It is COLD!!

[MJPetersen]

Well we have had a few days of very cold weather -25 C (-12F) one morning. It was not quite so cold this morning -19 C (-4 F) but this after noon it warmed a bit and started snowing. So I decided that I had better get the 1510D running for it's snow plowing time. The battery needed a little extra kick, but the tractor fired right up.

But it would not move--no hyd and no powershift -- I could hear that the range shift was spinning (3rd high has a distinct whine), but nothing. I figured that the suction screen was a bit clogged or the pick up tube. Although I have operated in cold weather, just not as cold as it has been recently. But then I noticed the fuel filter--It was white like vaseline!! So much for winter fuel!! I think that the service stations have been cutting corners on winter fuel--supposed to be rated for -20C but obviously not very.

Well the happy ending is that I heated the sump and cleaned out the filter (and added an additive) and all is well again. Just wanted to show what paraffin looks like in diesel fuel. I did manage to loose the spring in the filter--tomorrow I will look for another.

Mike

 

[sandman2234]

Well, gotta admit that is the first time I ever saw fuel gel! Does it go back to fuel when the temp raises, or that a permanent change to parafin?
It has been nice here for the last week or two, but it's coming this way, and fast! Might get down to freezing if it gets really bad! So much for short sleeves of December and early January!
David from jax

 

[MJPetersen]

That is actually only the first step in "gelling" it is the paraffin as it solidifies, but the rest of the fuel may stay liquid for a while longer--But it plugs filters something awful. Part of it will return to liquid, but part of it is permanent--apart from agents which can dissolve it. That is the additives that I put in. It helps the fuel down a few more degrees.

Real gelling is when the whole tank of fuel turns to a gelatin mass that does not flow at all. It returns to fuel when warmer.

My inlaws and several children are now in FL on winter break from college. My inlaw live in Dade City (30 miles NE of Tampa). My kids have told me that it has been shorts and t-shirt weather!!

Mike

 

[Egon]

Nice pictures!

I haven't seen that for a long time, thank goodness!

 

[ninefinger]

Thanks for the pictures. I have heard of this but have never seen it before. Now you can make candles, of course they may smell a bit.

 

[blueriver]

Just another reason I live where I live ...

 

[nostep]

We did some cold room testing about 10 years ago. We put some DF2 in a coffee can at -25F. It was like Jello. Couldn't shake it out of the can. A coffee can full of JP-8 (jet fuel), which some diesels can tolerate, was still like water.

 

[MJPetersen]

Since the Yanmar's filter is so small it does not take much to plug it. Only 2x since I have been here has it been so bad that the car's filter has become plugged with the paraffin (The first time I had not been here that long and I was a long ways from home and it was about -25 below F. The advantage of the Yanmar is that you can see what is happening in the fuel bowl. Today's bowl in pic.

This morning it also had no hyd and would not move for awile after starting (like 5 minutes) Yesterday and today are the only times that it has ever done that. The oil is clean, a bit overfull, and no sign of water contamination. There was no sound like a pump cavitating or anything unusual. Does anyone have suggestions about that? It was not nearly as cold last night either (-12 C-- about 9-10 F above).

Mike

 

[Kernopelli]

Mike, I wish I had some good advice....but don't. I am assuming the fluid is just too thick to keep a continuous flow until it warms to a certain temp.

As an aside to this conversation. I had always noticed you were in Warsaw and often wondered if you were living there due to military service, job related, etc. and looked at your public profile and see you're a missionary. What an awesome responsibility you have chosen to take! I would love to hear more about your calling and what it has been like to live and teach Gods word in Poland. Care to share?

 

[PILOON]

That filter bowl is the same as on my MT180D and last night was -14C and I had no gelling.
Must be the fuel quality.

re hydraulics;

You must have a heavy weight summer fluid in there!
A buddy called me with same symptoms you describe and I suggested he blow heat on the system.
He actually used a propane plumbers torch and gently heared the loader valve body as well as his hydraulic pump and was up and running within 10 mins!

He, as you need to change over your hydraulic oil to a winter grade.

On snow plows we always used ATF for hydraulic oil (which it actually is) due to its lighter weight.
But on a tractor better use tractor winter grade because it also serves for your transmission! (unless you have a seperate loader pump/reservoir)

Also a magnetic oil pan heater is available that would do the trick (not sure if 220 is available)