Which fuel anti-gel is best?

showcrop

Well-known Member
This is of course a question that usually brings up a lot of debate, but as I am sitting here trying to give a bothersome foot a break, I was looking at some YouTube videos and one that Todd of project farm posted two years ago popped up. I had seen it before but had forgotten. The screen shot shows how many inches of gelled fuel were in each glass jar after 24 hours at zero or below.


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So go ahead and tell why your favorite is best but here is what the controlled test showed.


.
 
Ive use Stanadyne, Howes, and Power Service. Had an issue
with Power Service a few times. Switched to Howes.
Stanadyne is as readily available here or I would have used
that also. Hot Shot not everywhere here either.
 
I see post here about which anti-gel has worked and not worked for users, it seems a brand works for one person and not for another. I wonder if people use it correctly. I feel the correct way is to add additive to fuel tank when tank is low in Warmer weather and fill tank with fuel to get a good mix. Then running engine to get treated fuel through system. Just pouring additive on top of fuel will not work.
 
I am a believer in Howes,for Anti-gel, but i have seen some test, were other are better for Lubrication, but i used a jug of Howes a week, summer and winter, st that time when i started useing it, i could buy a jug for $6:99, and water is the NO, 1 enemy of a diesel engine, i got 975,000 miles out a engine with out any problems,then sold it, he put on how many more i have no idea, so i had no reason to buy a differant brand!
 
I suppose it is they have done a good job of marketing or something but most over the road truckers
in these parts seem to favor Howes. Here on the farm we use Howes, Standyne,or Power Serv depending
on what has the better price. Can,t tell a lot of difference in the three.
 
I used 5 oz of Howes to about 15 gallons of summer diesel as you recommended. Top of the with 5 gallons of winter blend.

Started at 9 degrees after sitting all winter. Never missed a beat.

I'm new to diesel and jm is my mentor.
George
 
(quoted from post at 14:42:21 02/19/21) I see post here about which anti-gel has worked and not worked for users, it seems a brand works for one person and not for another. I wonder if people use it correctly. I feel the correct way is to add additive to fuel tank when tank is low in Warmer weather and fill tank with fuel to get a good mix. Then running engine to get treated fuel through system. Just pouring additive on top of fuel will not work.

Lugnut, actually when poured in on top it will blend nearly instantly. They are miscible. You couldn't keep them separate if your life depended on it. Try it in a clear container.
 
How is your fuel mileage with #1??? We use power service. When it is below zero, we double the amount. Bill
 
I has a chart years ago that had power service near the bottom and the top 2 were brands I had never heard
of, maybe makes a difference who pays for the test. ;-)
 
When I worked for the South Dakota DOT, the only thing we handled was Howes. WE also got Canadian no. 1 supposed to be good for -40. Never had a jel up that I heard of.
 
Thats good to know, but driving the vehicle will mix and get it thru the system. It has to be run to it thru the system. I wonder if treatment will mix well with jelled fuel, that may be a little more difficult.
 
i use either howes or power service. in our tow truck fleet we ran power service. also each truck had 911 on board in case things got really bad.
 
I used Power Service for years mixed with summer diesel fuel down to -30F, Had to problems. I always mixed it well and ran engines to get it thru system before it got real cold.
 
When I owned My own truck I used 1 to 2 gallons of unleaded gas to 50 gallons of No.2 diesel fuel-- 20 below and never had an issue --Roy
 
The treatment will NOT mix with fuel that is already jelled. That is what 911 is for. That information is right on the bottle.
 
My neighbour trucked and when he ran northern Ontario in the dead of winter he added gasoline to his diesel fuel , never had a problem. In the earlier days of volkswagon diesel they used to recommend up to 30% gasoline in the diesel fuel.
 
(quoted from post at 14:42:21 02/19/21) I see post here about which anti-gel has worked and not worked for users, it seems a brand works for one person and not for another. I wonder if people use it correctly. I feel the correct way is to add additive to fuel tank when tank is low in Warmer weather and fill tank with fuel to get a good mix. Then running engine to get treated fuel through system. Just pouring additive on top of fuel will not work.
I agree. I try to mix the fuel treatment into the fuel just like I mix for a two stroke engine with gas and oil. I've used various types and they have all worked for me. John Deere , Polar Max, currently using Howes.
 

NO reason for all that drama.

If a diesel HAS to start and run dependably in the cold simply have #1 fuel or a trusted "winter blend" in the tank BEFORE it gets ugly cold.

NO need for additives/snake oil or rubbing the blue dot.

Dealing with gelled fuel/clogged filters in the ccccold is no fun.

And burning out a starter, not to mention replacing $$$$ fuel filters is NOT cheap.

But it's like "preaching to the choir" to suggest being prepared!
 
I use power service all winter even in straight number 2 and
never had a problem to 30 below zero unless I dont put it in
 
(quoted from post at 21:37:46 02/19/21)


And burning out a starter, not to mention replacing $$$$ fuel filters is NOT cheap.

But it's like "preaching to the choir" to suggest being prepared!
I agree. And thats why you won't see me doing "cold starts" on a diesel that has not had the coolant heater plugged in for a few hours. Or pumping a bunch of ether into it. In all the years I've run diesels I've never had one gel it's fuel yet. And I've run summer fuel with Howes fuel treatment in it well into our cold winter weather before changing over to straight winter diesel. In this cold country we know how to keep our diesels running through the winter.
 
I add Power Service Diesel Fuel Supplement +Cetane Boost to the outdoor tank of my fuel oil furnace every fall. Since I started doing that I've had no problems with gellling. Previously, leftover fuel from the previous winter would sometimes gel.
 
Years ago, when Standard oil was around,the dealers got a letter, from Standard Oil, it was ok to put a couple of gallons of unleaded gas in the big truck tanks to thin it down, a dealer told me that,but didn't show me the letter, it was to cold that day, but i have no reason not to believe him!
 
I use CEN-PE-CO SUPER DIESEL KLENZ year around in diesel fuel. The smoke from the
engine smells like smoke, period, not diesel smoke. It is added to fuel storage tank
before filling so it is mixed during filling. In the fall if it gets cold with all No 2
fuel, no problem, no gelling problems. When winter mix is added to tank, tractors do
start a little better, but no need to worry.
Untitled URL Link
 
(quoted from post at 09:04:48 02/20/21) Years ago, when Standard oil was around,the dealers got a letter, from Standard Oil, it was ok to put a couple of gallons of unleaded gas in the big truck tanks to thin it down, a dealer told me that,but didn't show me the letter, it was to cold that day, but i have no reason not to believe him!

I ran a peddle truck for SO year back & we were told to blend 25% #1 into the #2 for winter, never had an issue in equipment or home heating that I know of.

Today I am told that some chemical additives are added to the #2 at rack during colder weather.....
 
If you are buying fuel from a reputable distributor there is no need for all the snake oil and patent medicine shows. I don't freeze up and don't use any snake oil. Ran tractors all week this past week or 2 with the usual seasonable temperatures for mid MI. No problems with fuel.
 

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