Orion 5000-EL is made by a Lansing-area Michigan company. One ounce per 10 gallons adds lubricity to ultra-low sulfur diesel to help protect your injectors and pump. On a 150-gallon fill, that's about $15.
Diesel set a record of about $6.53 a gallon on September 21 (EIA), and it's still around $6.20–$6.28. On top of the price, there's the fuel itself.
An October 5 executive order allows red-dyed off-road diesel on highways through December 31.
More imported fuel of unknown quality is moving through the supply chain.
Tanks are being drained and refilled fast, and water and dirt come along with it.
You can't control what's in the station's tank. You can control what goes into yours.
| Repair | Typical installed cost | Plus |
|---|---|---|
| Set of 6 injectors | $3,000 – $7,000 | Shop time |
| High-pressure fuel pump (DD15) | $1,800 – $5,000 | Shop time |
| Pump failure that sends metal through the system | $8,000 – $15,000+ | Days of downtime |
Typical ranges from shop and vendor sources. Your shop may differ.
Orion 5000-EL blends high-weight and low-weight synthetic esters. It was developed from a patented process that combines synthetic ingredients used in jet engine lubrication.
Orion lubricates ultra-low sulfur diesel fuel to keep fuel injectors operating at peak performance. The lubricating esters coat metal surfaces.
It removes carbon from engine surfaces without solvents or catalysts. The lubricating esters then help keep new carbon from sticking.
With less carbon, fuel burns more completely. That means less soot in your oil and less ash in your DPF.
Easy to use: Add 1 oz per 10 gallons of fuel at every fill. You can also add 1 oz per quart of engine oil at oil changes to keep your engine oil cleaner and extend oil change intervals. Orion is biodegradable, non-toxic, and safe to handle, and it works in diesel and gasoline.
First tank: For the first tank, we recommend treating at 5 oz per 10 gallons to speed up the initial cleaning and lubricating.
What it is not: It is not a water remover. Keep draining your water separator and changing your filters on schedule.
| Bottle | Price | Treats | Per gallon of diesel |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gallon (128 oz) | $128 | 1,280 gal | about 10¢ |
| Two-liter (~67.6 oz) | $75 | ~676 gal | about 11¢ |
| Quart (32 oz) | $40 | 320 gal | 12.5¢ |
At 100,000 miles and 6.5 mpg, you burn about 15,400 gallons. Treating all of it with the gallon bottle costs about $1,540, or about $15 per 150-gallon fill.
The low end of one injector job ($3,000) pays for about two years of treatment. A pump failure that sends metal through the system ($8,000–$15,000+) pays for about five to ten years.
At $6.25 diesel, 10¢ is 1.6% of your fuel bill. If your fuel use drops by 1.6% or more, it pays for itself before you count any protection.
These are company-run or company-commissioned tests and customer results. None of them is a fuel-lubricity (HFRR) test.
In 2011, Orion had Petro-Lubricant Testing Laboratories run the ASTM D4172 four-ball test. The lab is PJLA ISO/IEC 17025 accredited. Testers treated Valvoline Premium SAE 30, Mobil 1 Synthetic and Shell Rotella T at 1 oz per quart. Wear scar went down 2.3–4.4% and friction went down 2.3–11.4%.
This test was in engine oil, not fuel.
This field study was run with Precision Motor Transport Group and Detroit Diesel. It covered six 2009 Western Stars with Detroit power, averaging 546,497 miles on Orion in fuel and oil. The DPFs had never been cleaned. Average ash was 0.54 in. Detroit Diesel counts anything under 1.5 in. as "clean." The filters went back on without cleaning.
The Great Lakes tug and barge Great Lakes Trader / Joyce L. VanEnkevort runs twin 5,000 hp Cat 3612 engines on the same fuel at the same time. Only one engine was treated. After adjusting for the baseline difference, the treated engine used 6.03% less fuel.
Marine engines, not truck engines.
More videos on Orion’s YouTube channel.
Treats 320 gallons of fuel, about 12.5¢ a gallon. Good for trying it on one truck.
Freight will be added at checkout.
Ask about fleet treatment or call (888) 785-8450. Orion can provide additional product for the initial pre-treatment.
Not ready to buy? Get a free quart to try.
Tell us where to ship it and we'll send a quart of Orion 5000-EL. It treats 320 gallons of fuel. Free quart requests ship within 48 hours. Questions or fleet treatment? Call (888) 785-8450.
No additive can promise that, and we won't. Orion 5000-EL adds lubricity to ULSD and helps protect fuel system parts. Bad fuel, water and worn parts can still cause failures.
No. We don't have test data showing it removes or separates water. Drain your water separator, change filters on schedule, and buy from busy stations.
Red dye is a marker, and the dose is the same: 1 oz per 10 gallons. Orion 5000-EL works well in off-road (red-dyed) fuel, and Orion has many satisfied agricultural customers.
Use 1 oz per 10 gallons of fuel, or 15 oz on a 150-gallon fill. For the first tank, we recommend treating at 5 oz per 10 gallons to speed up the initial cleaning and lubricating. You can also add 1 oz per quart of engine oil at oil changes.
Yes, at 1 oz per quart. Orion's ASTM D4172 lab test was done in motor oil. The DPF study trucks ran it in both fuel and oil.
Using an aftermarket additive doesn't by itself void your engine warranty. Detroit, for one, says so in writing. But no engine maker endorses additives, and if they decide an additive caused a failure, that repair won't be covered. Check your owner's manual or ask your dealer before you use it, especially in the crankcase, and keep your receipts and service records.
Freight will be added at checkout.
Orion Industrial, LLC, 5859 Saginaw Hwy, #304, Lansing, MI 48917. The company was founded by trucking company executives.
