"Ultimate" type Diesel fuels / Injector cleaner addatives - Worth it or not?

[ghost123uk]

Title edited to now include discussion on injector cleaning additives.

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M59 2.0Ltr HDi

I do a mix of stop / start in rural areas (delivering parcels) but I do tend to leave the motor running whilst delivering the parcel. I also, on average 2 or 3 times a week, do longer main "A road" journeys at higher speeds.

Is it worth using the higher octane / extra "cleaning" additive style Diesel fuels ?

I'm thinking more of the cleaning functions of the fuel that they advertise (though any extra mpg wouldn’t be sneezed at).

[ron]

You've opened a big can of worms here.  I personally use Millars additive in every tank but when I go to Germany I dose it with Forte because I use a tankful in a day.You'll get a wide difference of opinion so go how it takes you.Good luck.

[david.mckay.3760]

I've never tried it with diesel. However I recently experimented with my xantia activa. I normally run it on esso super. It usually struggles to return any more than 25 mpg. I filled it with normal esso unleaded at my usual petrol station and it returned nearly 27mpg. So then I whacked in a full tank of sainsbury. 29.3mpg. It now has tesco in it and going by the gauge it's going to be nearer the sainsbury figure than the esso plus figure. So I think there is absolutely no advantage of using these plus/ultimate type fuels unless your engine is specifically designed or tuned to run on it. And my activa has uprated boost making it quite a bit more powerful and torquey than the standard. I will never waste my money by buying these more expensive fuels that give poorer results.

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[ghost123uk]

You've opened a big can of worms here.  I personally use Millars additive in every tank......

I think there is absolutely no advantage of using these plus/ultimate type fuels unless your engine is specifically designed or tuned to run on it.

Aye, so there are two different views already ^^^

My main interest is more on keeping the injectors in good fettle.

[ron]

I use it only for injector cleaning.If I want a performance car I wouldn't have a Berlingo.As I said in my last post,look into it & go with what you think is best.One point is that I would never run consistently on S/market fuel.I will,very occasionally use it but not habitually.

[ghost123uk]

Agree about supermarket fuel, be it petrol or Diesel, I try and avoid it. The 80's VW camper I recently sold (sob) had an LPG conversion and super market LPG was really noticeable poorer quality.

Ron, you mention performance, I find the 2.0HDi quite satisfactory, I mean, it's not a sports car, so that's not an issue. I'm just after reliability and longevity. I don't want to be having to pay for expensive injector replacement, my motor has done 150K but one owner from new and with a full service history.

Title edited to now include discussion on injector cleaning additives.

Interesting that Ron uses a Millers additive in every tank full.

What do other folk think about injector cleaner additives?

[Tomcat3]

I wouldn't worry about injector cleaners If I was you I would be more concerned with your statement in your opening post that you leave the engine running while making a parcel delivery. Just recently there have been 2 delivery van thefts in my area and the driver was doing the same as you. I hope you realise the insurance wont pay out and you will be liable for the goods in the back to. I know 99.9 times out of a hundred its ok but just be suspicious of anyone near your van or trying to distract you. This time of year he thieving scum make a good living nicking delivery vehicles.
And as to your question when I had a 1.6hdi I used millers in it lovely stuff.

[ghost123uk]

Cheers Tomcat3, I here your concerns re theft, but I deliver in a VERY rural area, I only leave the car running and unlocked when delivering to farms and large "manor" house type places, you know, big electric gates and long gravel drives. If I am on a housing estate, I lock it for sure !!

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Which Millers do you use, the general Diesel Fuel Treatment, or the Injector Cleaner ?

[Johny555]

I use millers all the time,every time I fill up,engine idles better,and quieter also use shell diesel,never supermarket stuff,its cheaper than shell for a reason,!!

[david.mckay.3760]

Ours runs only on the cheapest Morrisons diesel with no additives.

It hasn't exploded and gives about the same MPG as it did when new 2 years ago.

The problem with additives and posh fuel is that those using them don't normally have a second identical car that they can use as a control. If I was to stand on one leg whille filling it, then get a decent MPG figure could I conclude that standing on one leg was the reason for it?

Conversely, I used to use a bit of Redex in my petrol car a few years ago and it seemed to make it run much nicer. I don't get the same impression from diesel additives.

Also, I have once tried Redex in mine about a year ago, then some other expensive additive. As far as I can tell, it made absolutely no difference. Some could say that the reason mine now runs well is because I used additive X a year ago and it left some magic fairy dust behind, but I doubt it.

If I ever see a big dip in mpg then I might try something. Otherwise just forget it.

Supermarket fuel is cheaper than Shell for a reason? Would that reason be Shell's big fat profits? - I can't think of another one.

I tend to agree with this. If someone uses only shell fuel or used additives in every tank how do they know it runs better? My activa is the only car I have ran on the same fuel all the time and then when I chucked in supermarket fuel two tanks running I notice no difference in the driving and better mpg both tanks. I'm back to putting in the cheapest fuel I see.

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