What is the best diesel fuel additive for the Ford Powerstroke 6.7L? We own a model year 2016 Ford F-250 Superduty, with the 6.7L Powerstroke engine. When we bought the truck, we were advised that we should use a diesel fuel additive regularly. But which one? We tried Diesel Kleen, Hot Shot’s Secret EDT, and Howes Diesel Treat, to see which one was the best between them.
Diesel fuel additives clean the injectors, remove water from the fuel to protect the engine and prolong the life of the fuel filters, clean the fuel system, remove deposits on cylinder heads, minimize wear and effects on engine components, and improve the diesel engine performance.
All you have to do is Google search “best diesel fuel additive for the Ford Powerstroke 6.7L”, and you will see no shortage of options of what to use. We have used the Diesel Kleen + Cetane Booster (Power Service), Hot Shot’s Secret EDT, and Howes Diesel Treat products so far. This post will review them, to see which is the best diesel fuel additive for the Ford Powerstroke 6.7L.
What Does Ford Say?
The “Ford Diesel 6.7L Maintenance Care Tips” Letter (Page 2; Take Care of Your Fuel Injection System) states, “Diesel fuel quality is critical for reliable engine operation. Motorcraft® Cetane Booster & Performance Improver, PM-22-A (U.S.) / PM-22-B (Canada) can be added to improve fuel economy, starting ability and reduce engine wear.”
For those that live in colder climates, that section states, “Biodiesel fuel must not exceed 20% (B20). To avoid cold weather fuel gelling, add 6oz. of Motorcraft® Anti-Gel & Performance improver PM-23-A (U.S.) / PM-23-B (Canada) to every new tank of fuel.“
We live in Georgia, where the temperatures hardly ever get below freezing. We do not need any additives that have the anti-gel added to the mix.
The Importance of Cetane
If your diesel fuel does not have a high enough cetane number, Ford suggests that a fuel additive may be required. Cetane numbers are like octane numbers for gas vehicles.
If you have a car that recommends 87 octane, will it run on lower octane? Sure, but maybe not as efficiently. Would 91 or higher octane make it get better fuel mileage? Maybe, but it would surely cut down on pre-ignition and detonation.
It is a similar scenario for cetane. The higher the cetane number, the more efficient the combustion and power. The Ford Superduty 6.7L truck was designed to run on a minimum cetane number of 40. Higher cetane will improve performance, and to a degree mileage.
Most suggest you obtain a cetane number in the high 40’s if possible. Does going to 50 or higher cetane justify the cost per gallon per mile? Or, does it make you feel better knowing you put in a higher cetane rated fuel? Those decisions are up to you.
In Georgia, the minimum cetane rating at the pump for diesel is supposed to be 40. In this review, the Diesel Kleen + Cetane Boost and the Hot Shot’s Secret EDT have a cetane booster, while the Howes Diesel Treat does not. We used each of the additives listed for approximately 3 months, before switching to the next one.
Before we get to the reviews, please keep in mind that this post contains affiliate links. I want to be fully transparent, and let you know that any purchases made through such links will result in a small commission for myself. You will not pay anything more than you would have normally, I promise! If you choose to purchase anything through my links, thank you for supporting my website.
The Reviews
Diesel Kleen + Cetane Boost
The Diesel Kleen + Cetane Boost product (silver bottle) is recommended for outside temperatures of 30 degrees F or above.
For temperatures below 30 degrees F, Diesel Kleen recommends the Diesel Fuel Supplement + Cetane Boost (white bottle). The white bottle contains the anti-gel in the mixture.
The bottle contains measurement markings and a viewable level indicator. This sounds simple enough, but I can’t overstate how much it helps when you are trying to add a consistent level each time you fill your tank.
Cummins Inc. officially endorses and recommends two Power Service products: Diesel Kleen + Cetane Boost and Diesel Fuel Supplement + Cetane Boost, for use in diesel engines. In addition, these two products are the first fuel additive products that Cummins Inc. has ever officially recommended in the marketplace.
Usage
We followed the recommendations on the bottle for an initial cleaning of the system, and then went to the maintenance dosage on the next refill. For maximum cetane boost and quicker fuel injector clean-ups, it recommends adding the entire 16 oz. bottle to 20 gallons of fuel.
The maintenance dose is 1 oz./2.5 gallons of fuel. Our fuel tank is 26 gallons, so we were adding 8-10 oz. as a maintenance dose at each tank refill.
Our tank refills average 20 gallons of diesel fuel. Therefore, buying the 32 ounce bottle and adding 8-10 ounces of Diesel Kleen + Cetane Boost to the tank, we were adding approximately $2.24 – $2.80 to the overall cost of the refill. This adds up to an average additional cost of $0.11 – $0.14 per gallon of diesel fuel. Not bad! The additional cost differs based on what size bottle you purchase, and whatever the current pricing is.
Results
When using this product we noticed:
- Quieter engine when running
- Better fuel mileage. Around a 1 to 1.5 mpg increase.
There is no way to measure the cetane boost, lubrication properties, and other claims visually, so we are accepting the increased performance claims as advertised.
For additional information on the Diesel Kleen + Cetane Boost, and to read about the product features, please click here.
Hot Shot’s Secret EDT
The Hot Shot’s EDT (Everyday Treatment) was the second product we used. The level in the bottle is clearly visible, and the built-in measurement device on the top of the bottle is excellent. This is the best measurement device I have seen incorporated into these types of products. You open the cap, and squeeze the bottle until it fills the top to the indicator mark. It is easy to use, and guarantees consistency!
Usage
We used the maintenance dosage with the Hot Shot’s Secret EDT, since we went through the cleaning stage when using the Diesel Kleen product. The maintenance dose is 1 ounce per 25 gallons of diesel fuel. Therefore, you get treatment for 16 refills at the pump when you buy a 16 ounce bottle.
Using the average of 20 gallons for each of our refills at the pump, and the recommended maintenance dosage of 1 oz/25 gallons, the added overall cost to the refill is approximately $1.12. The added average cost per gallon is approximately $.06. That is very Good!
Results
When using this product we noticed:
- Quieter engine when running.
- Better throttle response
- Better fuel mileage. Around a 1.5 to 2 mpg increase.
As stated above, since we cannot visually measure the cetane boost, lubrication properties, etc., we accept the increased performance claims as advertised.
For additional information on the Hot Shot’s Secret EDT product, and to read about the product features, please click here.
Howes Diesel Treat
Since we live in warmer temperatures, I feel that the Howes Meaner Power Kleaner (designed for warmer temperatures) product would better fit what we need. I could not find it in any of the local stores. We are planning to try this product.
Howes Diesel Treat contains the anti-gel, and also uses different technology in handling any water in the fuel. The temperatures here in Georgia rarely get below 30 degrees F, so we do not need the anti-gel. Including it in the mix is a bonus.
Howes Diesel Treat does not contain a cetane booster. The FAQ section (howesproducts.com/knowledge-station) is quoted as saying, “Howes products naturally improve the combustion quality of diesel fuel eliminating the need for cetane boosters.” I was not able to find any further explanation on how they accomplish this. I feel that this is a big claim, and I am surprised that there is no further information given.
Usage
We used the maintenance dosage with Howes Diesel Treat.
Howes recommends a dosage rate of 1 oz/5 gallons of fuel, when temperatures are above 0 degrees F. If the temperatures are below 0 degrees F, then they recommended a dosage rate of 1 oz/2.5 gallons of fuel.
When you look closely at the documentation, the asterisk (*) and fine print states, “Cars/Pickups/Tractors double dose both treatment ratios”. Therefore, the dosage rate can be calculated to be 2 oz./5 gallons for temperatures above 0 degrees F, and 2 oz./2.5 gallons for temperatures below 0 degrees F.
Based on Howes recommended double dosing, and our average refill rate of 20 gallons, we used 8 ounces at each refill. Therefore, the 64 oz. bottle would treat 8 refills.
The added overall cost to each refill was calculated at approximately $2.50, or $0.125 per gallon. This additional cost is in line with the Diesel Kleen + Cetane Booster.
Results
When using this product we noticed:
- Quieter running engine; It is as good, if not better, than the other products reviewed here.
- Better fuel mileage. Around a .75 to 1.25 mpg increase.
As mentioned previously, we cannot visually measure the cetane boost, lubrication properties, etc. Therefore, we are taking the increased performance claims as advertised.
For additional information on the Howes Diesel Treat product, and to read about the product features, please click here.
Conclusion
Each of the product manufacturers claim increased performance for the vehicle you are driving. Each product improved the quietness of the running engine, when compared to when a fuel additive was not used. All of the products were able to show an improvement in fuel economy as well.
Which product do we choose as the best diesel fuel additive for the Ford Powerstroke 6.7L diesel engine? Our choice is the Hot Shot’s EDT (Everyday Treatment)! If you consider the additional benefits of better throttle response, best measuring device included in the container design, best fuel mileage increase, and the lowest overall cost when using the product, then Hot Shot’s Secret EDT was the clear winner in our opinion.
Ranking all of the products in order, it would be:
We plan to try additional products moving forward. When we do, we will provide insight into our experience with them. Thanks for reading, and may God bless all of you!
If you liked this post, please share it and follow us on social media!
Really clean web site, thankyou for this post.
Thank you for visiting our website and posting your comment. We appreciate it!