The cetane value in your diesel fuel affects how an engine performs in both daily driving and industrial operations. If your cetane levels are low or inconsistent, you may experience ignition delays, reduced power, increased engine noise and smoke. 

To avoid these problems, many drivers and operators use diesel additives formulated to boost cetane. These additives modify the combustion process by encouraging earlier and more controlled ignition, which helps engines run more efficiently and predictably. 

So, what’s the best diesel additive to improve cetane? Here are the best options on the market.

The Best Diesel Additives to Improve Cetane

The following diesel additives can boost cetane rating and improve engine performance.

1. Diesel Extreme by Hot Shot’s Secret

Diesel Extreme by Hot Shot’s Secret is best known for its high-strength diesel fuel cleaning capabilities, but it’s also among the best diesel additives with a powerful cetane improver and lubricity enhancer. The product can increase cetane rating by up to seven points for improved combustion efficiency, which means more consistent power delivery, better fuel burn and reduced black smoke.

You can expect measurable operational benefits when using this product. According to Hot Shot’s Secret, Diesel Extreme has demonstrated up to an 83% reduction in diesel particulate filter (DPF) regeneration events. Therefore, it helps reduce downtime and operating costs. Thanks to the combined effect of injector cleaning and cetane improver, fleet testing has reported fuel mileage improvements of up to 7.3% as well. Moreover, it supports more reliable cold starts and cleaner burn in cold weather. 

One 16-ounce bottle of Diesel Extreme treats 40 gallons of diesel fuel. Hot Shot’s Secret recommends using it once every 6,000 miles to deep-clean injectors and maintain combustion efficiency. You can safely use it for agricultural, construction, marine, racing, RV and small engines. It’s also excellent for all diesel pickup trucks and semi-trucks, including Dodge Cummins, Ford Powerstroke, GM Duramax, Audi, Volkswagen and Saab.

Key features:

• Raises cetane by up to seven points to improve engine performance.
• Formulated for all diesel engines, including light-duty vehicles and heavy equipment.
• Money-back guarantee if the product doesn’t deliver as promised.

2. Diesel Kleen +Cetane Boost by Power Service

Diesel Kleen +Cetane Boost is Power Service’s all-in-one diesel additive formulated with a combination of cetane improver, detergents and a lubricity enhancer. That means it can clean injectors, protect fuel injection components and support smoother combustion. 

The cetane improver itself delivers up to six points of boosting ability to help you reduce power lag and smooth rough-running engines. Since the formulation of Diesel Kleen includes Slickdiesel Lubricator, it can also help protect fuel pumps and injectors from increased wear associated with lower-lubricity fuels. These benefits are particularly noticeable when you’re operating ultralow sulfur diesel (ULSD), where lower natural lubricity and ignition quality can significantly influence performance.

You may use Diesel Kleen year-round as part of your regular fuel treatment routine. It’s effective in all diesel fuels and is safe for both high-pressure common rail systems and older diesel engines. The product is available in sizes ranging from small bottles to bulk containers, so it’s suitable for individual vehicles, fleets and industrial fuel systems. Keep in mind that although it supports improved cold starts, you shouldn’t use it as an antigel or winterizer.

Key features:

• Boost cetane by up to six points for less power lag.
• Restore power and fuel economy by up to 7%.
• It can be used in all diesel engines and is approved by Cummins.

3. Diesel Cetane Boost Fuel Additive by AMSOIL

Diesel Cetane Boost Fuel Additive by AMSOIL is great for situations where you need precise control over ignition quality and maximum cetane improvement. Its concentrated, alcohol-free formula increases cetane by up to eight points, placing it among the most concentrated cetane boosters available.

It’s easy to tailor the treatment to your needs with this product. Adding 1 ounce to 5 gallons of diesel delivers the full eight-point increase in cetane. On the other hand, a 1-to-10-gallon ratio provides a four-point boost. This flexibility makes it ideal for both corrective use and ongoing optimization. 

AMSOIL recommends this additive for all light- and heavy-duty diesel engines, including on-road, off-road and marine applications. It’s also compatible with all diesel fuels and safe for modern emissions systems such as DPF. If you want a focused, high-strength cetane improver without detergents or alcohols, this additive provides precisely that.

Key features:

• It increases cetane by up to eight points for maximum horsepower.
• One ounce can treat up to 10 gallons of diesel fuel.
• Safe for all diesel fuels, including biodiesel.

4. Cetane Power Booster by Lucas

Cetane Power Booster by Lucas is a diesel fuel supplement that can increase cetane values by up to six points. In addition to the cetane improver, the formulation includes detergents and lubricants. That’s why it promises improved ignition quality while addressing wear, deposits and fuel system efficiency.

The wear protection this product offers is measurable, with independent testing showing over 27% reduction in wear scar compared to regular diesel fuel. Regular use can also clean dirty injectors and prevent new forms of deposits that have become an issue with the arrival of ULSD and high-pressure common rail diesel injection systems. 

Lucas Cetane Power Booster is suitable for any diesel-powered equipment, both mobile or stationary. It’s practical for individual vehicles and fleet use, since one 16-ounce bottle treats up to 60 gallons and a 64-ounce bottle treats up to 250 gallons. Real-world field testing has demonstrated an average fuel economy improvement of 5.6% and up to a 25% reduction in DPF regenerations.

Key features:

• Offers up to six points of cetane improvement for smoother combustion.
• Reduces fuel system wear by over 27% in testing.
• It’s good for both individual vehicles and fleet use.

5. Fuel Power + Cetane Booster by FPPF

Fuel Power + Cetane Booster combines FPPF’s Fuel Power additive with a high-strength cetane improver that can raise your fuel’s cetane rating by up to eight points. Since it’s designed for continuous use, you can add it at every fill-up by adjusting the treat rate to match your needs. If you’re aiming for a maximum cetane increase of six to eight points, use 1 quart for every 60 gallons of diesel fuel. For bulk fuel systems, this equals 4 gallons per 1,000 gallons of diesel.

Aside from boosting cetane, this product helps you actively manage multiple fuel-related issues at once. It helps disperse water in the fuel, clean injectors as you drive and improve overall lubricity. The formula helps prevent fuel icing in colder conditions, stabilizes stored diesel and limits bacterial growth in tanks. You also benefit from its role as a combustion catalyst, which FPPF states helps lower emissions, reduce generation frequency and improve fuel economy. 

FPPF designed Fuel Power + Cetane Booster to be used in agricultural equipment, construction machinery, marine engines and trucks year-round. It comes in 5-gallon pails, 55-gallon drums and 33-gallon totes, so you can scale it easily from a single machine to bulk fuel systems.

Key features:

• Improves cetane by up to eight points with adjustable treat rates.
• It’s designed for continuous use at every fill-up.
• It’s available in bulk sizes for fleet and industrial applications.

6. Diesel Fleet by BOOSTane

BOOSTane formulates its Diesel Fleet for modern diesel engines that run ULSD in high-volume fleet applications. You may find it helpful to counter poor fuel refinement and restore performance in large fuel tanks, haulers and fleet vehicles. The proprietary carrier formula works in high concentrations to boost cetane by up to seven points, clean internal engine components and add lubricity. 

Its compact, concentrated format allows you to deliver intense treatment without excessive dosing. Plus, every BOOSTane additive undergoes third-party testing, so you rely on a formula built on verified performance, quality control and a science-driven approach recognized across the diesel fuel industry.

Key features:

• It provides a cetane booster of up to seven points for fleet-scale fuel systems.
• It cleans injectors while adding lubricity for ULSD fuel.
• The third-party tested formula is designed for large tanks and haulers.

At-a-Glance Comparison Table

Here’s how the six best fuel additives to improve cetane compare.

How This List Was Assembled

This list of the best diesel additives for cetane boosters was built by comparing publicly available manufacturer data with a focus on measurable cetane improvement, treatment concentration and intended application. The evaluation for each product includes:

• How clearly the company states cetane gains.
• How efficiently the product treats fuel by volume.
• Whether the product was designed for light-duty use, fleet operations or bulk fuel systems.
• The reliability of the company’s reputation and third-party testing claims.

Maximize Performance, Cost and Reliability

Choosing the best diesel additives to improve cetane comes down to matching the product’s concentration, dosing flexibility and application scale to your operation. The six diesel additives on this list offer consistent cetane improvement to support better performance, lower downtime, improved cold starts and more predictable engine behavior over time.