Those who complain about the cold winter months just haven’t found the right hobby just yet. January used to be especially hard for me until I discovered snowmobiling and now I look forward to the snow. Of course, being prepared is half the battle and when it comes to keeping your engine happy this time of year, a diesel fuel additive is a must.

This winter I’ve been running a seven-in-one everyday diesel fuel additive in my truck that was designed for use during cold weather to prevent gelling and hard starts. Hot Shot’s Secret EDT+ Winter Defense provides all the benefits of its popular EDT fuel additive (including improved power, performance, and MPG), but also prevents gelling and icing when temperatures start to drop. Plus it has industry-leading lubricity protection with the addition of LX4 Lubricity Extreme.

In the northern regions, cold temperatures can cause diesel fuel to gel or ice, causing hard starts, poor combustion and at times total fuel system failure.

While it can be used year-round, this additive was developed to provide all the protective benefits of EDT while preventing fuel line freeze-ups in temps as low as negative 40 degrees Fahrenheit.

For full protection, Hot Shot’s Secret recommends treating diesel fuel before temps reach near freezing, and to continue to treat at every fill-up. Recommended dosages are either 2 ounces per 25 gallons above 0 degrees (Premium dose) or 4 ounces per 25 gallons below 0 degrees (Performance dose).

Available in multiple container sizes including 8-ounce, 32-ounce, 1-gallon and bulk sizes. The 1-quart bottle (32-ounces) I’m currently using retails for $25.99.