Hot Shot’s Secret has built a solid reputation in the diesel community, but they are still finding ways to refine their lineup. At SEMA 2025, the team identified a few specific holes in the market and filled them with targeted releases. A standout new Hot Shot’s Secret product is the DEFender, an additive specifically aimed at maintaining the often-troublesome Diesel Exhaust Fluid system.
Guy Prenatt of Hot Shot’s Secret explained that the DEFender additive is a response to a growing problem. Over the past 18 months, the team noticed that newer diesel engines are prone to crystalline buildup in the DEF system. This crystallization clogs the injectors, causing them to spray incorrectly. The domino effect is nasty: the NOx sensor reads incredibly high, which tricks the truck into demanding false regenerations. This leads to unneeded regen cycles that waste fuel and wear on the truck. DEFender stabilizes the fluid and eliminates that buildup. Prenatt noted that just one ounce per 2.5-gallon cube of DEF cleans out the crystals, saving owners from having to replace the injector or clean out the Selective Catalytic Reduction (SCR) system where that exhaust junk accumulates.
The team also introduced a new Diesel Injector Flush. While the company already offers powerful cleaners, Prenatt described this new formula as “Diesel Extreme on steroids.” It is crucial to understand that this Hot Shot’s Secret product is intended as a service solution rather than an everyday additive. It is designed for when a truck is actively experiencing issues or the injectors aren’t running correctly. The goal is to really clean everything out and reset the injectors back to their base level of performance.
These additions to the catalog highlight the brand’s focus on solving specific, modern diesel problems. By addressing the crystallization issues in DEF systems and offering a heavy-duty rescue for clogged injectors, the team is giving truck owners the tools they need to keep their rigs on the road. Whether it is preventing a false regen or flushing a dirty fuel system, every new Hot Shot’s Secret product released this year is about practical, heavy-duty maintenance.
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