Power Service Diesel Additive

[can-do]

Greetings All,

Just wondering if you have tried the power service diesel fuel additive and what you think about it. How would you rate it's performance? I have been using it in the 300SD and it seems to not only decrease any smoke I have but engine performance seems to be great. Any thoughts are welcomed.

Charles

[DieselHead]

With every tank I put in a few ounces of the PowerService stuff, a half bottle of DFC or 85+, and a splash of Valvoline 2-cycle oil. On top of that, I pay $1.60 for diesel and get only about 25 MPG half city, half highway driving. Makes for a pretty expensive tank for me.

There was a small period of time when I used just the PS stuff and it alone seemed to make a difference. I really should run comparison tanks where I use PS in one, DFC in another, both in another, and nothing in another, and see how everything compares. I don't have the patience to do that and I really don't mind paying for all the additives so I just load up my tank.

I just bought myself the valve adjustment wrenches. I'm hoping that adjusting those will help improve my mileage a bit. It hasn't been done in atleast 40K miles. My car is running perfectly with good power, no oil consumption and no leaking fuel lines so I have to believe that the valve clearances are the only things holding my fuel economy back. Sorry for the digression.

Alex

[240Joe]

I started using it 7 years ago just to keep my 240D running down the interstate when it got to -10 F here. It worked very well for that, but I only used it in the winter.

A year or so ago, I started to experiment with fuel ecomony. After adjusting the valves to set a baseline, I started using 1 ounce PS per 3 gallons. I was able to move my mileage from 30 to 32/33 mpg. I also noticed that the idle is much smoother with the PS in.

I haven't noticed any difference in starting, or smoke, etc.

I think it's well worth the $ to use it. Also, I've heard, but never confirmed, that early 80's MB diesel were designed for fuel with a cetane rating of 45. The stuff coming out of the pumps here is 40 to 42, and sometimes I think it is lower. Therefore, after PS or Redline, we're feeding our engines what they were designed for, not a bad thing.

I've never tried Redline, but plan to do so when I get a chance to do some more experimenting. All in all, PS is a worthwhile product, cheap and available (Walmart). Of course, you're mileage may vary.

Thanks
Joe

[can-do]

Greetings Joe,

I started using the PS back at the beginning of the year when it was cold here. I feared the diesel would gel at the zero degrees weather we had for a period of time. It seemed to do well at keeping diesel quite fluid, though I don't think it would be to thick at zero anyways. I noticed recently their bottle now says it increases cetane up to four numbers and so I just I just use it as an added measure for cetane increase. I generally use 7 ounces per fill up so I am not sure what difference I am gaining out of this quantity. MPG measured over the last several tanks has averaged at 29.5mpg combined driving. Reccomended doseage for an empty tank would be about 6.4 ounces. I experience very low smoke on start up, easy starts on first crank of a second or less and great engine performance. All of these could also be attributed to a very healthy Mercedes engine as well, who really knows for sure. Seems like cheap insurance to insure flowing fuel regardless of temps as well as the added properties it claims.

Charles

[Ken300D]

I have some Lubro-Moly Winter Flow ordered and on schedule for delivery. The plan was to use it to lower the temperature where diesel starts to have gelling problems. Since I didn't know exactly when it would arrive, I got a few bottles of Power Service to have in case of a cold wave.

Just from reading the ads, it looks like Power Service is going to be the more economical of the two to use. They both cost about the same for a bottle, but I think the Power Service treats (a lot) more gallons per bottle, and Winter Flow says nothing about raising the Cetane rating.

So, assuming they both do what they claim to do, I think the Power Service is going to be the better bargain.

(In warm weather I just use plain diesel or maybe a couple ounces of Red-Line DFC.)

Ken300D

[jcd]

I have used Redline DFC for about 6 months. My milage hasn't improved, but the car "seems" to start better and run quieter with more pep and less smoke. (possibly psychological)

Below is an exchange of e-mails I received from Redline that may be helpful.


-----Original Message-----
From: Dave Granquist [mailtoave@redlineoil.com]
Sent: Thursday, December 13, 2001 6:28 PM
To: JCD
Subject: RE: Where to purchase


Question:
>
>Should I just use the H2O remover during the winter, or do you
>recommend that I use it all year round.

Answer:
I would use the Water Remover only when moisture is evident or you have algie growth.

Question:
>Also, from your perspective, am I using the proper fuel treatments
>for my 300D. I was going to switch to Redline 85 rather than DFC,
>but it is not available at PepBoys.
>
Answer:

I am glad to hear that the DFC is working well for you.
The 85+ and the DFC are exactly the same product, the difference is
the label. I would just use the one that is most readily available.

Regards, Dave
Red Line Oil

[rickjordan]

I like the fact that PS is widely available. The only place around me that sells Red Line products is Pep Boys, and that is 20 miles away. BTW I was able to buy diesel for 97 cents a gal.. This is Mobil diesel not some 2 bit discount chain.

[can-do]

Greetings Rick,

Can't say I've seen diesel that cheap since I've owned mine almost going on a year now. I feel lucky to be paying $1.13 a gallon at the 66 station.

Charles

[rickjordan]

Yeah, I couldn't believe it. It was only about a week ago it was $1.08. Super unleaded gasoline at the same station was $1.15.

[can-do]

Greetings,

The wife enjoys the price at the pump for her 300E the regular unleaded is now at 90 cents a gallon while premium is sitting at $1.05 I'm sure it won't last. Wish diesel would drop at the same rate.

Charles

[loubapache]

My local Quality Farm and Fleet carries the 96 OZ (good for 300 gal of fuel) for $8.99. Also got an automatic trickle charger and will put it on the diesel and the sleeping one often.

It was 33 deg F this morning and the diesel took two cranks to start without block heater). I glowed it once once.

[can-do]

Greetings,

If you are having any difficulty starting your diesel at 33 degrees, better plug it in nightly or find out what the problem is. The mornings here in mid missouri have been 26 degrees and one crank normal glow and off she starts. I'm looking at temps that start to drop below 10 degrees and down to zero and beyond. That's the real test of good compression and a good glow system. Personally I think anything under 10 degrees I'd plug it in for an hour just to save on worn unlubed parts.
I think you're getting a great price on the power service additive at only $9.00 for the 96 ouncer. I have to pay about $10.70 for the same jug.

Charles

[Palangi]

The Power Service products are made about 2 miles from here. One of these days I need to go over there and see what's up. Maybe they are giving away free samples or something.

[can-do]

Greetings Paul,

Pay them a visit and have them send me a 55 gallon drum of their diesel additive. Never know, maybe you can get it at cost. My Christmas stocking is still empty, probably will hold a few 96 ouncers if your interested.


Charles


Gotta Love this Beauty

[Palangi]

All kidding aside, I would like to go over there and check it out. They make 2 diesel products that I know of, + probably some other stuff I don't know about. If I ever get over there, I will make a full report.