Originally Posted by kschachn
I always find these threads interesting. So do the majority of all diesel owners use an additive, or is there a large percentage of failures on fuel pumps? I don't imagine most owners use an additive, do they? Don't they just fuel and go like everyone else? If so, how long can you go before there is a failure of pump?
Seems so odd that a change in fuel composition was made that essentially damages a significant percentage of the trucks in existence.
IMO there is an opinion that fuel systems used in light passenger cars/trucks are less robust (Ex, VW TDI's had a rash of HPFP failures back in 2011 or so) AND/OR European diesels almost always call for Cetane of 51 or more. IIRC US diesel is spec'd at a min of 40 and real-world testing usually came in around 45-48.
Since diesel pumps in my area never indicated a cetane of 51 or more let alone bio-diesel concentration, I always used an additive which contained a cetane booster (2EHN) when I had my 335d for this very reason. I felt it would prolong the life of my DPF and I would realize slightly better experience via more complete combustion which would reduce EGR usage.