Cetane booster

I don't have any experience of this type of fuel additive. It's cost per litre seems to be VERY low .... 1.5 ppl ! It's not too expensive so you could try it out "for Research purposes" and report back to the A2OC! I add 2-stroke synthetic oil to my diesel because of the perceptible reduction in noise. Fuel is noted to be one of the most price-sensitive products on the market. Adding anything to that fuel obviously increases its price per litre, so it's got to be beneficial. Finally, from what I recall, "Which" seemed to indicate that it wasn't worth paying the higher cost of the premium fuels (same brand but a higher octane rating) in the hope of recovering it with higher mileages from that fill.

David
 
I'd be tempted to use something like the Hydra fuel additive if running the car on 'home brewed' bio diesel or veg oil but would not bother otherwise.
The switch to ULSD fuels removed the natural lubricity properties of sulphur. The additive packages used by the oil companies should compensate for this but it can do no harm to add your own 2T oil for good measure. Apart from added lubrication of the pump and injector internals there is also lots of positive feedback and other benefits noted

If you plan to try it, pick a low ash 2T oil to the spec listed in the thread - https://www.a2oc.net/community/inde...l-in-diesel-anyone-tried-it.19041/post-144544

Cheers Spike
 
Another MIllers Oils user here too alongside Shell Optimax (remapped 75 TDI).

Depronman did a diesel purge on my A2 only to find the fuel was the cleanest he'd seen - I'd used this additive twice before this
over a few thousand miles.
 
I have experimented with Cetane additives and found no statistically significant improvement, certainly didn't obviously pay for itself.
 
Anyone used this? Not so much for the increased cetane number but for smoother running.

hydra fuel additives

Yes,
I have used it for a few fills now.

A reduction in clatter seems quite obvious. The lowest smoke I've seen measured in my years of ownership, on the last MOT, was a surprise one that I'll keep an eye on to see if it repeats itself in December.

I've been using the cheapest Diesel available, which is generally a supermarket brand around 3p less than the Fuel companies forecourt price.
Given the Cetane enhancer is around 1.5p per litre, I'm still saving monies.
 
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Cetane additives are supposed to improve combustion in diesels similar to higher octane numbers in petrol.
Getting the right amount would perhaps be dependant on knowing the base level of the fuel you're using........not something to easy to do at home.....lol
If its cheap enough why not try some for a while and perhaps vary the amount over a few fill ups noting if you notice any difference....
 
I've just tried it - I bought the Archoil brand. I put in about 20ml and the tank had probably 25 litres in it, so that's 1:1250 isn't it.
The engine definitely seemed to run slightly more quietly and freely, and I could take the revs 100rpm lower in the higher gears before having to change down. It's always hard to be sure about it, but Barbara commented that it seemed smooth, and she isn't mechanically minded at all.
I'm currently on supermarket fuel as it was so cheap (121.9p/l)
Problem: the stuff doesn't just smell, it stinks. Worse than diesel. Next time I'm using throwaway gloves like the ones at fuel garages. And I won't be keeping the bottle in the car either; it's staying in the garage.
Will report again in a while.
 
Team,

How are we getting on with our respective additives / noticeable results?

I just took delivery of 8 bottles of the Millers Diesel Power Ecomax and put the first shot of it in the Touran (2016 model year, DFEA code 2.0 TDI) - I intend to run it in both vehicles in conjunction with bog standard supermarket fuels; the Touran to help keep it’s DPF clean as well as the rest of the engine - whereas in Merlin I’m hoping this will avoid any sticky turbo veins and again keep the engine generally clean internally.

By buying more than £60 in one order from Opie Oils I get free shipping, I also applied a 10% discount code, so it works out as £10.69 a bottle (or £1.30 a tank in the case of the Touran (58l capacity), less in the case of the A2 as you get an extra tank per bottle.

As I save about £4 per fill over using standard branded fuels(not to mention that Tesco is my local supermarket and has the cheapest fuel for miles around, hence I spend no extra time or on fuel driving somewhere to fill up), I thought it’d be prudent and interesting to commit to the Millers, which is a brand I trust (and is British too).

You’ll notice from the above that I’m not doing it for any fuel economy benefit other than being able to use the cheaper fuel without weight on my conscience about getting my internals dirty - there is simply no reliable data to prove these additives yield better fuel economy! It would be nice to get a noticeable improvement in noise reduction and smoothness in the A2 as these benefits are widely (albeit of course, subjectively) reported. Touran is already very quiet and super smooth too so I’m not expecting to notice any difference there.

As an aside, It would be nice to crack the 50 mpg hurdle in the Touran, as so far all the miles done in it have been fully loaded and with a roof box on, driving either fast (70mph plus “a bit” on motorways), or slower / windy and hilly Devon lanes.
 
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I experimented with Cetane boosters (not fancy bottled products that claim all sorts of dubious benefits) using various concentrations and I don't believe I saw any statistically significant change over what was probably 5,000 miles or more. Which was disappointing really, I don't think it paid for the additional cost.
 
If fuel, of any sort, could be "improved" with a dash of a "magic potion" the oil co (the brand on the pole sign) would add it at the tanker loading point. In bulk, it would cost them almost nothing, and, if it worked, it would give them an obvious USP.
Just buy the best version of the cetane/octane rating the manual specifies (ie 98/99 for us FSI'ers), you can afford.
As I've said many times, fuel from brands such as Shell, have additives, particularly detergents, which cheaper suppliers do not.
It's your call, and your injectors etc.
I was in the retail petroleum industry for about 35 years, and I use Shell exclusively. As always, just my opinion ?
Mac.
 
I experimented with Cetane boosters (not fancy bottled products that claim all sorts of dubious benefits) using various concentrations and I don't believe I saw any statistically significant change over what was probably 5,000 miles or more. Which was disappointing really, I don't think it paid for the additional cost.

This is exactly what I’m saying and indirectly, what I read from @PlasticMac ’s post too - you can’t run Millers (or any other) additive hoping to get better fuel economy, the only benefit is being able to use supermarket fuels knowing the additional cleaning additive pack are now comparable with branded sources (also the saving 2 or 3 quid a tank) - if you notice any other benefits then call it a bonus.

If I was only using branded diesel I wouldn’t bother I don’t think.
 
just to add, i've not noticed any change running the Hydra or Millers or Redex additive in smoothness or MPG, some having worse MPG per tank but could be due to weather etc. variables giving the 2-5mpg difference.

Shell premium diesel actually sorted white smoke from my A4 after a motorway run, now it runs smoother and no longer has periods of puffing a smoke screen out back, so that was only "additive" result I've noticed myself.

Tested 2stroke in couple tanks and i could not tell a difference personally, but engine seems to be in decent condition, just turbo is tired, it starts first crank every time and turns off nice and smooth, fuel filter is almost new and guessing it does not have issues with injectors/fuel line where these would potentially be most help.

Wonder if say additives that say they clean VGT turbo would actually do anything to free up the flaps.
 
just to add, i've not noticed any change running the Hydra or Millers or Redex additive in smoothness or MPG, some having worse MPG per tank but could be due to weather etc. variables giving the 2-5mpg difference.

Shell premium diesel actually sorted white smoke from my A4 after a motorway run, now it runs smoother and no longer has periods of puffing a smoke screen out back, so that was only "additive" result I've noticed myself.

Tested 2stroke in couple tanks and i could not tell a difference personally, but engine seems to be in decent condition, just turbo is tired, it starts first crank every time and turns off nice and smooth, fuel filter is almost new and guessing it does not have issues with injectors/fuel line where these would potentially be most help.

Wonder if say additives that say they clean VGT turbo would actually do anything to free up the flaps.
If you mean FSI flaps, then no, because fuel is injected direct to the combustion chamber, only air through manifold and flaps. I think diesels are direct injection too, but being a FSI'er, not sure.
Mac.
 
I don't have any experience of this type of fuel additive. It's cost per litre seems to be VERY low .... 1.5 ppl ! It's not too expensive so you could try it out "for Research purposes" and report back to the A2OC! I add 2-stroke synthetic oil to my diesel because of the perceptible reduction in noise. Fuel is noted to be one of the most price-sensitive products on the market. Adding anything to that fuel obviously increases its price per litre, so it's got to be beneficial. Finally, from what I recall, "Which" seemed to indicate that it wasn't worth paying the higher cost of the premium fuels (same brand but a higher octane rating) in the hope of recovering it with higher mileages from that fill.

David

So 2 stroke does make a difference? How much do you add to a full tank?
I do use premium diesel only...
 
If you mean FSI flaps, then no, because fuel is injected direct to the combustion chamber, only air through manifold and flaps. I think diesels are direct injection too, but being a FSI'er, not sure.
Mac.
Sorry - meant the vanes in the turbo on ATL, . Was just wondering if anyone had any success with additives to cleaning exhaust end of the turbo, i do need to take it off, just really do not want to due to access there
 
So 2 stroke does make a difference? How much do you add to a full tank?
I do use premium diesel only...
Yes, it makes an obvious difference in the level of noise and the A2 runs smoother. I add 100 mls to a full fill and I use the plastic "squeezy" containers that had previously had honey in them. You can find much more information regarding 2T addition by using the A2OC search facility .....
Here is one thread :- https://www.a2oc.net/community/inde...l-in-diesel-anyone-tried-it.19041/post-332304
David
 
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Talking of Miller’s (although this question is equally relevant to any of the bottled additives), Has anyone worked out a fool-proof way of pouring the shot in to the tank without spilling any? The stuff stinks, just a little on the outside of the bottle stinks the car out - even after wiping it with a wet wipe etc.!

I’ve just bought a genuine VAG accessory top up oil bag that goes in the boot (sticks to the carpet on the inner wings using Velcro strips) to keep it in, which should help. But it’d be great if I didn’t spill any in the first place! I’m sure there’s a knack, but is there a better way of administering it?
 
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