Best Diesel Additives of 2025

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Diesel additives are specialized products designed to enhance the performance of diesel fuel. They are typically added to the fuel tank in small quantities to improve fuel efficiency, reduce emissions, and protect the engine from wear and tear. Some additives are designed to improve the cetane rating of the fuel, which helps to increase power output and reduce engine noise. Others are formulated to clean the fuel system and prevent the buildup of deposits that can impede performance. Diesel additives are available in a variety of formulations to meet the specific needs of different applications, from heavy-duty trucks to personal vehicles.
At a Glance: Our Top Picks
Top 10 Diesel Additives
Hot Shot's Secret Everyday Diesel Treatment 1 Gallon
Hot Shot's Secret Everyday Diesel Treatment is an every-tank solution that boosts cetane up to 7 points for better fuel economy and maintenance. It adds lubricity to protect the fuel system including pump and injectors, prevents rust and corrosion, disperses moisture, and adds stability to fuel. This diesel additive is backed by science and a 100% satisfaction guarantee.
Archoil AR6500 Diesel Treatment
Archoil AR6500 Diesel Treatment is a diesel additive designed to address issues with modern diesel fuels. The 40.6 oz bottle is capable of treating 400 gallons of fuel and should be used at every fill-up. This additive cleans, lubricates, and protects your fuel system, including HPCR systems. Additionally, it increases power and response through Archoil's proven combustion modifier technology and a strong cetane boost, which also leads to an increase in fuel economy (MPG).
Hot Shot's Secret Diesel Extreme Cleaner
Hot Shot's Diesel Extreme is designed to thoroughly clean your diesel engine's fuel system, including injectors and fuel lines, ensuring optimal performance. By effectively removing harmful deposits, it helps maintain the efficiency of your engine. This product also boosts cetane levels, enhancing combustion and improving fuel economy, which can lead to significant savings at the pump. Additionally, it maximizes your mileage by improving fuel combustion, allowing you to get the most out of every drop of diesel. With its advanced formulation, it stabilizes the fuel and prevents rust, ensuring your engine stays healthy for the long haul.
Stanadyne Performance Formula Diesel Fuel Additive
The Stanadyne Performance Formula Diesel Fuel Additive is a product made in the USA that offers several benefits to diesel engine users. It restores and increases horsepower, reduces fuel consumption by an average of 4% with gains up to 9.6%, improves combustion, resulting in better engine starting, running, and reduced noise. The lubricity improvers also help to reduce wear, while emissions are reduced by decreasing smoke and particulates.
Power Service 1025-12PK +Cetane Boost Diesel Fuel Supplement Anti-Freezer - 1 Quart, (Pack of 12)
The Power Service Diesel Fuel Supplement is a must-have for diesel vehicle owners. This powerful additive is designed to prevent fuel gelling and protect against fuel-filter icing, ensuring that your engine runs smoothly even in cold temperatures. With its cetane-boosting properties, it provides faster cold starts, allowing you to hit the road more quickly. Additionally, this supplement contains the Slick diesel Lubricator, which helps protect your fuel pumps and injectors from wear caused by poor quality Ultra Low Sulfur Diesel (ULSD) fuel. Compatible with all diesel fuels, including ULSD and biodiesel blends, the Power Service Diesel Fuel Supplement is a reliable and effective solution for maintaining your diesel engine's performance.
Archoil Diesel Fuel System Kit
The Archoil Diesel Fuel System Kit is a diesel additive that includes a 40 oz AR6500 Diesel Treatment and an AR6400-D Diesel Fuel System Cleaner. The AR6500 Diesel Treatment restores key fuel system components such as injectors, turbo and DPF, boosting cetane and improving performance and MPG. The AR6400-D Diesel Fuel System Cleaner improves fuel system efficiency by removing harmful deposits from fuel injectors, carburetors, and intake valves.
Hot Shot's Secret Diesel Anti-Gel
Hot Shot's Diesel Anti-Gel is designed to protect your diesel engine during winter months. It prevents fuel from gelling in cold temperatures, ensuring smooth operation. This additive enhances cold-weather performance, making it easier for you to start your engine in frigid conditions. Additionally, it boosts the cetane number, which can lead to improved power and efficiency. By keeping your fuel lines clear of wax and ice, it helps you avoid costly repairs and downtime during the winter season.
Howes Diesel Treat Anti-Gel
Howes Diesel Treat is designed to keep your diesel engine running smoothly, especially in cold weather. It prevents fuel from gelling, ensuring that your vehicle starts easily during winter months. This product also adds necessary lubricity to protect your engine's injectors, pumps, and cylinders, enhancing their performance and lifespan. Additionally, it helps prevent harmful deposits from forming in your fuel system, which can lead to power loss. Lastly, it effectively removes water from the fuel without using harmful chemicals, safeguarding your engine from potential damage caused by moisture.
Stanadyne Performance Formula Diesel Fuel Additive
The Stanadyne Performance Formula Diesel Fuel Additive is a diesel additive that offers several benefits. It can restore and increase horsepower by cleaning deposits in the injection system, reduce fuel consumption by improving MPG, improve combustion for better engine starting, running, and reduced noise with its cetane improver, restore lubricity to ultra low sulfur diesel fuels, and reduce emissions by reducing smoke and particulates.
Performance Formula One Shot 8oz, Case of 24 Bottles
This diesel additive can restore/increase horsepower, reduce fuel consumption, improve cetane combustion, reduce wear, and reduce emissions. The detergents in the formula can clean the deposits in the injection system, resulting in better engine performance. Tests show an average of 4% improvement in MPG and gains up to 9.6%. The lubricity improvers can restore lubricity to ultra-low sulfur diesel fuels. The formula can reduce smoke and particulates, thus reducing emissions.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. What additives should I put in my diesel?
There are several additives that can be used in diesel fuel to enhance its performance. Some examples include specific additives, anti-gel treatment, diesel stabilizer, and popular options like Hot Shot's Secret Diesel Extreme, Peak 'Blue' Agri-Clean Diesel Fuel Additive, Lucas Oil 10013 Fuel Treatment, and Sta-Bil 22254 Diesel Fuel Stabilizer.
2. Should I use an oil additive in my diesel?
Using oil additives in diesel engines can be beneficial. These enhanced oils may cost more, but they offer advantages such as improved fuel economy, reduced emissions, and better performance in extreme temperatures. The benefits outweigh the additional expense.
3. When should I put additives in my diesel?
The timing of adding additives to diesel depends on the temperature. If it's above 30°F, you can use Diesel Kleen +Cetane Boost (silver bottle) for maximum performance. For temperatures below 30°F, you can use Diesel Fuel Supplement +Cetane Boost (white bottle) to ensure winter operability.
4. How much diesel additive per Litre?
The recommended dosage of diesel additive is very small - just 166mg (milligrams) per treated liter of diesel fuel. This small amount is sufficient to achieve the desired effect.
5. What are the disadvantages of diesel additives?
Some disadvantages of diesel fuel additives include compatibility issues with older engines and the potential presence of harmful chemicals like alcohol that can damage engine parts. It is important to choose additives that are suitable for your specific engine and to avoid those that may have detrimental effects.
6. Are additives bad for diesel engines?
No, fuel additives are not bad for diesel engines. In fact, using diesel fuel additives can significantly improve engine performance and increase the lifespan of the engine. It is important to use the right additives and follow proper maintenance practices for optimal results.
7. Do modern diesel engines need additives?
Yes, modern diesel engines can benefit from the use of additives. The low-sulfur diesel fuel used today lacks the lubricating properties that older diesel fuel had. Adding a diesel fuel additive helps restore the lubrication and protect the engine from premature wear.
8. How often should I use diesel additive?
For year-round maintenance, it is recommended to use a diesel additive every time you fill up. If the temperatures are above 30°F, you can use Diesel Kleen +Cetane Boost (silver bottle) for maximum performance. This formula contains cetane, detergent, and lubricity improver to ensure peak diesel performance.
During our diesel additive research, we found 24 diesel additive products and shortlisted 10 quality products. We collected and analyzed 90,744 customer reviews through our big data system to write the diesel additives list. We found that most customers choose diesel additives with an average price of $60.27.
The diesel additives are available for purchase. We have researched hundreds of brands and picked the top brands of diesel additives, including Hot Shot's Secret, Archoil, Stanadyne, Power Service, Howes. The seller of top 1 product has received honest feedback from 385 consumers with an average rating of 4.7.

David Davis has rich experience as a mechanic and a general repairman in the automotive industry. It has given him plenty of knowledge in automobile repair, auto parts, and all kinds of tools. In his spare time, he enjoys assembling and disassembling parts for cars.