The sun is shining, you can feel the warm sun on the back of your neck as you pump that over-priced diesel fuel into your truck. You open your door and grab that half-full bottle of Hot Shot’s Secret Everyday Diesel Treatment (EDT) with a smile knowing you have finally figured out what keeps your truck running like you need it to. Now if you are like us and live anywhere in the midwest, it could very well be snowing within the hour. Should EDT still be your go-to when temperatures begin to fall? It’s a question we get asked quite often. “My truck loves the EDT, but what should I be using in the winter?”
If EDT is the only thing you have access to, by all means, continue using it. You will still benefit from the cetane boost and cleaning capabilities. But to answer the question about what you “should” do, would be to start by using a strong fuel system cleaner like Diesel Extreme at the onset of winter to clean and protect your fuel system. This will guarantee you have cleaned up all the soot and deposits that may have built up over the Summer and helps get you off on the right foot for the beginning of colder weather. Once the Diesel Extreme has been run through the system, replace your typical treatment of EDT with Hot Shot’s Secret Diesel Winter Anti-Gel. This will not only stabilize your fuel and provide a needed cetane boost, it will also prevent your fuel from gelling up. Gelled fuel will not just ruin your fuel economy, but it could lead to you stranded on the side of the road with a fuel starved engine and plugged fuel filter.
If you’re lucky enough to live away from the cold and snow, then yes, use EDT all year long, even in the winter. EDT stabilizes the often inconsistent diesel fuel that comes from the refinery to the pump to your truck. Diesel fuel is like the hot dog of fuel, just a bunch of stuff blended together that you really don’t want to know about. That’s why it’s important to use EDT or Diesel Winter Anti-Gel with every fill-up to prevent the poor quality of diesel fuel from ruining your engine. However if you intend on driving north for whatever reason or if your route takes you into the tundra, you should switch to Winter Anti-Gel on your way. That way you’re not stuck on the side of a mountain in a snowstorm on I-77 because your fuel gelled up. If you do indeed end up stuck on a mountain in a snowstorm on I-77 make sure you pack a bottle of Diesel Winter Rescue by Hot Shot’s Secret. This de-icer will have you back on the road in no time.
Using an “everyday” type additive will definitely decrease your odds of dealing with gelled diesel fuel this winter. However, if you have not taken those steps of prevention and you find yourself in a no-start situation because of gelled fuel, solve your problem with Hot Shot’s Secret Diesel Winter Rescue. Hot Shot’s Secret Diesel Winter Rescue is a military-grade de-icer that reliquifies fuel and gets your truck back on the road. Although Winter is right around the corner, it’s not too late to start preparing your fuel system for what is to come. Even if you live as far south as Florida, it doesn’t hurt to have some Diesel Winter Anti-Gel on tap just in case your wife makes you drive north to see the in-laws (or outlaws; however you may see it) for Christmas.