Where to Buy Diesel Additives Online and in Stores

You already know why diesel additives matter. Fuel gels in the cold, injectors build up deposits, and low sulfur fuel gives your pumps less lubrication than older fuel did. The harder question is where to buy the right bottle at a fair price from a seller you can trust.

I research fuel products and compare how they are made, labeled, guaranteed and sold. I chose the places and the brand in this guide by asking four questions. Is the product clearly labeled? Is the company open about what it does? Does it back its product with a real guarantee? Can you find it in a size that fits your needs?

One company meets all four, and that is Howes Products. You can look at their full lineup at howesproducts.com. Below, I explain each type of store, what to watch for, and how to match the product to your engine.

Decide What You Need Before You Shop

A store shelf can look crowded. Pick your goal first, and the choice gets easy.

• Cold weather protection: You need an anti-gel and fuel conditioner.
• Fuel that has already gelled: You need an emergency rescue product.
• Daily lubricity and injector cleaning: You need a lubricator with a detergent.
• Years of missed maintenance: You need a one-tank deep clean.
• Large storage tanks: You need a bulk concentrate.

Write down your answer and bring it with you. It keeps you from buying a product that does not match the problem.

Buying Straight From the Maker

The maker’s own website is the first place I send most people. You see the full product line in one place, and you can read the label details before you pay.

Howes Products sells through their site, and the benefits go beyond the bottle:

• Every product carries a 100 percent satisfaction guarantee, with a refund when you mail in the original receipt.
• Their Rewards program lets you earn merchandise for purchases.
• Their Knowledge Station and blog explain when to use anti-gel, when diesel begins to cloud and gel, and how to prevent diesel algae.

If you buy more than once a year, these extras add up.

Big Retail Stores

Large retail chains are handy when you need a bottle today. Howes Diesel Defender is available at Walmart and other retailers in 15 ounce, 1 quart and half-gallon bottles.

Auto parts stores, farm supply stores and truck stops are also worth a visit. Stock changes from one location to the next, and the shelves often hold fewer choices than a website does. Call ahead if you need a specific product or size.

In a store, you can read the back label before you buy. Look for the treat rate, the list of fuels the product works with, and a statement about emissions systems.

Online Marketplaces

Online marketplaces give you wide choice and fast shipping. They also have more risk, because many sellers list the same item.

Use these steps to protect yourself:

1. Check that the seller is the brand itself or a well-known store.

2. Compare the bottle size to the price, because some listings hide a smaller bottle.

3. Read recent reviews for notes about damaged or old stock.

4. Confirm that the guarantee still applies to the place where you buy.

If you cannot answer these four points, buy from the maker’s website instead.

Where Bulk Buyers Should Look

Fleets, farms and anyone with storage tanks should skip the small bottles. Buying by the gallon, drum or tote lowers the cost per treated gallon and cuts the number of trips.

Howes sells in 2.5 gallon jugs, 55 gallon drums and 275 gallon totes. Their two bulk products are:

• Diesel Treat Concentrate: Made for bulk and inground storage. It uses a wax crystal modifier that changes the size and shape of wax crystals so they cannot bind together. The ratio can be as strong as 1 gallon per 3,000 gallons above 0°F.
• Diesel Defender Concentrate: Brings the same IDX4 cleaning, lubricity and water removal to large tanks. One tote treats up to 825,000 gallons.

For bulk orders, I suggest you deal with the maker or an approved dealer. You get clear answers about mixing ratios and delivery.

Why I Recommend Howes Products

Howes is a fifth-generation, family-owned company in North Kingstown, Rhode Island. They have made additives since 1920. They state that every product is tested in the lab and in the field before release, and that their formulas contain no alcohol or harmful solvents.

Their line covers each need I listed earlier:

• Diesel Treat: An anti-gel and fuel conditioner for all diesel and biodiesel blends, including home heating oil. It demulsifies water and pushes it out of the fuel so a water separator can remove it. It is warranty safe and friendly to particulate filters.
• Diesel Lifeline: An emergency product for fuel that has already gelled. Treat alone cannot reverse gelling once fuel passes its cloud point, and Lifeline fills that gap. They say it works in about 15 minutes in many cases and needs no pre-mixing.
• Diesel Defender: A lubricator and injector cleaner with IDX4 detergent. Howes guarantees a 5 percent or greater fuel economy gain with regular use.
• Meaner Power Kleaner: A one-tank flush for engines with high mileage or an unknown maintenance history.

The Winter Tow Guarantee also stands out. If a truck treated with Diesel Treat fails to keep going in winter, Howes says they will pay for the tow. A promise like that tells you the company trusts its formula.

All Howes products are designed to work together, and they state that overtreating is not harmful. That removes a common worry for new buyers.

A Short Checklist Before You Pay

• Match the product to your single biggest need.
• Check the treat rate for your temperature and vehicle. Cars, pickups and tractors call for a double dose of Diesel Treat.
• Confirm the size and the price per ounce.
• Look for a satisfaction guarantee.
• Keep your receipt.

Time Your Purchase Around the Weather

Buy your winter products before the first cold week, when shelves are full and shipping is steady. Keep a bottle of Diesel Lifeline in the cab or toolbox once temperatures drop. Smaller vehicles like diesel pickups and tractors have smaller filters, and those filters gel more easily even when the fuel is treated.

Pick your seller, match the product to your need, and stock up before you need it. A bottle on the shelf costs much less than a day lost on the road.