Fuel gelling?

[redharley]

Agree with dieselpower, been a fleet mech for over the road trucks for over 35 yr's, gas is a no-no for the reasons he said.They use to say in a pinch years ago if you were stuck in 20 ft driff and after you shoveled your self out and your truck was froze up, if you added a few gals of gas might get you going.Sure might get you home if the gas station is across the street and your shovel is handy.Easier to carry some polar power, or Howes any of the new additives that will get you going if things are not to bad.But if your fuel has turned to jelly thier's no quick fix.For 6 bucks a qt that treat's 250 gal it's pretty cheap insurance for us tractor type's here in this forum for sure.I mean there is not to many of us here that will use more than quart a winter.For me in the 2 coldest month's I like 20% kero in my fuel and Howe's

 

[smfcpacfp]

You don't need to add anything to winter diesel ( especially gasoline or Kero cause it's already added ) that's why it's winter diesel.
The only thing I add is PS to both winter and summer fuel.

What is "winter diesel"? As best I know there is no definitive definition. Relying on a gas station's (some mixture of #1 and #2) definiton could leave you sitting.

 

[smfcpacfp]

Trying to blow the cylinder head off our engine are we. Never, ever, ever mix gasoline with your diesel fuel. Gasoline is highly volatile with a much lower flash point. It's also a very effective way of burning a hole through your piston's. I have overhauled a couple of engines over the years that had nuked pistons due to gasoline mixed with the diesel fuel. It's also a good way of destroying your fuel injectors and injection pump since gasoline will negate the little lubrication left in current diesel fuel. Finally, the additive is cheaper to use. Depending on the brand the mix ratio is usually 1 to 1,000 up to 1 to 3,000. It cost only a couple of pennies to use the correct additive. It can cost you thousands in repairs if you use gasoline.

Like I said I was just curious. I am following Kubota's fuel recommendations and listening to guys like you on this forum.

Obviously you can mix gas and diesel with no ill effects...if the engine is designed to do so as was the case with my little VW diesel.

 

[knute_m]

I got my first diesel tractor about a dozen years ago. Today was the first time I've experienced filter gelling. It's been cold this fall, but it really took a hit last night.

I needed to use the tractor late this afternoon -- when it was +7 degrees F. It took a few tries with the glow plugs, but the tractor started, and I got down to the barn which is about a 600-700 yards from the house. I loaded up what I needed in the loader, and headed back towards the house when the tractor started to run really rough. It finally stalled, and would not restart. When it would fire, it would only run for a few seconds.

I pulled the fuel filter, and it looked like a morel mushroom dipped in red paraffin. I don't figure there was any water in my tank. This filter has less than 10 hours on it, and I drained several ounces out of the tank before replacing the filter.

While thawing the filter, I put in a generous amount of diesel additive, and I drained several ounces out of the tank shortly thereafter. I was able to get the tractor back to its sheltered location, but just as I did, the engine died again. My filter appeared to again be completely gelled.

I believe this is my first year with ULSD. Over the past several really cold days, I've noticed white smoke for the first few minutes after starting. I've never noticed this before either, at least not after just a few seconds.

Has anybody else recently experienced this? I'm not sure what the problem is, but I'm guessing it is the ULSD.

I will admit that I got caught without additive, and I was caught by really cold weather this early in the season. But, I'm sure I've started and used my tractors at below zero temps without additive.

Anybody else having these issues? Any suggestions?

Thanks,
Knute

 

[john_bud]

Use more additive - earlier.

Tractors get whacked as many only use then occasionally and they still have summer fuel when the temps drop. It happens. The ULSD is harder to depress cloud point or maybe just slightly differently responding. There were many mucho lots of issues last year, but not this year. They get on the stick pretty quick. I would say it's just summer fuel in the winter and not a LSD vs ULSD issue.

jb

 

[Lunk]

Use more additive - earlier.

Tractors get whacked as many only use then occasionally and they still have summer fuel when the temps drop. It happens. The ULSD is harder to depress cloud point or maybe just slightly differently responding. There were many mucho lots of issues last year, but not this year. They get on the stick pretty quick. I would say it's just summer fuel in the winter and not a LSD vs ULSD issue.

jb

I Agree with JB. I use off-road diesel (which I don't believe is ULSD, yet...), and I get some white smoke when first firing in really cold temps. I went out last Sunday morning and it started right up at 11 below zero, but smoked and ran a little rough for the first 5-10 seconds or so. I use a double-dose of Howe's.

I was just out in DC last week, and it seems to me that 7 degrees is mighty cold for your area...

It's also my understanding that treating fuel isn't necessarily a winter-only thing, as cetane boost and added lubricity are other benefits, particularly when using ULSD.

I'msure LBrown will jump in any second and straighten me out if I'm wrong...

Lunk

 

[LBrown59]

I Agree with JB. I use off-road diesel (which I don't believe is ULSD, yet...), and I get some white smoke when first firing in really cold temps. I went out last Sunday morning and it started right up at 11 below zero, but smoked and ran a little rough for the first 5-10 seconds or so. I use a double-dose of Howe's.

I was just out in DC last week, and it seems to me that 7 degrees is mighty cold for your area...

It's also my understanding that treating fuel isn't necessarily a winter-only thing, as cetane boost and added lubricity are other benefits, particularly when using ULSD.

I'msure LBrown will jump in any second and straighten me out if I'm wrong...

Lunk

We only have 1 fuel around here.

 

[LBrown59]

Use more additive - earlier.

Tractors get whacked as many only use then occasionally and they still have summer fuel when the temps drop. It happens. The ULSD is harder to depress cloud point or maybe just slightly differently responding. There were many mucho lots of issues last year, but not this year. They get on the stick pretty quick. I would say it's just summer fuel in the winter and not a LSD vs ULSD issue.

jb

I have summer fuel in my tractors and about 5 Gal. in cans

 

[Doc_Bob]

I will admit that I got caught without additive, and I was caught by really cold weather this early in the season. Any suggestions?

More additive earlier in the season.
Bob

 

[Doc_Bob]

Use more additive - earlier.

Tractors get whacked as many only use then occasionally and they still have summer fuel when the temps drop.

In September I started to use additive in my tractor fuel tank. No problems yet
Bob