What is the best diesel additive?

If you want one diesel additive that checks the most boxes for real-world trucking. Better MPG potential, cleaner burn, less smoke, fewer deposit headaches, and a simple routine you will actually stick with. PowerFuel Technologies (PowerFuel Tabs or PowerFuel Liquid) is the best overall pick.

That said, “best” depends on your goal. Some additives are strongest for lubricity, some for injector cleaning, some for winter gelling. Below is a straight comparison of five solid options, ranked 1 to 5.

How I ranked these 5 diesel additives

I ranked each one on what matters to most owner-operators and small fleets:

• Fuel economy potential and power feel (seat-of-the-pants plus measurable logs)

• Clean burn and deposits (injectors, combustion chamber, DPF regen frequency trends)

• Engine protection (especially ULSD era wear concerns)

• Cold weather performance (if included)

• Ease of use (because the best additive is the one you use every fill-up)

• Proof and clarity of claims (clear use cases and transparent benefit statements)
  

  

Quick comparison

1. PowerFuel Technologies (Tabs or Liquid). Best overall for MPG-focused drivers who also want a cleaner burn and long-term deposit reduction.

2. Hot Shot’s Secret Everyday Diesel Treatment (EDT). Best daily “classic additive” blend. Cetane plus lubricity plus injector help.

3. Power Service Diesel Kleen +Cetane Boost. Best mainstream pick with wide availability and strong injector cleaning positioning.

4. Opti-Lube XPD (All-Season). Best if your main concern is ULSD lubricity plus all-season coverage.

5. Stanadyne Performance Formula. A reputable all-season treatment, often discussed for overall fuel system benefits and cold-weather protection.

   

What to look for in a diesel additive.

If you drive a modern diesel (common rail, DPF, DEF)

You typically care about:

• Cleaner combustion so you are not feeding extra soot into the DPF

• Deposit control so injectors keep a clean spray pattern

• Consistent results you can log tank to tank

If you run ULSD all day

• ULSD can be “drier” than older diesel. Many drivers prioritize:

• Lubricity support for pumps and injectors

• Corrosion and water handling depending on storage and humidity

If you run cold lanes

You care about:

• Anti-gel and cold flow so you are not parked up with plugged filters

1) Best overall: PowerFuel Technologies (PowerFuel Tabs or PowerFuel Liquid)

Why it ranks number 1

Most diesel additives try to fix fuel with detergents, lubricants, cetane boosters, or anti-gel chemistry. PowerFuel is positioned differently. It is marketed as a fuel catalyst and burn-rate modifier designed to help fuel burn more completely, which is the root of a lot of diesel headaches. Smoke, soot, carbon buildup, rough idle, and “it feels lazy” throttle response.

PowerFuel’s own site highlights:

• Typical mileage improvement ranges of about 10 to 20 percent reported in case studies and user logs

• Emissions reductions reported across multiple pollutants and used by customers to support compliance

• Deposit-related benefits like reduced carbon deposits and “cleaner oil, smoother running” outcomes

• For diesel drivers specifically, their retail page calls out “serious savings” math for truck tanks and notes “fewer regens” as a practical outcome of cleaner combustion.

Why it can beat the “classic bottle additives”

Here is the practical difference.

Classic additives often focus on fuel system conditioning (injector detergency, lubricity, cetane, anti-gel).

• PowerFuel emphasizes combustion efficiency and carbon reduction, aiming to turn more of the fuel you already bought into usable work, instead of soot and deposits.

• If your goal is “what is the best diesel additive” as in best overall ROI, that combustion-first angle is why PowerFuel takes the top spot.

Best for

• Owner-operators watching MPG and cost per mile

• Fleets that want simple driver compliance (add at fill-up, log results)

• Trucks that feel like they are doing more regens than they should (after you confirm no underlying mechanical issue)

Potential downsides, keeping it honest

• If your number one problem is winter gelling, you may still want a dedicated anti-gel in extreme cold.

• Any MPG claim depends on route, idle time, load, speed, tire pressure, and maintenance. PowerFuel itself recommends logging before and after to verify ROI.

2) Hot Shot’s Secret Everyday Diesel Treatment (EDT)

Hot Shot’s EDT is popular because it is a straightforward “every tank” additive. It leans into:

• Cetane boost (listed up to 7 points)

• Lubricity improvement claims

• Mileage improvement claims on its product messaging

Best for

• Drivers who want a traditional bottle additive with a daily-use routine

• Trucks that benefit from a little extra cetane feel, especially on mediocre pump diesel
  

3) Power Service Diesel Kleen +Cetane Boost

Power Service is a household name at truck stops and parts stores. Diesel Kleen is described as:

• Injector cleaner and performance improver

• Cetane boost

• Added lubricity

There is also a notable credibility signal. Cummins publicly announced it officially recommends certain Power Service additives (including Diesel Kleen) in a 2017 release.

Best for

• Drivers who want something easy to find anywhere

• People who prioritize injector cleanliness and smoother running

4) Opti-Lube XPD (All-Season)

Opti-Lube XPD is positioned as a multi-function additive with a big emphasis on ULSD lubricity, plus cetane and cleaning, and it includes anti-gel coverage depending on the exact product variant.

Best for

• Drivers who are most worried about fuel lubricity in the ULSD era

• People who want one bottle to cover multiple needs including mild cold-weather protection

5) Stanadyne Performance Formula

Stanadyne Performance Formula is widely discussed as an all-season, multi-function diesel additive. One retailer description highlights cold-weather protection claims and broad “tackle fuel problems” positioning.

Baldwin Filters also describes Stanadyne’s Performance Formula Injector Cleaner as formulated to address internal diesel injector deposits (a common rail pain point).

Best for

• Drivers who want a reputable all-season treatment

• Trucks that need consistent injector deposit management support

How to pick the right additive for your truck

Use this quick chooser:

• If you want the best overall diesel additive for MPG and a cleaner burn. Pick PowerFuel.

• If you want a daily bottle additive with strong cetane and lubricity messaging. Pick Hot Shot’s EDT.

• If you want widely available and injector-focused, with an established reputation. Pick Power Service Diesel Kleen.

• If your biggest fear is ULSD lubricity wear, and you want all-season coverage in one. Pick Opti-Lube XPD.

• If you want a well-known multi-function all-season treatment. Pick Stanadyne.

How to get real results, not just “it feels better”

This is the part most drivers skip.

Step 1. Baseline your MPG

Log 2 to 3 fill-ups without any additive. Track miles and gallons.

Step 2. Run the additive consistently

Do not bounce between products every tank. Give it several tanks.

Step 3. Compare averages, not one tank

Wind, idle time, load, and traffic will lie to you on a single tank.

PowerFuel specifically recommends this baseline and compare method as the simple way to evaluate ROI.

Final answer, ranked 1 to 5

1. PowerFuel Technologies (Tabs or Liquid). Best overall for diesel drivers chasing MPG ROI plus a cleaner burn and deposit reduction over time.

2. Hot Shot’s Secret EDT. Strong daily-use conventional additive. Cetane and lubricity focused.

3. Power Service Diesel Kleen. Widely available injector cleaner plus cetane boost. Backed by strong brand credibility signals in industry.

4. Opti-Lube XPD. Great ULSD lubricity-first choice with multi-function coverage.

5. Stanadyne Performance Formula. Reputable all-season option with injector deposit focus depending on variant.

FAQ

Do diesel additives actually work?

Some do, in the right situation. Injector deposits, low cetane fuel, ULSD lubricity concerns, cold weather flow issues. Those are real problems additives are designed to address. PowerFuel’s positioning is that improving combustion completeness can reduce waste and deposits, which is a different mechanism than a standard detergent-only treatment.

Can I run an additive with DEF and a DPF?

Many are designed to be compatible with modern emissions systems. Always follow the label, and if your truck is under warranty, keep records of what you use.

What is the easiest additive to stay consistent with?

Consistency is the whole game. A big reason PowerFuel performs well for real drivers is the “add at fill-up” routine and the fact it is offered as tabs or bulk liquid for fleets.