Everything You Need to Know About Fuel Additives

Fuel additives are professionally formulated gasoline or diesel treatments used for preventive maintenance or to address specific problems in the fuel system or engine. The main appeal of fuel additives is their ability to significantly improve fuel economy, which many manufacturers leverage to market their products. The global fuel additives market is expected to reach $3.4 billion by 2028, as more vehicle owners realize the considerable benefits.

Different fuel additives deliver varying results for different engine types and environmental conditions. Fuel Ox^® offers the world’s best fuel additives and lubricants — learn everything you need to know about fuel additives and how they can enhance your vehicle’s performance.

What Are Fuel Additives?

Fuel additives are chemical substances that include ingredients such as engine cleaners, lubricants and fuel performance enhancers. They are added to diesel, gasoline, kerosene and other fuels to improve specific properties or ensure it achieves specific goals. The most important thing to know about fuel additives is the two basic categories:

• Fuel stabilizers: These types of additives ensure fuel remains functional and effective for a long time by preventing it from breaking down when stored away without use for extended periods. It inhibits the separation of gas and water, which may often cause engine corrosion and hard starts.
• Fuel performance enhancers: These maximize fuel efficiency and performance by preventing premature deterioration or ensuring it combusts completely at lower temperatures and burns for longer. They also improve fuel economy, reduce emissions and boost engine performance. They also remove water and lubricate and clean the fuel system, enhancing the engine’s overall performance.

How to Use Fuel Additives?

Most fuel additives are formulated to address specific problems in different types of engines and only a few are designed to address a whole range of issues. Fortunately, you can never go wrong with fuel additives. They use a no-harm design, so while you may pick an option that doesn’t solve your problem, it will end up solving or preventing another issue without introducing new problems.

Fuel additives are meant to be added before filling up your tank to allow them to mix thoroughly with the fuel. However, you can add Fuel Ox^® additives before or after fueling. The best way to use fuel additives is to follow manufacturer instructions. They include how much fuel you need to use and how often you need to refill. Some need to be refilled after covering specific mileage and others at every top-up — be sure to confirm the right usage on the product packaging.

A Guide to Types of Fuel Additives

Understanding the types of fuel additives equips you with knowledge about how they work. The following are the main types of fuel additives offered by many manufacturers:

1. Winter Fuel Additives

As temperatures drop, diesel tends to crystalize and form gel-like chunks that clog fuel filters and restrict fuel flow. Fuel Ox^® anti-gel fuel additives lower the cold filter plugging point (CFPP) of diesel, which is the point where crystallization begins. They ensure diesel continues flowing through the filters and prevent water in the fuel from freezing. This enables you to start and run engines safely even when the temperatures dip.

2. Fuel-System Cleaners

These types of fuel additives remove dirt, debris, carbon deposits and other contaminants from a vehicle’s engine, fuel system and injectors. They use detergent and dissolvent chemicals that remove carbon and sludge build-up that gathers over time to improve overall vehicle performance and gas mileage. Fuel Ox^® fuel-system cleaners also reduce emissions and prevent the system from accumulating more carbon and contaminants.

3. Gas Treatments

Gas treatments include numerous ingredients, including detergents, lubricants and fuel stabilizers. Some include special additives like octane or cetane boosters to ensure optimal engine performance. Using Fuel Ox^® all-season additives can improve fuel performance, maintain the fuel system and extend engine life.

4. Octane Boosters

Octane boosters are additives that work with high-compression engines that make a powerful explosion when ignited. They increase the octane rating of gasoline to prevent engine knocking and improve performance.

5. Diesel Cetane Boosters

Cetane boosters improve the ignition quality of fuel to facilitate faster and easier start-ups. Increasing cetane levels reduces the delay between the ignition and fuel injection. Fuel Ox^® fuel additives also lead to complete combustion and reduce the noise and emissions produced by diesel engines. Most vehicles today require cetane fuel additives to increase engine performance and efficiency. Fuel Ox^® combustion catalyst, while not technically a cetane improver, improves power and vehicle responsiveness while enhancing fuel economy.

Fuel Additive Common Questions

Check out some frequently asked questions about fuel additives:

When Do You Need Fuel Additives?

There are many reasons you should consider using fuel additives. Here are some:

• Routine maintenance to ensure the engine keeps running smoothly.
• Fix engine issues, such as knocking, hard starts and rough idling.
• Clean sludge and carbon deposits from the engine to improve combustion and reduce emissions.
• Ensure fuel is stable after a vehicle sits unused for long periods.
• Prevent fuel from crystalizing during the winter.
• Improve fuel efficiency and overall engine performance.
• Drive long distances or often encounter stop-and-go traffic.
• Operate older vehicles that demonstrate reduced fuel efficiency.

Is There Such a Thing as Too Much Fuel Additive?

High-quality Fuel Ox^® additives are user-friendly and cannot damage your engine regardless of how much additive you use. However, check the product’s packaging to confirm exactly how much fuel each gallon of Fuel Ox^® additive can treat.

What Types of Fuel Do Fuel Ox^® Additives Treat?

Fuel Ox^® fuel additives are compatible with all kinds of petroleum-based fuels, including diesel, gasoline, kerosene and heating oil.

Your Engines Deserve the World’s Best Fuel Additives

Are you in search of the best fuel additives that pack all the right ingredients to solve numerous engine problems? Fuel Ox^® is a reliable supplier of the most efficient and versatile fuel additives for a wide range of combustible engines, including heavy equipment, ships, trains, off-road vehicles and automobiles. Our range of fuel additives includes all-season additives, marine fuel additives and winter fuel additives to solve more engine problems.

Our industry-leading Fuel Ox^® with Combustion Catalyst is an excellent fuel additive that works well with all types of combustible engines, including automobiles, trains and ships. It cleans and lubricates the fuel system, protects the tank against corrosion, reduces emissions by up to 50% and boosts fuel efficiency by 5-10%. Explore our website to learn more about our fuel additives.