Diesel fuel is more energy-dense and efficient than gasoline, ensuring better fuel economy and an engine that can reliably withstand the rigors of higher compression. It is understood that having a diesel-powered truck will allow you to get better mileage from your engine.

Apart from routine maintenance of the engine components, investing in the best diesel fuel additive for diesel trucks is a wise investment, both in the short-term and long-term operation of your vehicle. While diesel fuel burns off better than gasoline, the fuel combustion process can still result in some residue. When the residue builds up, it can prevent specific engine components from functioning.

If there is an accumulation of deposits such as carbon, varnish, and sludge during the internal combustion process, the buildup of deposits can clog injectors and filters. As a result, fuel delivery restrictions can be expected, leading to the deterioration of parts and reduced engine performance.

Your truck's fuel system plays a significant role as its parts are responsible for injecting a precise amount of atomized and pressurized fuel into each engine cylinder at a specific time; combustion in a diesel engine occurs when the fuel is mixed with compressed and heated air.

Why Should You Use Diesel Fuel Additives?


You might be asking yourself if you should use fuel additives or search for an effective Ford diesel fuel additive for your truck; you are confused about whether to fuel additives or which top-rated diesel fuel additive to purchase.

Fuel additives are a "mechanic in a can" solution to a wide range of fuel delivery problems. Accordingly, diesel fuel additives provide further advantages for your truck's engine, including:


  • Engine performance improvement by establishing the temperature and velocity at which fuel burns
  • Protecting engine components and systems from wear and tear by increasing lubrication and corrosion prevention 
  • Reducing ignition delay by improving the rate of fuel decomposition
  • Maintaining diesel fuel stability, particularly in cold weather, by preventing the formation of wax crystals; and
  • Reduction of carbon dioxide exhaust emissions by improving engine performance and removing deposit buildup in the fuel system


Moreover, the confusion about whether to use these additives is often caused by the inadequate definition between the different fuel additive types and the benefits they provide your fuel and engine.

Here are the different types of diesel fuel additives:


Anti-Foam Additives


When dispensed from a filling station during refueling, diesel fuel has the natural tendency to accommodate air and temporarily form foam. However, foaming has become an increasing problem for diesel vehicles, which have irregular-shaped tanks and narrow filler pipes; this leads to premature fuel cut-off and a partially filled tank, primarily when the refilling the station uses automatic cut-off dispenser systems.


Anti-foam additives effectively eliminate foaming, reducing the surface tension of air bubble walls and causing them to burst quickly.


Deposit Control Additives


Deposit Control Additives (DCAs) for diesel engines are designed to keep the fuel management system, mainly the fuel injectors, clean. Maintaining the injector surfaces in prime condition can help maintain satisfactorily long-term diesel engine emissions, power output, and fuel economy performance. By acting as a film on the metal surfaces of injector nozzles, additives help prevent the accumulation of deposit substances.


Cetane Number Improvers


Cetane number improver additives help increase diesel cetane quality. Operating diesel engines on inadequate cetane quality fuel can result in poor starting characteristics, especially in cold weather. Low cetane quality also results in significant white smoke emissions, higher noise levels, and increased fuel consumption.


These fuel additives break down during combustion to form free radicals that help increase fuel decomposition rates, causing the fuel to easily and readily ignite (this reduces ignition delay).


Cold Flow Improvers


N-paraffins have several properties considered desirable in diesel fuel; some types of fuels, primarily middle distillate fuels, contain about 20 to 40 percent of this saturated compound. However, in cold weather, N-paraffins tend to produce significant volumes of wax crystals in diesel fuel. Uncontrolled wax crystallization in the fuel can significantly impact a truck's operability. Since the formation of large lattices of crystals can block fuel filters and feed lines, this can lead to power loss and possible engine shutdown.


Cold flow improvers in middle distillates help prevent the formation of large crystals, allowing the continuous flow of fuel, avoiding the blockage of the fuel filter and line. This type of additive is an excellent diesel fuel additive for winter.


Corrosion Inhibitors


Diesel fuel supply arrangements can permit water to enter fuel, potentially leading to surface corrosion of metallic components throughout the fuel storage and delivery system.


Corrosion inhibitor additives can prevent such corrosion. These inhibitors have polar heads that provide a film on the metal surfaces and hydrocarbon tails that allow molecules of the additives to be solubilized in the fuel.


These inhibitors are applied either at the refinery, pumping station, or as part of a multifunctional additive package.


Lubricity Improvers


The diesel engine injector pumps and the other fuel system components rely on the fuel itself to lubricate the moving parts.


A diesel engine's injector pumps and other fuel system components rely on its fuel to lubricate its moving parts, with sulfur is one of the components that improve lubrication. Modern vehicle emission reduction technology, however, demands almost complete elimination of this compound from diesel fuel. (The elimination of sulfur in fuel and the critical refining process and hydrotreatment of diesel fuel reduces the natural lubricating quality of middle distillate blending components.)


Lubricity improver additives work effectively in restoring the fuel's natural lubricating quality, allowing for regular pump operation, enhanced reliability, and improved service life. In addition, the long-chain polar compounds in these additives will enable the formation of a mono-molecular coating on metal surfaces, protecting them against wear.


Stability Improvers


While it is possible to keep diesel fuel in storage for a prolonged period, it is essential to ensure that it remains fit for use. Stability improver additives enhance fuel stability and inhibit its tendency to deteriorate in storage by interfering with the acid-base reactions between its organic acids and nitrogen and sulfur compounds. These additives react with the mentioned compounds and acids to produce a solubility reaction and prevent the formation of sediments can cause blockage in the fuel filter and impact a vehicle's overall operation.


Wrap-up


Ensuring that your diesel engine's components are in optimal condition by investing in fuel additives can be an excellent strategy that will help you enhance your truck's operability and increase its lifespan. In addition, diesel fuel additives can improve your fuel's stability and support and protect your engine for better driving performance.


When choosing the fuel additive for your truck, be sure to determine the type of additive that your fuel and engine need, as well as the additive's versatility, engine compatibility, and treatment convenience.


For all your diesel trucking needs, be sure to visit  Pure Diesel Power, where you can browse through their massive selection of diesel engine products.


Also, check this blog about the 10 MYTHS AND FACTS ABOUT DIESEL EXHAUST FLUID.