Best fuel additive?

[Leyburn]

I've used Millers "Diesel Power Ecomax" for several years in four different diesels (Ford, Citroen, VAG and Volvo). Can never be certain if it achieved anything other than double dose = smoother pick-up for the Ford; however the Ford, Citroen and VAG cars met their demise at 150k+ miles without engine, fueling or DPF issues. The Ford needed an EGR clean at 100k miles, it was then blanked.

The price of Millers increased, so I tried Diesel Power Plus in my D5. No issues but it does seem to be an unknown product. I'll probably change back to Millers or possibly try Liqui Moly. Any recommendations?

[Leyburn]

I'll reply to myself, Liqui Moly this time

[Clan]

Originally Posted by Leyburn

I'll reply to myself, Liqui Moly this time

It might be worth knowing that Volvo forbid any fuel or oil additives in their engines ... They must have their reasons ... spend your money on fuel instead

[Leyburn]

Volvo have minimal interest in a 10 year old D5 engine / fuel system reaching 200k miles. They certainly have a greater interest in people buying new Volvos.

I have a big interest in my D5 reaching 200k miles with minimal repairs, in my view fuel additives increase the likelihood of this happening.

[Petey80]

BG244 seems to be pretty good.

[Yobbo]

There's a guy on Facebook pedalling what seems to be his own formulated fuel additives branded 'MCST10'...
I am initially dubious but he claims to work in the petro-chemical industry, I'm initially dubious of anything that is advertised with bad grammar but his customers seem to be leaving rave reviews.

Might buy a bottle of something or other and give it a go - there's various products for both diesel and petrol vehicles.

[Tannaton]

I personally don't see the benefit of fuel additives, unless you are trying to get something out of the fuel that it's not designed to do - e.g. extra performance for racing.

I do see the benefit of additional preventative maintenance on older engines to maintain their performance and longevity - I've done a few old diesels now with a dose of Liqui Moly Diesel Purge and always noticed good results - smoother tickover, a little more oomph, a tiny improvement in economy etc. When running it through I usually switch the engine off part way through and let the system sit for half an hour with the cleaner in it whilst hot. To clarify - when I say a dose I mean interrupting the fuel supply and running the engine on it neat for an hour or so.

The most recent clean I did was my old Discovery - I just ran a full tank through it that was about 15% petrol and that's reduced the smoke and pepped it up a bit too. I really can't see that adding small, insignificant doses of cleaner is going to make a lasting difference.

[Tannaton]

Originally Posted by Yobbo

I am initially dubious but he claims to work in the petro-chemical industry,

Probably works at the filling station at Tesco ? :-)

[tt82]

Originally Posted by Yobbo

There's a guy on Facebook pedalling what seems to be his own formulated fuel additives branded 'MCST10'...
I am initially dubious but he claims to work in the petro-chemical industry, I'm initially dubious of anything that is advertised with bad grammar but his customers seem to be leaving rave reviews.

Might buy a bottle of something or other and give it a go - there's various products for both diesel and petrol vehicles.

I've met the guy. We had a massive discussion on whether there was any benefits to painting intercoolers black. His was and he proved it was better by using a IR thermal temperature sensor to read the surface temperature of the IC which was lower than an unpainted one. I pointed out that the black paint was acting as insulation and stopping the IR sensor getting a true reading of the surface temperature and that the true test was of the air inside the IC via the IC sensor, not the surface temperature of the IC. When he tried suggesting that this wouldn't work as the sensor was prior to the IC and not after it, I gave up. I personally wouldn't buy something from somebody who can't get the physics of IC cooling correct.

[cheshired5]

Originally Posted by tt82

When he tried suggesting that this wouldn't work as the sensor was prior to the IC and not after it, I gave up. I personally wouldn't buy something from somebody who can't get the physics of IC cooling correct.

You don't say what car he has.
Some do have the IAT sensor before the intercooler.