Diesel Fuel Additives

[8ntruck 8,728]

I know a lot of you out there have diesel equipment.  Do you use any fuel additives/scales oils/stabilizers?

 

I've just added a MF GC1720 to my heard.  It is likely going to go a week or three between uses, so are there any issues I should be aware of?

 

Comments?  Opinions?

 

Thanks in advance, and I hope this does not open a big can of worms discussion wise.

 

[ri702bill 11,682]

Now if you were to talk about using ethanol gas vs. non-ethanol, or what rattle can red is WH red, THAT gets 'em going!! 

[JCM 11,052]

For the past 8 years in the Winter I make sure the the fuel is what they call Winter diesel. A phone call to confirm.  It is usually in by the first of November . I buy all my fuel from the same station. I then add 2 ounces per 5 gallons of a JD diesel fuel conditioner called fuel- protect. When it warms up I run it with no additive. No issues in the Yanmar.

[Pullstart 69,541]

The cold temps this past winter were the first I’ve ever had any gelling issues, and most stores around the area had an issue keeping stock on the shelves.  Other than that, I’ve never needed any additives for a truck that sits up to months at a time (winter/summer vehicles).  My best suggestion is to keep the fuel tank either full, or empty, but not in the middle.   

[lynnmor 8,726]

When I bought a new diesel truck I had an issue with diesel clatter after the first fill up, a sure sign of fuel with a low cetane.  I have been using an additive for increasing cetane, adding lubricity and preventing jelling ever since.  I might be wasting some money and I usually don't buy additives, but I also don't want a 10 to 15 thousand HPFP repair.  Fuel mileage might be better as well.

[oliver2-44 11,364]

Great timely question.
I’ve just had the 4 cylinder Rosa Master injector pump on my 40 hp Oliver TLB rebuilt. $850 Ouch. It’s 60 years old and I’ve had it for 28 years, so I suspect it’s never been rebuilt since original. The shop said it was completely gummed up- worst he’d seen in a while.  It had started taking longer cranking to start. 
It has a 11 gallon tank and I fill it with a 5 gallon jug, so it stays 1/4 to 3/4 full.  It can sit unused 2-3 months. But I do try to start it for a short run maybe monthly. 
 

it has a primary and secondary filter. I change the secondary which is also a water  filter about every 5 years I’ve probable changed the primary filter every 10 years since it gets so few hours on it. 
I guess ill change both more often now.  
 

I’ll have to check if they change the diesel to a winter blend here in Texas since we stay warmer except for the infrequent freezes. 

Edited Wednesday at 05:05 PM by oliver2-44

[squonk 45,987]

On 4/15/2026 at 8:59 AM, Pullstart said:

The cold temps this past winter were the first I’ve ever had any gelling issues, and most stores around the area had an issue keeping stock on the shelves.  Other than that, I’ve never needed any additives for a truck that sits up to months at a time (winter/summer vehicles).  My best suggestion is to keep the fuel tank either full, or empty, but not in the middle.   

We had a brutal winter years ago. I was at Napa and the landfill wanted like 5 pallets of anti gel. I cleaned out all of the Napa warehouses in NY of it. 

[ineedanother 1,999]

I have a fleet of diesels (prime movers and generators) that only deploy on occasion...sometimes as much as 4 years or so. I use Biobor JF with good results. I periodically pull samples and have never found growth or separation of any kind. I move fuel from one to another through a scrubber when I have time and replace what I can but it's pretty static and I don't commit a lot of time to it.

[tunahead72 2,621]

I have a 1977 (or so) International tractor at our place in Virginia, which unfortunately doesn't get a lot of exercise, and routinely sits for weeks or even several months at a time.  Back in 2008 I met and started hiring a local retired IH mechanic to take care of my larger maintenance and repair tasks on this tractor, and he recommended Stanadyne products.  I've been using their Performance Formula ever since, with apparently good results.  I don't believe I've ever had any fuel issues since then, even though I'm not especially religious about keeping the tank full.  I use whatever on-road diesel I can get locally, seems to be good enough.  And I get the fuel filters replaced every 200 hours or so, which in my case works out to be about every 3-4 years.  So far, so good.

 

By far, my biggest problem with this tractor isn't its own fault, flat front tires.  Fookin' autumn olive!  But that's a topic for another day.