For over 20 years of living in our motorhome, we have added Power Service Diesel Kleen (gray bottle) with every tank full. We try to only fill at Flying J or other large truck stops and have never had a fuel problem. We find we are now storing our motorhome much more in Phoenix hot temps. So I asked Power Service for their (biased) opinion on long term storage and if any Power Service products contain asphaltine dispersants?
RESPONSE: "Power Service Diesel Kleen is primarily an injector and fuel system cleaner and contains a powerful detergent that will dissolve ashpaltines if they start to form."
We also asked what Power Service products are recommended for longer term full-tank storage.
RESPONSE: "Power Service Clear Diesel Fuel and Tank Cleaner contains an antioxidant or stabilizer to prevent fuel degradation during long term storage. I would recommend adding Diesel Kleen to every tank to protect your fuel system, and Clear Diesel when you need to place the vehicle in storage, and once every three months to disperse any contaminates or water that has accumulated."
We have been carrying for many years, several quarts of Power Service 911 & Bio Kleen for emergency use. We asked Power Service if there is a shelf life on these two products to know if we could still count on these older containers for effectiveness.
RESPONSE: "If the foil seal is intact all of our products have an indefinite shelf life. Once the foil seal has been broken it is best to use the product within 12-18 months."
I have never heard of their Clear Diesel Fuel and Tank Cleaner product so I was interested to read their marketing info, which is attached. We have started to add this product to our tank.
We buy our Power Service products at Walmart.
I have also used their products for years and can say they do work well.
Was there any mention of bio-cide to inhibit algae growth in any residual water?
Tim, I re-read the above Power Service Clear Diesel attachment and it mentions Bio-cide. So that may give you the answer.
We carry Bio-cide & water dispersing products in case we have a fuel problem, but have never used them. It seems that a bottom water layer would have to be there for bio material to grow on the layer between bottom water and diesel.
We have pumped out bottom fuel into a gallon clear glass jar and let the jar sit still for several days to see if any 'layers' show up. but it always was clear.
So keeping water out or dispersed would be the first line of defense. Adding bio-cide preventatively would not hurt but may not be needed. So if you want, add bio-cide.
Many of us add fuel additives but really have no idea if they are needed. We have not had any fuel problems, but we may also not have had any problems if we had never added anything.
If you have air in your diesel tank, the water will condense out of the air into the diesel fuel, and you will get water in the fuel. The more air space, the more water created over time, which is why the recommendation to tore diesels with full tanks.
Having had algae grow once, and having coach quit on side of road, then a bunch of filters after I got it going, I add bio code anytime I will leave coach for more than a week.
If one of your additives has bio code - that is great. having had the misery of an algae attack after leaving coach sit for 45 days in WI (i think the diesel may have had water mixed in it when I bought it at the gas station) I add biocide as a regular pre-caution