Diesel fuel additive question

[Kevin]

So I'm at the QT for diesel and someone was too lazy to walk 3 feet to the trash can. But anyway they threw this on the ground:

My car is a 2013 VW Golf with 24,000 miles on it. Do I need to add anything like this? My tank is only about 15 gallons so I don't think I'd need 2 liters like this one is. But it says cleans injectors, boots power improves fuel economy and prevents sticking.

Do you guys add diesel additives? I've averaged 40mpg around town in traffic over the summer, with the a/c working so I'm not too concerned about mileage.

 

[Cooperhawk]

Funny you should ask. I took our 2012 VW Passat TDI if for its 30,000 service and noticed there is a tank in the trunk for that additive. I was shocked. I did not know if I should have been monitoring that or not. Nothing I read in the book or anyone told me about that tank.

Relax, VW built the tank to provide the liquid for at least 10,000 miles and they top it off each time you get it serviced. If you want to check it it's probably on the right side of the trunk.

 

[Cooperhawk]

Okay, on further reading you are asking about additives. Sorry, I confuse easily. I do not use any additives and VW does not recommend any. How about it 737TDI? Do you?

 

[Bear Paw Jack]

Probably going to offend someone with this remark, but the EPA has gotten Diesel fuel to the point where it has little lubrication. Transmission fluid as an additive the diesel is just as good and cheaper. I used to use it on my 1999 F350 Diesel. Doesn't take a lot either.

 

[gmartinnc]

Funny you should ask. I took our 2012 VW Passat TDI if for its 30,000 service and noticed there is a tank in the trunk for that additive. I was shocked. I did not know if I should have been monitoring that or not. Nothing I read in the book or anyone told me about that tank.

Relax, VW built the tank to provide the liquid for at least 10,000 miles and they top it off each time you get it serviced. If you want to check it it's probably on the right side of the trunk.

Are you sure this isn't what goes in that tank?
http://www.cumminsfiltration.com/html/en/products/fuel/diesel_emission/urea.html

 

[Cooperhawk]

Are you sure this isn't what goes in that tank?
http://www.cumminsfiltration.com/html/en/products/fuel/diesel_emission/urea.html[/quote]

You are exactly correct. That is what VW puts in the tank each time the vehicle is serviced.

 

[graygun]

http://forums.tdiclub.com/

3rd forum on the list is for fuel and lubricants. I believe Karl is a member.

 

[wwb]

Since 2008, when they introduced the ultra-low sulfur fuel, there have been fuel pump and injector failures, mostly in older diesels, but some in newer diesels as well. The higher sulfur level in the older fuel served as a lubricant, but that's no longer there.

That particular jug (the silver one) has a lubricant addiditive, a cetane booster (sort of like an octane booster in gasoline), and a detergent to help keep injectors clean. The same company has another product in a white jug that is for winter use if you live up north that prevents fuel gelling. A lot of stations up north sell a blended fuel in the winter; 50% number 2 and 50 % number 1 diesel fuel which also prevents gelling, but #1 has a fair amount less energy per gallon, so your mileage will suffer.

The urea compound is used to treat exhaust for pollution purposes, and is found on almost all the new diesels.... I believe the Dodge/Cummins does not use that particular method.

 

[Kevin]

Cooperhawk, I remember talking to you acknowledge in October of 2012. When I bought mine. You were really praising VW diesels. I'm right there with you. What a great engine. I was just reading where they changed the diesel engine somehow. It's supposed to be different although I don't know the specifics. Nor am I a mechanic.

But, my Golf doesn't have any place in the trunk for any liquids. Is it under the upholstery?

 

[H.H. Hipshot]

This does not concern a VW, but I have a 2001 Chevy truck with the 6.2L diesel. Even though I was using some fuel additive, my engine was surging, which was most noticeable at a stop light. The mechanic said that I needed to replace the fuel pressure regulator, which would entail a $1,000.00 repair bill.

I decided to try putting a quart of 2-cycle marine oil in the tank at each 25 gallon fill-up. So far, everything is fine after two years, and I have not replaced the pressure regulator.

I figured that 2-cycle oil would provide the lube missing from the diesel, is designed to be burned, and the diesel will burn just about anything anyway.

So far, so good.

HHH

 

[Cooperhawk]

Cooperhawk, I remember talking to you acknowledge in October of 2012. When I bought mine. You were really praising VW diesels. I'm right there with you. What a great engine. I was just reading where they changed the diesel engine somehow. It's supposed to be different although I don't know the specifics. Nor am I a mechanic.

But, my Golf doesn't have any place in the trunk for any liquids. Is it under the upholstery?

It may be under the hood for yours. Do you do your own oil changes? If not then VW is taking care of it. I don't know about Dodge, but Ford has a system that if you run out of DEF the computer shuts down your engine.

 

[wwb]

........ I don't know about Dodge, but Ford has a system that if you run out of DEF the computer shuts down your engine.

Nope... won't shut it down, but it goes into a "limp home" mode; lean fuel setting and the rev limiter holds you under 2000 rpm.

 

[Rick Courtright]

Hi,

Kevin, there's a product from Lucas Oil Products that's popular with both diesel and gas engine owners around here. They call it "Lucas Upper Cylinder Lubricant." It's sold as an injector cleaner and fuel conditioner. One reason the salespeople at the local auto shops recommend it is it's an "oil based" vs "solvent based" product, so it adds a touch of that lubrication back in that's lost with ultra low sulfur diesel and "more alcohol" gasolines.

It mixes at 3 oz/10 gal, so a quart will do 100 gal, and a quart usually runs around $8-9. Some shops sell it by the gallon, which drops the price a dollar or more per quart. I was introduced to it by a fellow who has an '86 Chevy diesel p/u that sits for weeks at a time (he hauls a load of hay with it now and then, but doesn't use the truck on any other regular basis), and found it helps in keeping his fuel from "going bad" so quickly.

As with most of these products, it's rumored to triple your horsepower, cut your utility bills in half, regrow missing hair and make you more popular with the ladies. Or some such. In reality, I've used it in gasoline engines, and it certainly doesn't hurt anything. On longer trips, I've picked up 1 to even 2 mpg in vehicles that normally average 25-27 mpg overall. Around town, I notice a little smoother running and plugs stay cleaner a little longer in older engines, but don't see a measurable increase in economy.

If it's not available locally, here's their website: http://www.LucasOil.com

Rick C

 

[Kevin]

Thanks for the info. Cooperhawk, VW must be taking care of it. The car still has one more year of included service, as we bought it new. The next time I'm around I might stop in and ask the dealer.

I can hear Karl cringe at the thought of taking a car to a dealer too.

But that sign some shops have about $50 if we repair it first or $100 if you "repaired" it before coming to see us? That was written for me.

 

[Bull Barrel]

1986 Chevy Diesel??? It still runs???

 

[chuck w.]

Power service seems to work ok. The boss wants us to run it in his DD13's. The tank in the VW trunk is for DEF. Don't add DEF directly into fuel tank. Don't put pwr. svc. in def tank. The car will not like it. Nor will your bank account. The vw shop will be able to give out bonuses if you do.

 

[picketpin]

I use it AND the other anti Gelling product. Even mixed fuel only takes you down to -8. Gets to -24 lots of times over the winter. Gell one some time.

One fall I was coming back from Texas. IT was fall but in the 70s down to high 50s. Up on top, around Grants NM my son woke me. He could only get 50 MPH out of the truck. I looked at the overhead console -17F. Gelled fuel. We limped to grants and the truck stop and added 4 bottles of additive to start meting the paraffin out of the fuel filter, fuel lines and injectors. It looked like the USS Idaho laying down a smoke screen clear up through Nevada. It took 4 tanks of heavily treated fuel to clear it out.. Even then it broke at high RPM and we did have to have one injector replaced.

BOTH products are recommended by Cummins, especially for my 12 valves from 1995, 1997 and 1999. One for heavy load-low rpm uses (hauling a loaded stock trailer in 4 wheel drive across the desert) and all of my Cummins Dodges (5) for winter. Checking with the supplier gave me a guy that 'assured" me that they were good to -8F. Gee, great.

No idea about VWs

Ross

 

[George Tucker]

I started putting 2 cycle oil and a additive in my Cummins about 2 yrs ago, Engine is Quieter and runs great.