I finally fell for the 'premium' diesel additive hype and wasted $150

Bought a case of that fancy synthetic additive last fall from a shop in Phoenix. Spent about $150 on a 12-pack because the guy swore it would clean my injectors and bump mileage by 10%. Ran three tanks through my F-250 with it and saw zero difference. Fuel economy stayed the same, no change in how the truck started, nothing. Then a buddy told me the basic stuff from the auto parts store works just as good for a quarter the price. Anyone else get burned by a high-dollar additive that didn't do squat?

3 comments

3 Comments

sandrat241mo ago

That Phoenix shop might have been selling you a brand that relies on marketing more than actual chemistry. Did you check if the additive had any kind of ASTM certification or just take the guy's word for it? I wasted money on a similar product a couple years ago, some stuff called "Diesel Pro Max" from a truck stop in Nevada. I ran two tanks through my old Dodge and not only did it not help, I swear the truck started a little rougher after I used it.

nathana481mo ago

Did you ever get a look at the actual ingredient list on that Diesel Pro Max bottle? Sounds like it was just a bottle of snake oil.

rose_cooper1mo ago

I bet "Diesel Pro Max" sounds more like a wrestling move than a fuel additive.