When researching fuel additives, many people likely have questions such as:
"Are there any downsides to fuel additives?"
"Do they have a negative effect on the engine?"
"Will overfilling cause damage?"
"Is it okay to use them in new cars?"
In conclusion, fuel additives themselves are not inherently bad across the board.
However, caution is needed when using them in the following ways:
Using them without understanding the product's purpose.
Using them with incompatible fuels.
Adding more than the specified amount.
Mixing multiple additives based on your own judgment.
Trying to fix a malfunction with additives alone.
There are various types of fuel additives, including those for cleaning, those that condition the fuel, and those that focus on combustion.
This time, we will explain the downsides and precautions you should know before using fuel additives in an easy-to-understand manner.
Are there any downsides to fuel additives?
When considering the downsides of fuel additives, the most important point is:
"Not all fuel additives are the same."
For example:
Cleaning additives that target deposits in injectors and combustion chambers.
Additives designed to suppress fuel oxidation and corrosion.
Additives related to fuel characteristics such as octane and cetane numbers.
Products designed to condition the fuel and combustion state.
Each of these has a different role.
Therefore,
"Fuel additives are dangerous"
or
"You can put any fuel additive in"
neither of these ideas is appropriate.
It is important to check:
The purpose of the product.
Compatible fuels.
Usage amount.
Usage frequency.
Whether concurrent use is possible.
Downside 1: Adding more does not necessarily increase effectiveness.
The most important thing to be aware of with fuel additives is the "amount of additive."
For example,
You might think, "If the specified amount is 20ml, wouldn't 40ml be more effective?"
However, fuel additives are not better the more concentrated they are.
Products are designed to achieve an appropriate concentration for a certain amount of fuel.
If this concentration is significantly exceeded, it deviates from the manufacturer's intended usage conditions.
Therefore,
Adding a little extra.
Doubling the amount to feel the effects faster.
Pouring in all remaining additive.
Such practices should be avoided.
The key is not "increasing the amount," but "using it at the correct concentration."
Downside 2: Concentration changes if fuel level isn't checked before adding.
Not only the amount of additive, but also the amount of fuel currently in the tank is important.
For example,
If a product is "one bottle per 50L of fuel," but you use one bottle when there is only 10L of fuel, the concentration will be significantly higher than intended.
When using fuel additives,
You need to consider the actual fuel quantity and the amount of fuel being added,
rather than the tank capacity.
This way of thinking is especially important for types that require you to calculate the additive amount based on the fuel quantity.
Downside 3: Compatible fuels vary by product.
There are various types of fuel additives, such as:
Gasoline-only.
Diesel-only.
Compatible with both gasoline and diesel fuel.
Compatible with gasoline, diesel fuel, and kerosene.
It is not the case that "because it's a fuel additive, it can be used with any fuel."
Especially for gasoline and diesel vehicles, the engine combustion method and fuel characteristics differ significantly.
Therefore, before use, it is essential to always check the product description for:
Is it compatible with gasoline?
Is it compatible with diesel fuel?
Is it compatible with kerosene?
Can it be used in hybrid vehicles?
Downside 4: Caution required when using multiple additives simultaneously.
There are various types of fuel additives.
For example,
Cleaners.
Those aimed at moisture control.
Fuel stabilizers.
Those that act on combustion.
Those related to octane number.
While each of these may be at its intended concentration when used alone, adding multiple products simultaneously could result in combinations not anticipated by the manufacturer.
Therefore,
"I'll add a cleaner too."
"This additive also seems good."
"Both might be more effective."
It is safer to avoid combining them based on your own judgment.
When using them together, it is important to check if each manufacturer approves of their combined use.
Downside 5: Expected effects are not always guaranteed.
When fuel additives are added, some people expect changes in:
Fuel efficiency.
Acceleration.
Engine noise.
Vibration.
Responsiveness.
However, using the same additive does not guarantee the same changes in every car.
Results vary depending on many conditions, such as:
Vehicle condition.
Engine type.
Mileage.
Temperature.
Fuel.
Road conditions.
Driving style.
Even for fuel efficiency, for example,
Increased traffic.
Increased short-distance driving.
Increased air conditioner use.
Changes in tire pressure.
These conditions alone can alter the figures.
Therefore,
Instead of thinking, "Adding an additive will definitely improve fuel efficiency by X%,"
it is important to compare over multiple fill-ups or under similar driving conditions.
Downside 6: It's difficult to accurately judge based on feeling alone.
After adding an additive, you might feel that:
"The accelerator feels lighter."
"The engine has become quieter."
"The car drives better."
Such changes can indeed be perceived.
However, subjective feelings are also influenced by human perception and driving environment.
For example,
Temperature.
Road gradient.
Wind direction.
Traffic volume.
Tire pressure.
Fuel level.
Driving feel changes even with these factors.
Therefore, if you truly want to confirm a change,
It becomes easier to understand by comparing under conditions that are as consistent as possible, such as:
The same road.
The same fuel.
Similar temperatures.
Similar vehicle weight.
Downside 7: Trying to fix malfunctions with additives alone.
This is very important.
For example,
If there are symptoms such as:
Engine warning light illuminated.
Extremely unstable idling.
Unusual noises.
Large amounts of white or black smoke.
Inability to accelerate.
Engine stalling.
Fuel leaks.
An inspection is necessary before adding any fuel additive.
Fuel additives are not products designed to repair mechanical malfunctions.
Faulty spark plugs.
Faulty injectors themselves.
Sensor abnormalities.
Fuel pump not operating correctly.
These problems cannot be fixed by additives alone.
It is important to consider additives as just one part of maintenance and conditioning.
Downside 8: Cost involved.
Naturally, using fuel additives incurs a cost.
Especially for types that require continuous use,
Instead of just looking at the price per use,
It becomes easier to compare by considering how much it costs per liter of fuel.
For example,
A product that costs 5,000 yen per bottle but can be used for 400L of fuel.
A product that costs 1,500 yen per bottle but requires one bottle for every 40L.
The actual cost of use differs significantly.
When comparing fuel additives,
It is important to consider not only the product price,
but also the usage concentration,
the amount of fuel it can treat,
and the frequency of use.
Is it okay to put fuel additives in a new car?
This is also a common question.
Fuel additives are not necessarily essential for new cars.
New cars have fuel systems and engine interiors that are originally in excellent condition.
Therefore, especially for additives solely intended for cleaning,
It is necessary to consider "how much cleaning is actually needed."
On the other hand, for products intended for continuous conditioning of fuel and combustion conditions, the approach is different.
In either case,
Checking the vehicle manufacturer's owner's manual,
the additive manufacturer's compatibility information,
and usage instructions is fundamental.
Should I use additives if my car is old?
For vehicles with high mileage,
Deposits may accumulate in the injectors,
combustion chambers,
intake system,
and fuel system.
Therefore, cleaning-type fuel additives might be considered in such cases.
However,
It is not the case that "an old car will be fixed by adding an additive."
For example, problems such as reduced compression,
worn mechanical parts,
or faulty sensors cannot be resolved with additives.
It is important to first check the current condition of the vehicle and then select a product that matches the purpose.
Are there any downsides to PEA-based fuel additives?
PEA stands for polyetheramine and is used in common cleaning-type fuel additives.
Its primary purpose is to address deposits accumulated in:
Injectors.
Intake valves.
Combustion chambers.
It's not that PEA itself is bad.
What's important is:
Is the purpose cleaning?
What is the concentration?
How frequently should the product be used?
For cleaning products, it is fundamental to follow the manufacturer's specified usage frequency and amount.
It cannot be simply concluded that:
"More PEA means higher performance."
"Adding it every time will clean it even more."
Fuel additives and fuel itself are different things.
When considering fuel additives, it's also important to know that:
Gasoline and diesel themselves contain components to maintain quality.
Commercially available fuels are supplied according to certain standards to ensure vehicles run properly.
Fuel additives are not meant to completely transform the fuel into something else.
They are merely auxiliary products used for their respective purposes, such as:
Cleaning.
Protection.
Combustion.
Conditioning.
5 items to check before using fuel additives.
Before using fuel additives, you should at least check the following five points:
1. What is the purpose of use?
Do you want to remove dirt?
Do you want to store fuel for a long period?
Do you want to influence the combustion state?
First, clarify your objective.
2. Compatible Fuels
Check which fuels it is compatible with:
Gasoline.
Diesel.
Kerosene.
3. Usage amount
How many milliliters per liter of fuel?
Always confirm this.
4. Frequency of use
Is it every time?
Every few thousand kilometers?
Continuous use only for the first time?
It varies by product.
5. Concurrent use with other products.
If using multiple additives, check if concurrent use is possible.
Even by checking these five points, you can significantly reduce the likelihood of problems arising from fuel additive use.
What about GERHON?
This section describes the earlier GERHON 3+ product, which was compatible with three types of fuel. The new GERHON Fuel Conditioning range has separate products for gasoline, diesel and kerosene. Choose a product by fuel type.
GERHON, handled by NEXT SCIENCE, is a fuel conditioning product based on a different concept from typical PEA-based cleaning agents.
While typical PEA-based products focus on:
Addressing dirt,
GERHON is designed with the concept of:
Addressing fuel condition and combustion.
It is compatible with:
Gasoline.
Diesel.
Kerosene.
The guideline for usage amount is:
0.5 ml per 1 liter of fuel.
For example,
10ml for 20L.
15ml for 30L.
20ml for 40L.
25ml for 50L.
Again, what's important here is:
It's not "the more you put in, the better."
The basic principle is to use it at the specified concentration.
Even with GERHON, be careful not to overfill.
There is also a recommended usage amount for GERHON.
The basic usage is 0.5ml per 1 liter of fuel.
For example, if you refuel with 50L,
Instead of thinking, "I want to feel more effect, so I'll add 50ml,"
You should use the specified concentration of 50L x 0.5ml = 25ml.
With fuel additives,
It is more important to adhere to the designed concentration,
rather than thinking about increasing the concentration to enhance the effect.
Are fuel additives necessary?
Fuel additives are not absolutely necessary for all cars.
Cars are designed to operate normally when filled with the manufacturer's specified fuel and maintained properly.
Beyond that,
If you want to maintain the condition of the fuel system.
If you want to address deposits.
If you want to take measures for long-term fuel storage.
If you want to condition the combustion from a combustion perspective.
In such cases, fuel additives become an option.
What is important is:
Not "just adding something,"
but clearly defining "why you are adding it."
Summary: The downsides of fuel additives often arise from "incorrect usage."
There are various fuel additive products.
Therefore,
It's impossible to give a blanket answer to the question, "Are there any downsides to fuel additives?"
However, the points to watch out for are common.
Do not add more than the specified amount.
Check compatible fuels.
Adhere to the usage frequency.
Do not mix multiple additives based on your own judgment.
Do not try to fix malfunctions with additives alone.
And,
Understanding what can and cannot be expected.
This way of thinking is important.
Fuel additives, when chosen and used correctly, are one option that can be utilized for vehicle and fuel condition management.
That is why,
Instead of "adding a lot"
or "choosing because it's famous,"
Be sure to use them after checking:
Purpose.
Ingredients.
Usage amount.
Usage frequency.
Compatible fuels.
Choose GERHON by fuel type
The current GERHON Fuel Conditioning range has three separate products. Choose the one that matches the fuel you use.
-
View GERHON for gasoline
For vehicles and motorcycles that use gasoline. -
View GERHON for diesel
For vehicles, construction machinery, agricultural machinery and generators that use diesel fuel. -
View GERHON for kerosene
For stoves, fan heaters and boilers that use kerosene.
Check compatibility, dosage and precautions on the relevant product page before use. Do not use the kerosene product in boilers without a thermostat.