I’ve never used any additives in any of my Fords. Never had an issue. Not bashing, in central Wisconsin, it’s gets pretty brutal, just lucky?


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I have used the Power Service silver bottle additive in summer and white bottle winter additive in winter for many years. I add the winter blend when temps are below 10 degrees f overnight.

 

My truck gelled up last year even with additives... I live in MN and don't trust anything that comes out of the pump to be properly treated during the winter.

If you live anywhere that gets well below 0 it honestly isn't worth the hassle to not use an additive.

 

Do the 2017's + have a fuel heater? I know the DEF tanks do but wasn't sure about the fuel side. If my memory is correct, my 6.0 had a fuel heater but not sure if that was brought forward in the newer models.

 

The 6.7L engine push fuel thru the Common rail and all excess goes back to the tank and re-circulates. This process heats the fuel and keeps the fuel in the tank and fuel lines warm while driving in cold weather.

If you never shut your engine off. The fuel would always stay warm and never gel.
The problem comes when you shut the engine down and let the truck Cold Soak.
When the fuel gets below 0° then you need a winterized fuel and can hope the refinery did the job or add your own anti-gel to make sure.

 

I use additive for the lubrication and demulsifier. I have never had an issue with gelling. But it only gets into the teens here.

 

From the 2011 6.7L Coffee Table Book Things might have changed for 2017 and newer, But gives you a general idea


"A fuel cooler is located on the left frame rail foward of the DFCM. The black fuel line is used for fuel return from the engine to the cooler. The gray fuel line returns fuel from the cooler to th DFCM. Depending on the temperature of the fuel from the injectors, the fuel cooler can be used to cool or heat the fuel going back the DFCM. The powertrain secondary cooling system provides the coolant for the fuel cooler."

 

IMHO, an anti gel is not NORMALLY needed. Sure, the fuel is treated for your region. Thing is, when sudden extremes happen then you are SOL.
I remember at least 2 times in the mid atlantic region there were cold spells that left us in the 20's for highs. That is not typical of the area. That posed a problem for some folks, especially in higher elevations where the lows fell to single digits.
I'll keep using an additive. More so because my rig will sit for a few days at a time. Dropping an additive in is not as much of a bother as a truck that wont start.
Edit- good read:
https://www.fuelsnews.com/diesel-tanks-gelling-winter/

 

I use the Stanadyne performance additive. Went up to Plattsburgh (near Canadian border) a few years ago. 10 below. Fuel system totally gelled. Now I use the Ford antigel when it gets below 10 degrees. no problems since.

 

I use the Motorcraft PM23 anti gel in the winter months, and PM22 Cetane booster in summer months. Never had an issue. Be sure not to use any fuel additive that is an emulsifier (dissolves water and runs it through the system) it will trash your fuel system by causing it to rust. That mistake will cost you ~$10,000, and isn't covered by the warranty.

I use the Ford (Motorcraft) brand so that if there's a problem with the fuel system, they can't say I didn't use what the owners manual recommended. Besides, if you buy the PM22 or PM23 by the gallon, its fairly cheap. I have a half dozen 4 oz. plastic bottles that I keep in the toolbox. Just dump one in at each fill up. (short bed truck, small tank)

 

I as well use PM22 plus Stanadyne Lubricity Formula. I mix a bottle of each together (16oz each for a total of 32oz) into a Sta-Bil bottle. Then when I fill up, I dispense 1oz for each 3 gallons of fuel. The combined concoction will last me almost 100 gallons of fuel.

 

I guess a dumb question is in order. Do you have winterized diesel? Montana has it instead of straight #2 diesel from Oct to March. If so, fuel additives are a waste of time and money. I saw almost zero problems in 15 winters. I used additives briefly when I first got my 2000 because "everyone on the forums said so." All the ranchers I spoke to said they only used it when it looked like it was going to dip below -20F. I still have that truck 195,000 miles but we're in Texas now and who needs a GPR and anti-gel? What's diesel #1 or even winterized diesel?


The only time I had a gelling problem was when our local station changed from Sinclair to Cenex and the new batch did not like -15F weather. My gelling was not severe. The truck started, but ran like crap on the freeway until warm fuel return warmed up the tank while under high idle and I was buying a bottle of Diesel 911. Before I added the 911, the engine was already running smoothly. The next few days were in the positive temps so I do not think I needed it.

 

I guess a dumb question is in order. Do you have winterized diesel? Montana has it instead of straight #2 diesel from Oct to March. Is so, fuel additives are a waste of time and money. I saw almost zero problems in 15 winters. I used them briefly when I first got my 2000. All the ranchers I spoke to said they only used it when it looked like it was going to dip below -20F. I still have that truck 195,000 miles but we're in Texas now and who needs a GPR and anti-gel? What's diesel #1 or even winterized diesel?


The only time I had a gelling problem was when our local station changed from Sinclair to Cenex and the new batch did not like -15F weather. My gelling was not severe. The truck started, but ran like crap on the freeway until warm fuel return warmed up the tank while under high idle and I was buying a bottle of Diesel 911. Before I added the 911, the engine was already running smoothly. The next few days were in the positive temps so I do not think I needed it.

You're fortunate to live in an area that supplies well treated diesel. In my area (100 miles west of Washington D.C.) its much the opposite. When temps hit the teens we have trouble with gelling around here. Some stations are better than others, but most people are unaware of which has the better treated fuel.
By the way, if you have a 6.7 Scorpion, you may want to be cautious before using 911 in it. My Ford Tech told me that doing so would trash the fuel system by causing rust. It won't happen immediately, but he said it will happen.

 

"They" said the same thing about 911 in the 7.3L, as well as bio-diesel. Neither of those meet the fuel specifications as determined by Ford Motor Company. When it's -15F and you are miles from anyone, you will use 911 to keep you running. It is a matter of life and death, as opposed to the DC area or even Texas (kind of why Montana requires winterized diesel at the pumps). I've run 30% biodiesel with zero issues. I'm a natural born cynic and always question what "they" say. Granted, I have a 2000 7.3L with manual transmission (meaning never had a catalytic converter), so my technical issues are less than the 6.7.

 

Gotta love the ole 7.3. That thing is like an anvil. My wife has terminal cancer and wants me to sell mine and drive her 2017. I don't have the heart to get rid of her. (the 7.3) It has 79K on it and will probably outlast the 2017.
These are trucks that we'll tell our grandkids about someday. (whilst they roll their eyes)

 

I'm 30 miles west of DC and have seen gelling here. Total conjecture, but its only formulated for the average low temps. It may not even be treated at all here since the cloud point is below our typical temp. Thing is, when it gets unusually cold (couple years ago the Potomac froze over) the fuel is not treated for it.
Better fuels like BP or Sunoco are probably more reliably treated than say Wawa or Sheetz or BJs.

 

I am not sure if I am correct. I have recently read the manual for 2019 and I believe Ford recommends anti gel if the temp is below zero or negative nine degrees. I am not sure which. I have chosen to go with motorcraft anti-gel and performance improver. The manual recommends it with supper cold temps and any time you think you do not have high quality diesel fuel. I figure it will not hurt my engine and then I should not have to worry about gelling.