Diesel Fuel Cleaner

[PICASSOCONVERT]

Read on another forum whilst researching a minor problem with my wife's Clio that it is beneficial to add a dose of diesel fuel cleaner from time to time.

 

The writer recommended BG244 from Power Enhancer. So, two cans duly ordered. One added to the Clio. The second waiting to go into my precious C5. But should I use it?

 

It says on the tim (well on the website, actually) that it will not harm any diesel engine and it might help with lots of ailments and I quote:

 

"BG244 can help with:

• Hesitation or Flat Spots
• Rough Idle
• Poor Fuel Consumption
• Lack of Power
• Poor Acceleration
• Dirty or Clogged Fuel Injectors
• Any Deposits or Blockages Somewhere Along the Fuel System
• A Build up of Carbon on the Engine Intake Components,
  Valves or Combustion Chambers
• A Clogged Catalytic Converter or Diesel Particulate Filter"

 

As my car - 03 reg 2.2HDi, 90,000 miles - is running beautifully (oh dear, shouldn't have said that - tempting fate!), I will never know if this stuff does any good, but on the other hand is it a wise precaution? I particulately like the last claimed benefit.

 

To add or not to add, that is the question. Does anyone have any experience of these additives?

 

[Johndouglas]

I've used Millers additives for years on our four family cars.   I'm convinced that it keeps the injectors clean and reduces the smoke.   So far this year I've taken three of the cars for MOT and they've all done well on the smoke test.   The Saxo even got a quick pass on the first rev.   This is what I use:-   http://www.millersoils.co.uk/automotive/road-car-fuel-treatments-additives.asp

[PICASSOCONVERT]

Hello John

 

Thanks for your comment. I added the cleaner when I filled up with diesel this morning so we'll see how things go.

 

As an aside my grandmother lived in Brighouse for most of her life not far from Duggie Miller who, I believe, ran the business at the time. I ought to use their products next time.

 

David

[Johndouglas]

 Brighouse

Yes - I believe they started up their business there around 125 years ago

[DaveHerns]

Some people swear by adding a shot of 2 stroke oil to the tank of diesel .Anyone tried this?

[Johndouglas]

Some people swear by adding a shot of 2 stroke oil to the tank of diesel .Anyone tried this?

Yes - I belong to a caravanning forum and loads of guys there are claiming outstanding results from using it.   However, have a read of this report.   file:///C:/Documents%20and%20Settings/Owner/My%20Documents/Downloads/Copy%20of%20Diesel%20fuel%20additive%20version%203.pdf

 

Test result No. 7 deals with 2-stroke oil.   It also says that it's not compliant with ULSD and may harm later engines.   Unfortunately it doesn't say why - but I think I'll stick with Millers.

[Johndouglas]

 Sorry that link doesn't seem to work.   Try this one.   It's the same report:

 

 

Diesel_fuel_additive_test.pdf

 

[qman3428]

As the report is recommending bio diesel be added to improve lubrication, perhaps a drop of crisp and dry might be the answer!

[PICASSOCONVERT]

Just to report back that my C5 has now consumed its tankful of fuel containing the cleaner, mostly towing our caravan. I haven't noticed any difference - it's still running well, so may never know if the cleaner does any good or not!

 

David

[Bobster]

Hi,

 

Have just read this thread. I have a 2003 2.2 HDi and over the last 30,000 miles have averaged 44.8 mpg. However, a year ago I started getting "Diesel Filter Unblock" messages and an Italian tune up was not clearing them for long; also I was struggling to get 42 mpg. I had a forced regeneration a year ago and since then have had more power and mpg has gone up to around 46/47.

 

I recently purchased Miller Oils Diesel additive which cleans injectors and gives more power and mpg. I have added it to the last three fill ups and apart from a further increase in power which is so smooth, I am now getting 50 mpg. I have read on their website that 7% improvement in mpg is usual and I reckon that if I use it every fill up, I will save £50 a year even after deducting the cost of the Millers.

 

Incidentally, I have read about adding 2-stroke oil, but I think that while that may help older diesels, there is a great risk of damaging the cat and the FAP on the more refined HDis.

 

Best wishes,

 

Bob H.

[PICASSOCONVERT]

Hello Bob

 

I have just read your post, which makes interesting reading. Your long-term MPG is almost exactly the same as mine (once I remove the miles done towing our caravan).

 

I will now try Millers additive myself and see what happens. Unfortunately my MPG will probably be affected by the four Kuhmo tyres I had fitted this morning. Previously I have always gone for Michelins but the £50 per tyre difference in price made me think as I only do about 7,000 miles per year now. Also, I keep thinking my 10 year old car might suddenly develop a terminal fault!

 

David W

[Johndouglas]

 Unfortunately my MPG will probably be affected by the four Kuhmo tyres I had fitted this morning.

 

Maybe it won't.   I've used Kuhmo tyres both on my C5 and on the Xsara and they've been fine on both cars. Currently I've got Nexen on the C5 but both are mid-range South Korean tyres.   Currently my mpg readout is showing 52mpg which is from a 60mile run back from the coast.

[Johndouglas]

I recently purchased Miller Oils Diesel additive which cleans injectors and gives more power and mpg.

 

 I have read about adding 2-stroke oil, but I think that while that may help older diesels, there is a great risk of damaging the cat and the FAP on the more refined HDis.

 

I've used Millers additives for years, especially in the weeks prior to MOT and I've always believed it to be beneficial.   I've also been following the 2-stroke oil debate which has been attracting a lot of support on a caravanning forum I go on.   I've always decided not to use it, instead sticking with the Millers.   However I did put some in my daughter's Xsara 10 days ago at the ratio of 1:200.   Whether or not it was coincidence, but last Friday when I took it for MOT, it got its first ever fast pass with only one rev.

[mhedwig]

i use millers in my 2.0 hdi c5 

[PICASSOCONVERT]

Just done the first long journey with Miller's added. Filled up, re-set the trip and drove 170 miles (20 miles city/rural driving, the rest on motorwway). At the end of the journey the screen was showing 49.6mpg, whereas normally it would be around 43-44mpg. So my experience looks as if it will be the similar to Bobster's. I will check the mpg "full to full" at the next refuelling.

 

Interesting that the Khumo tyres don't seem to have affected the fuel consumption despite their "E" energy rating.

 

My son has now pinched my Millers to add some to his Hyundai!

 

David W

[paul.h]

I always used to get 50+ mpg out of our previous 2004 2.2 hdi hatchback on motorways and would only be less if it was caused by bad weather/headwind/queues/driving at the speed limit which would drop it to about 45 mpg or towing the caravan (then about 30 mpg).

[DaveHerns]

It might be my imagination but I think I get the worst mpg using Sainsbury's diesel and even Tescos is better

[paul.h]

I tend to only use our local Sainsburys for fuel unless we are away. But maybe different areas are supplied from different refinerys so the fuel could be slightly different - the standards seem to allow almost anything in the fuel and if you look at Shell's technical data sheets they give a range of the composition. Best ever mpg at about 60 was when I accidentally put in some Shell expensive diesel and shortly after this I found the swirl actuator link had broken so this could have had something to do with it.

[Bobster]

Hi,

 

Regarding diesel, I used to use Tesco's but then tried the BP Ultimate diesel, within a couple of miles the car was quieter and as I drove on, power came more smoothly and I got about an extra 3 mpg but it cost quite a bit more. I read elsewhere that some folk fill up with every 4th tank but then someone recommended Asda diesel. I tried it and the car runs quieter than with Tesco's fuel and seems to give a little more power and mpg, so I am now running on Asda solely with Millers added. Just got 51.4 mpg from my last tank (did 505 miles & the calculated consumption was the same as the display, so I am well pleased).

 

Happy C5ing, Bob.

[DaveHerns]

So it's not my imagination !

[les-cumbria]

interesting what you say about supermarket fuels as on another thread i have been talking about the C5 2004 2.2hdi i have just aquired, The man who owned it before me has always used supermarket fuel but has had a problem with the engine warning light coming on, he says it was worse on morrisons fuel, am really suspecting the supermarket fuels for his problems.

I have filled up yesterday with BP ultimate to see if there is any difference then thought after reading this thread which is better - using expensive BP ultimate or equivelant OR going for the cheaper fuel and putting something like millers in?

 

Whats in millers and whats in BP ultimate - is it the same addative?

 

I did realise that ultimate was expensive when i paid £88 for a fill!!!!

 

My previous car, picasso diesel never got treated to the expensive stuff and i never had problems with lights coming on but did notice a difference in power when i was pulling my caravan after filling up with supermarket diesel then filling up with standard BP/ESSO etc standard fuel

[Johndouglas]

Here's a coincidence.   The postman has just brought me a copy of the IAM magazine and inside there's an article answering the question "Is supermarket fuel inferior to that sold by the major petrol companies."   The reply (written by the Head of Technical Policy)  goes, "Fuel sold at all filling stations in the UK must conform to specifications agreed by the EU and the BSI.  ..............for diesel, the spec reference number is BS EN590.   This is a legal requirement and supermarket fuels will meet the standard.

 

All cars sold in Europe are tuned to run on these fuels.   Fuel retailers also add certain extra ingredients such as cleaning agents.   These additives are not compulsory and some years ago it was suspected that some supermarkets did not add any cleaners.   However following criticism, supermarkets made a point of reassuring customers that their fuel did contain cleaning agents just as effective as those in other fuels.

 

 

However, the question "Is there a difference between standard pump diesel and performance diesel?" was answered on another of my forums.   The writer worked within the Dutch petroleum industry and his reply was this:-

 

Yes - it's been proven by independent tests to offer between 3% and 5% better economy or power (but not both at the same time) but your diesel car must be able to retune itself to fully benefit from the much higher Cetane rating of the fuel (55 rather than 51 - effectively 10% better................ I believe this includes Euro 1V and V engines.

 

According to Millers advertising, this is what their diesel treatment is supposed to achieve.

 

[MikeLane]

 Sorry that link doesn't seem to work.   Try this one.   It's the same report:

 

 

http://www.citroen-owners-club.co.uk/citroen/public/style_images/master/attachicon.gifDiesel_fuel_additive_test.pdf

Extremely interesting. Just goes to show not everything does what it says on the tin!