  • ULSD-compliant formulation
  • OEM diesel engine approved
  • Multi-purpose lubricity additive and biocide
  • Anti-corrosion formulation
Specification
  • Brand Hammonds
  • Model BB16EZ01US
  • Weight 1.1 lbs

It not only promises you better engine performance including improved mileage, but this diesel fuel conditioner from Howes also delivers on such promises. With its clear golden formulation, the Diesel Treat is just what you need to get your engine working to its optimum levels of efficiency regardless of weather conditions, but mostly when you’re about to get stuck in the dead of winter. It can lower your diesel fuel’s cold plugging point by as much as 20 degrees giving you unsurpassed performance even when the climate isn’t really that cooperative.

The Howes diesel additive comes with an anti-gel formulation, making sure your engine gets to perform as it should without guzzling your fuel needlessly. Motorists who have been using the Diesel Treat have very good things to say about this anti-gel diesel fuel treatment formulation, further saying that it is more than just an anti-gel diesel treatment; it is an all-around additive that literally brings out the best in your diesel engine.

Key Features
  • 20-degree cold filter plugging point reduction
  • Anti-gel formulation
  • Cold weather protection
  • For diesel and biodiesel blends
  • Particulate filter-friendly formulation
Specification
  • Brand Howes
  • Model 103060
  • Weight 3.7 lbs

Owners of vehicles powered by a diesel engine can rely on the prowess of the Sta-Bil diesel treatment formulation to give them a host of benefits that range from better mileage to better overall engine performance. The diesel additive recipe effectively neutralizes and prevents the formation of sediment and sludge in your fuel tank so you get all the raw power of fuel sans impurities or contaminants.

The long-neck design of the Sta-Bil bottle also aids in the treatment process as it makes it a lot easier to pour the chemical concoction right into your fuel tank without the need for a funnel or any other gadget. This diesel fuel treatment from DieselPower greatly improves the cetane rating of the fuel you put into the tank. By how much? that we really don’t know. Suffice it to say that motorists are quite happy with the performance of their vehicles with the addition of such diesel fuel treatment.

Key Features
  • Corrosion protection
  • Oxidation reduce
  • Removes water in fuel
  • Lubricant and cleansing action
Specification
  • Brand DieselPower
  • Model 22254
  • Weight 2.07 lbs

Ford owners call this the best diesel fuel additive for their ride as it is specially formulated for Ford diesel engines. And if in case you don’t own a Ford, fret not as the PM-22 can also be used on other types of diesel engines so you can also enjoy its engine performance improvement and cetane boosting effects.

Fully compliant with the specifications for ultra-low sulfur diesel fuel, this diesel additive from Ford is designed specifically to let your engine roar and give it that oomph that it never had. It’s the diesel fuel treatment that greatly improves the quality and combustibility of ordinary diesel fuel to get your ride started with a simple turn of the ignition. Cranking your engine shouldn’t be a problem with the PM-22 in your fuel system. Of course, Ford has also thought about protecting every single component of your car’s fuel delivery system so you can expect this diesel treatment to be the best.

Key Features
  • Designed for Ford diesel engines
  • Can be used for other diesel engines
  • Boosts cetane rating
  • Improved engine performance
  • USLD compliant formulation
Specification
  • Brand Ford
  • Model PM-22-A
  • Weight 1 lb

If you own a vehicle that has common rail direct fuel injection system this diesel additive from Power Service should easily maintain that high-performance output of your engine. Its formulation increases the cetane rating of the fuel you put into your tank by as much as 6 points, way better than most diesel fuel treatments in the market.

Diesel Kleen features the SlickDiesel technology that gives your engine and fuel system components the much-needed cleaning and lubrication they need. The mileage improvement can also easily translate into better savings by as much as 8%. When compared to other diesel treatment formulations, however, the Diesel Kleen comes out as less concentrated as a full 80-ounce container can only manage to treat 250 gallons. This is 10 times less concentrated than the Archoil diesel fuel additive. Nevertheless, with improvements in all aspects of your diesel engine performance plus a price that is very friendly on the pocket, the Diesel Kleen still makes for the best diesel fuel additive.

Key Features
  • With slick diesel lubricator
  • 8% fuel economy improvement
  • 6-point Cetane Boost
  • For diesel engines 2007 and onwards
  • Can be used on biodiesel, ultra-low sulfur diesel, and biodiesel blend
  • Can be used on high-pressure common rail systems
Specification
  • Brand Power Service
  • Model 03080-06
  • Weight 4.9 lbs

Best Diesel Additives Buying Guide & FAQ

Things to Consider When Buying Diesel Additives

There are a lot of diesel fuel additives in the market and it can be particularly dizzying if you’re not sure what to get in the first place. As such, even before you start shopping for the best diesel fuel additive make sure you understand some factors that should be carefully considered.

  • Type of Additive

This is related to what you want to achieve by using a fuel additive into your car’s system. There are a variety of fuel additives that can have different functions so it is best to list first what you want to achieve and then look for a specific type of fuel additive that can best help you achieve your goal.

  • Treatment Rate

Some products require fuel treatment every time you top up your fuel. Other products will only require periodic treatments, often at regular intervals. Your choice obviously depends on what is convenient for you – treating your fuel every time you top up or treating it every once in a while. There are benefits to every-refuel treatments as you’ll never miss a regimen. The problem is that it can be quite costly. If you go for period treatments, the issue is that you might forget putting the additive.

  • Environmental-soundness

Everyone today is already conscious about the impact of fuel emissions on the environment. And while oil producers are complying with environmental regulations, the fuel additive you use should also not undermine these efforts by fuel manufacturers. Read the label very well and check if there are harmful chemicals that can have a negative effect on the environment.

  • Multi-functionality

We mentioned something about fuel additives being of different types, each with its own purpose or function. In choosing a fuel additive, it is always better to go for a product that can perform a multitude of functions to give you the best value. For example, if a product can protect your engine and fuel system while also stabilizing your diesel fuel and boosting your fuel’s cetane rating, then it is way better than a product that will only boost your cetane rating.

  • Vehicle Appropriateness

Always check if the fuel additive you want to use is compatible with the engine and fuel system in your car. There are products that are more specific to certain types of diesel engines and fuel systems while there are also those that are for general use.

Benefits of Using Fuel Additive

Fuel additives can improve the performance of your diesel engine by making it more efficient when it comes to engine burns. Each stroke of the pistons can deliver the kind of power that one needs from their ride.

Using fuel additives can also help improve fuel economy which can literally translate to better savings on fuel. Instead of refueling more frequently, you’d top up your fuel less often because of the improvement in engine performance and efficiency.

Manufacturers of fuel additives also make sure that their products will not harm the environment. Many are designed to improve the environmental-friendliness of already-eco-friendly modern diesel vehicles.

You are also protecting the different components of your car’s fuel delivery system from the pump to the fuel line and the fuel injectors as well as other related parts. Fuel additives can improve the lubricating efficiency of diesel so these parts are adequately protected.

Treating your vehicle with a fuel additive is also more cost-effective than bringing it to the shop and having a professional do it for you. Virtually anyone who knows how to open the fuel tank lid in his or her vehicle can easily pour a fuel additive.

Types of Fuel Additive

One of the most important factors to consider when picking a fuel additive for your diesel engine is the type of additive. Currently, there are four types of diesel fuel additives.

  • Cetane Boosters

This is almost the equivalent of the octane rating in gasoline. The cetane rating of diesel fuel accounts for its combustibility. The higher the cetane rating, the more efficient is the diesel engine. Boosting the cetane rating of diesel fuel can, thus, give you the engine performance you need.

  • Fuel Stabilizers

These help improve the efficiency of diesel fuel while also preventing hard starts. These are generally included when the car’s engine and fuel system are in a state of disuse, still allowing for the efficient use of the energy stored in diesel fuel.

  • Anti-gel Additives

For those living in colder regions, there’s a tendency for the diesel fuel filter to get clogged when paraffin wax or gel inadvertently forms in the diesel fuel. Although modern diesel cars now come with heated fuel filters and fuel lines, anti-gel additives can still serve to improve the vehicle’s cold-starting performance, especially in extremely cold temperatures.

  • Fuel Injector Cleaners

If you’re experiencing sluggish acceleration, hard-starting, or even poor engine performance in cold weather, you may want to use fuel additives with injector cleaners. These can help remove deposits that may already be clogging your car’s injector nozzles. Some high-end fuel additives can even clean other parts of the engine.

How Diesel and Gasoline Differ

There really isn’t that much difference between diesel and gasoline since both are made from crude oil that underwent a series of refinement. Crude oil undergoes several stages of distillation that separates the various hydrocarbon molecules that are present in crude oil. Gases are the first to be separated followed by solvents. Moderately-light hydrocarbon chains are next to be separated. When these are blended, you have your gasoline. As the crude oil is kept on being distilled, heavier-chained hydrocarbons are also separated. After gasoline is diesel. Next come heating oils, lubricating oils, and paraffin wax. Technically, diesel has a heavier molecular weight than gasoline, giving it a much thicker consistency compared to the water-like consistency of gasoline.

Best Diesel Additives FAQ:

Q:  What are diesel fuel additives?

These are chemical formulations that are added to diesel fuel with the goal of improving the lubricant characteristics of diesel fuel especially on the distributor and rotary types of injection pumps. Additives can help improve the lubricity of your diesel fuel while also addressing deposits, cetane reduction, and cold flow issues as well as a host of other benefits.

Q:  What is cetane and why boost it?

Diesel guys never mention anything about octane. Instead, they always look at the ‘cetane’ rating of their diesel fuel. Cetane rating is a measure of the diesel fuel’s tendency to burn or ignite. Cetane is a colorless gas that requires very minimal heat to ignite. And since diesel engines compress air making it super-hot before injecting the needed fuel, improving the cetane in the fuel can also improve engine performance. So why boost cetane ratings? It is basically to improve the overall performance of your diesel engine.

Q:  Does it void my new vehicle’s warranty?

The Magnusson-Moss Act of 1975 specifically prohibits the voiding of a warranty by any equipment manufacturer simply because a consumer used a fuel additive. So, putting a diesel fuel additive of your choice into your new vehicle will not void its warranty. This is because even original engine manufacturers produce their own brand of fuel additives that can be a lot similar to third-party products. Additionally, producers of diesel fuel often put additives into their products to make them stand out from competition and to adhere to regulations.

Q:  How should I add the product to my fuel?

Manufacturers of fuel additives have their different methods of using their fuel additives so it is wise to check the instructions before emptying a bottle into your tank. Generally, it is best to have the fuel tank nearly empty so you can pour the correct amount of fuel additive into your car’s fuel tank before filling it with diesel fuel.

Our Top Pick for Best Diesel Additive

Winning our nod for the best diesel fuel additive is Lucas’ Complete Fuel Treatment that comes with a unique blend of diesel fuel conditioners and fuel injector cleaners to give your ride not only the performance boost it needs but also greater savings in your pocket because of improvements in mileage. The way it protects the various components of the fuel delivery system in your vehicle is noteworthy, saving you additional thousands of dollars from costly repairs should these components fail because of poor-quality fuel.

Diesel fuel additives are an effortless and cost-effective means to improve the performance of your diesel engine, giving you better mileage, and protecting the different parts of your fuel system.

Related Posts: Best Transmission Additives and Oil Additives For Your Car

Sources:

  1. Engine Manufacturers Warranties and Diesel Fuel Additives, Mining
  2. The Importance of Fuel Additives, Know Your Parts
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