Diesel Fuel Additives
 

What additives do you use, and more importantly, WHY?

This is my first diesel. I think I have the lubricity covered with Oregon's B5 requirement, but I don't want to come out and fire up the beast to head to work one fine morning and find my fuel system a solid brick of butter.

Thanks all!

There should be more than something in the DIY section.
There is an extensive thread with the Spicer Wear Scar test in it.
DIY Repair Links
DIY Links by Parts Category - PeachParts Mercedes ShopForum
PeachPartsWiki: Do It Yourself Articles - Mercedes Vehicles

I use Power Service Diesel Kleen one in a while on the Mercedes mainly to keep the Injectors cleaner as it only drives short distances in City Traffic with an Occasional 10 mile trip on the Freeway.
I use it in the Volvo with every full Tank of Fuel because when I get on the accelerator pedal on the Volvo it gets black smoke. The Power Service decrease that.
I think it decreases the Smoke due to the additive increasing the Cetane. The higher Cetane starts the Fuel burning better when ignition starts.

It is not cold where I live so I cannot comment on the Fuel gelling issue except that I know they have Additives to prevent that and the Winter Fuel is already supposed to have that in it.

Since California diesel is already very good (by US standards) 53 cetane, the only concern for me is lubricity so I use 1oz/gallon of TCW3. Biodiesel is hard to find around here and I'm not going to pay a premium for it. I tried Diesel Kleen but realized it was a waste of money for me. I'll save the rest of it for when I drive out of state.

once a year, (in the spring) I dump a bottle of power service diesel CLEAR into the tank. keeps the fuel gauge working, and the filters clean.

When I change my fuel filter, I fill the new one with ATF before installing, then 'bout a third of whats left every 3 months when I fill up the tank. (or when I remember).
ATF is (whatever kind of) oil with a VERY high content of detergent, & does its thing nicely in the fuel system. It is all I have ever added.

I add 4 ozs of two cycle oil per fill up.

I use StarTron.

When changing my fuel filter I usually fill it up with atf and then prime the engine. In the tank I run Stanadyne diesel fuel additive, I have used it in my 240d's and Cummins. I noticed less smoke on startup and overall. I have seen people use 2 cylinder oil in their tank as atf has powerful detergents that have been rumored to start to affect cylinder walls with prolonged use. 2 cylinder oil has the same lubrication abilities as atf but without the detergents. Also twice a year, I do a a diesel purge using Lubro Moly product. The amount of filth that comes out of the return line is incredible.

My engine was getting clunky and getting a case of the shakes.....I have new fuel filters, valves always need adjusting...but I have used in the past seafoam...always got some sort of result....I went and paid 12$ for a can dumped it in the tank and drove for a few miles freeway speed.....man now its quiet and the shakes are gone...just a little hiccup every now and then like it was....no idea of others views....but I like it!

Is that on the Sticker at the Pump?

If it is 53 Cetane I am curious why the Power Service Diesel Kleen has an effect of raising the Cetane.
There is a clear difference in the amount of smoke on the Volvo Diesel and when used in the Mercedes and the Engine is running but still cold it is not as noisy with the Power Service.
So the stuff must be having some effect.

"California diesel fuel has a minimum cetane of 53" from Wikiepedia. http://www.arb.ca.gov/enf/fuels/dieselspecs.pdf

Can of what???

I always ran the power diesel service(?) stuff that came in a white jug with red lettering, was around $12/gal.

Seafoam

http://shop.advanceautoparts.com/wcs...6_pri_larg.jpg

I never use snake oil. Here in Australia we have good diesel. All my diesels get regular Italian tune ups. They never get driven less than 20 miles on any trip. A good long hard run makes a big difference.

Myself as well, but 4 oz per ten gallons.

The cetane rating around here is 40.