Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunter's Campfire Diesel experts, advice....

I've had issues with #2 and power service below 0, if it's going to get cold I like 1/2 blend because gelling up sucks. Some of our local winter #2 has sucked. I've switched to Howes additive since the loggers seem to have good luck with it and it's cheaper than power service. If it gets cold I'll let you know how that works out .

We had better luck before the switch to ULSD.


I use PowerService and no.2 all winter in my 01 Duramax.

In my 93 7.3 Ford and 6.5 Turbo Chevy I use Stanadyne.

I add 2 cycle outboard motor oil to mine, at a rate of approx. 1 oz per gallon. If I don't have a measuring cup its one glug per gallon. The ashless TCWIII stuff, burns nice and clean, and lubricates the pump. This on a Chevrolet '84 K5 Blazer variant with the 6.2 engine. Love the sound of that engine!

Not brand new though....

My brother is my mechanic. When I got into diesel trucks he always advised me to run Stanadyne, all year round. He told me to treat every other tank. The reason is that modern diesel fuel is too 'dry' and needs some lubrication added to it. In the winter, I treat every tank because of gelling etc. I pull my snowmobile trailer into the storms, up to 9000 feet of elevation in the cold weather and then park it for a most of the day, at a minimum, sometimes a long weekend. I want to make sure its going to start back up.

I use either power service or diesel kleen (white or gray bottle) in the fuel, and I use Delo 400 15W-40. This is on a '06 Duramax with 140k. I intend to change to 5W-40 Delo at the next service.

I spent three hours on Thursday pulling fuel filters out of the skidsteer after it gelled up with straight #2 and Powerservice.

Other than setting fire to the skidsteer trying to heat the filter with a propane weed burner, the day was otherwise uneventful..... Did have a discussion with the fuel company to share my thoughts about shipping straight #2 for our late October fuel delivery..... The seemed shocked the fuel delivered on Halloween could end up being used in cold weather.

I've also gelled up with the semi and a bottle of Howe's in each tank (that was in Great Falls at -35), so none of them are perfect....

For a modern engine, buy locally blended fuel and the correct oil for the motor, and change oil and filters based on the heavy duty use cycle, and quit worrying.

#1 is 50 cents more per gallon compared to #2.


I don't know, less mileage and 'lubricity' with the #1?



I do know that you have to work to get that chit to light up when trying to start a fire.




Every so often drain the fuel filter/water separator on the Power Strokes.

I’ve been using Hot Shots Diesel Extreme

https://www.tractorsupply.com/tsc/product/hot-shots-secret-diesel-extreme-32-oz

Google the arlen Spicer diesel additives report.. I run Opti-lube in all of my diesel equipment.Good chit..

I do add the anti-gel stuff from Ford in the winter; mostly just to ensure I don't get caught in -30F weather and a gelled fuel system.. Otherwise, no need to.. Reason I use the Ford product is the truck's only a year old and I don't wanna even think about having warranty issues by using some aftermarket stuff..

But that's probably just me..

This^^^^

I've ordered in a 50/50 blend before just 'cuz dad did it. But these days I use #2 year round with an additive in the colder months.

Might just be my imagination, but I think I can feel quite a hp loss with #1.

I my 2008 Duramax (338K), I run Rotella T6 and add a quart of Lucas Stabilizer in the oil. I use either Power Service or Howes in #2 Diesel in the winter. I got gelled up one time when I didn't get the tank treated, that sucked. I have had no problems to date as long as I do my part.

I've used Castrol 15-40GTX in my 2002 Duramax. It has 301,000 trouble free miles. It has only been in sub zero a couple times, but it started without plugging it in. I now change my oil every 4,000 miles after years of every 3,000 miles. I'm by the book on all maintenance and maybe that's why I've had no engine or transmission problems.
If I move back to Alaska I might do things a little differently.

Why?

Cost?

Diminished performance?

Stanadyne Performance Formula

performance formula