What is the difference between Primrose 3895 and 410 Hi-Flame?

Primrose 3895 Concentrated Fuel Tank Cleaner is specifically designed for steel storage tanks and treats diesel, biodiesel, gasoline, ethanol, and biodiesel or ethanol blends, while 410 Hi-Flame treats diesel, No. 2 to No. 6 fuels, used oils and waste oils, from the storage tank through combustion at the burner. Both clean tanks, polish and stabilize fuel, and disperse the sludge and water emulsions that typically clog strainers, nozzles and lines.

Which Primrose tank cleaner can I use in a gasoline or ethanol blend storage tank?

Primrose 3895 Concentrated Fuel Tank Cleaner treats gasoline, ethanol and ethanol blends as well as diesel, biodiesel and biodiesel blends, and it is specifically designed for steel storage tanks. Gasoline and ethanol are not among the fuels Primrose lists for 410 Hi-Flame, which covers No. 2 to No. 6 fuels, used oils and waste oils.

Which Primrose additive should I use for a waste oil furnace, boiler or home heating oil tank?

Use Primrose 410 Hi-Flame, whose listed uses include shop waste oil furnaces, boiler systems and home heating fuel oil; those uses are not on the 3895 data sheet. 410 Hi-Flame treats shop waste oil at 1 quart per 250 gallons, bulk waste oil and No. 4 to No. 6 Bunker at 1 gallon per 2,000 gallons, and No. 2 fuel at 1 gallon per 8,000 gallons.

How much tank cleaner do I add for fuel polishing or a tank cleaning?

Primrose 3895 takes 1 gallon per 1,000 gallons for the one-time shock treatment most tanks need and for fuel polishing, then 1 gallon per 2,000 to 4,000 gallons quarterly. 410 Hi-Flame takes 1 gallon per 1,000 to 2,000 gallons of No. 2 diesel for polishing and tank cleaning. Higher 3895 doses can make fuel non-registrable with the EPA and not on-road usable until enough fuel meeting specification is added back.

Can a fuel tank cleaner also stabilize stored fuel?

Yes, Primrose 3895 and 410 Hi-Flame both stabilize fuel. 3895 does it with its quarterly maintenance treatment of 1 gallon per 2,000 to 4,000 gallons, and both help keep poorly blended fuels from settling into layers in the tank (410 also names contaminated fuels and polymer-containing waste oils). Both also help keep fuel dry and clean.

Fuel Tank Cleaning & Treating

Which product fits the job?

Product	What it solves	Best for	Key spec
3895 Concentrated Fuel Tank Cleaner	Sludge, water and corrosion in steel fuel storage tanks and piping	Steel diesel, biodiesel, gasoline and ethanol storage tanks; marine fuel systems	Shock 1 gal/1,000 gal; quarterly 1 gal/2,000 to 4,000 gal
410 Hi-Flame Fuel Polishing and Tank Cleaning Stabilizer	Sludge and water emulsions that clog strainers, nozzles and lines; fuel layering in tanks	Diesel, heating oil, No. 4 to No. 6 Bunker and waste oil in tanks, boilers and furnaces	Treat rate: 1 gal per 8,000 gal No. 2 fuel (1:8,000)

Specs are summarized from each product's manufacturer Technical Data Sheet, linked on its product page.