Anyone that uses a diesel vehicle will have heard that additives are available. The reason that diesel needs a wider variety of additives compared to gasoline is because diesel has more overall properties that need to be protected.

While the need for additives is a widely debated point there are certainly some obvious benefits to using this kind of product. The difficulty lies in getting to know all of the different types and what exactly you need. We will assume that you have decided that you need an additive and won’t try to convince you on this point. Instead, we have created a list of the top ten products on the market to assist you in making your choice.

Consider This Before Buying Diesel Fuel Additives

While there is a wide variety of different diesel fuel additives that range from ultra specific to vague all-rounders these generally fall into four main categories. To help you decide between the products in our list of the best diesel fuel additive options we have included the purposes of each individual alternative.

So buyers can fully understand what they are looking for and match their purchase to the additive they need here is the four categories:

  • Performance Enhancer. The most general option is an all-round performance enhancer. Usually an additive will come with this as an additional benefit to its main focus. Basically this additive is aimed at getting more out of the fuel than diesel without the product added to it.
  • Anti-Freeze. Improving the cold weather performance of diesel has always been a focus of manufacturers since it was used on a mass scale. To assist the overall quality of the fuel in cold whether you should be looking for an additive that specifically mentions anti-freeze properties.
  • Lubricants. One of the biggest problems with diesel fuel is the lack of lubricant and this is essential for the engine to have a prolonged life without issues. This can also be described as stiction eliminator, which means removing the friction when something goes from completely still to moving.
  • Fuel Economy. While performance enhancer will increase the fuel economy there are ways to focus solely on this aspect of the diesel. Opting for a cetane booster in the best diesel fuel additive for you can improve general performance, overall combustion quality and reduce ignition delay.

Top 10 Diesel Fuel Additives Ultimate Table

PictureNameAdditve PurposePriceOur Rating (1-5)
Picture
Name
Additve Purpose
Price
Our Rating (1-5)
1. Power Service 1080-06 +Cetane Boost Diesel FuelAnti-freeze Cetane Booster $4.8
2. Genuine Ford Fluid PM-22-A ULSD Compliant Cetane Booster and Performance ImproverCetane Booster Performance Enhancer $$$4.8
3. STANADYNE DIESEL PERFORMANCE FORMULAFuel economy booster Performance Enhancer $$4.8
4. Hammonds Biobor JF Diesel Fuel TreatmentLubricant$$$$4.8
5. Opti-Lube XPD Formula Diesel Fuel AdditiveLubricant Performance Enhancer $4.7
6. Power Service 03080-06 +Cetane Boost Diesel Kleen Fuel AdditiveCetane Booster $4.6
7. STA-BIL 22254-4PK Diesel Formula Fuel StabilizerStabilizer$$4.7
8. Royal Purple 11755 Max-Tane Total Diesel Fuel PerformanceLubricant Performance Enhancer $$$4.5
9. Hot Shot's Secret P040464Z Diesel Extreme Clean and BoostCleaner and Performance Enhancer$$4.1
10. Hot Shot's Secret HSS64Z Stiction EliminatorStiction Eliminator$$$3.9

Even the Perfect Diesel Fuel Additive Will Not Be a Magical Solution

Just as everything else in life the more general something becomes the less quality it will provide in each of the areas it covers. This couldn’t be truer than when it comes to diesel fuel additives. As companies compete for customers it is becoming more common to see products that claim to be able to boost performance in every aspect. This just isn’t true and should not attract you to these products.

Instead it is much better to think about exactly what you are looking for and what you are trying to improve in your vehicle. Once you have decided on this then you will be able to work out which exact product suits you. By buying to your exact needs you will get great results in a much shorter time than opting for a more general additive.

Top 3 Diesel Fuel Additive Reviews

1. Power Service 1080-06

The Power Service 1080-05 +Cetane Boost is a great option for those worried about fuel gel problems. In fact, this product works perfectly well in a car as well as for outside heating oil tanks. Knowing that your fuel will be able to stand up to a range of temperatures.

The added benefit to using this additive is for those individuals that live in an area where diesel is not as readily used. This can mean stations keeping fuel for longer periods of time. With the cetane booster, you will get an all-year benefit and never have to worry about where you purchase your fuel.

For the price and for the amount you will save avoiding repair costs the Power Service 1080-05 +Cetane Boost is the best option on the market today.

2. Ford PM-22-A

This is one of the more general options on our list and the one sold by Ford dealerships. As soon as you start using this additive you will notice the difference but it occurs in more subtle points than most buyers imagine. For instance overall engine performance will improve and acceleration will be better than before.

The performance enhancement of the Ford Fluid PM-22-A ULSD Compliant additive is especially noticeable when using the vehicle for more strenuous tasks such as towing, you will easily be able to tell if the additive has been added or not.

3. STANADYNE Diesel

Using the Stanadyne Diesel Performance Formula will mean that you will see better performance in a remarkable number of areas. While the additive cannot do it all it does keep moisture out of the system, provides a noticeable difference with power and improves on fuel economy.

One of the most common criticisms of fuel additives is that the differences are so slight that they don’t mean much. This is certainly not the case with this product and the enhanced performance is clear as soon as the additive is added. You will have a smoother start and idle and winter protection that really will keep your fuel lines clear in the cold.

WRITTEN BY

Garrett

I grew up working on my own cars and motorcycles and 15 years later I love still getting my hands dirty.