Oil & Fuel Fuel additives for diesel?

[wjoerob]

I know it's good to add Sta-bil to gasoline in cans or in mowers, etc. But is there a similar product for diesel? I have an older model B6100 'Bota. Several people around central Indiana had problems in the -12 degree weather the other day, with their diesel gelling up. Some guys managed to get their trucks started, got out on the road, and then they died just a couple of miles from home.

 

[JoeL4330]

there are additives for anti-gel for regular and biodiesel, biocides for preventing algae growth, additives for water, etc. you might try viewing Power Service Products, diesel fuel additives, prevent gelling, clean injectors, disperse water, boost cetane, reduce emissions, improve fuel economy There are other brands that work equally well. http://www.howeslube.com/products/index.php/category/10

 

[BrierPatch]

I have used Power Service for the last 8 years in my tractors and I have never had a problem. I get my diesel in 5 gal containers and when I get them home I just put a little in. I always add some, summer or winter, having the older machines. I don't measure it, but I figure I am putting a few oz. in. I plowed my driveway last Fri. (I think it was around 15 deg. F) and my tractor sits in an unheated pole barn and doesn't have a block heater and it started right up almost as if it were 70 deg. out. The only thing was I ran the glow plug preheat for about 20 sec. which I normally only run it for about 2-5 sec. I will be honest this is one of the major benifits of a new tractor. It would have taken a little more effort to get the old B7200 started, but it has always started as well before in the winter when I used it to plow with.

 

[actionaj]

I use Power Service year around never had a problem. A32oz. bottle last me a long time.

 

[NY_Yankees_Fan]

I add the Power Service to the fuel can BEFORE I fill it this way the fuel mixes with the Power Service while I fill. Nothing like getting two things done at the same time.

 

[Evil the Weasel]

My fuel filter gelled the other day and I was using double doses of Power Service. It was sub-zero a few days prior and the tractor sits in an unheated pole barn. I just bought some Howe's diesel treat and will see how that fares.

 

[smfcpacfp]

Best way to avoid fuel gelling is to use #1 diesel which starts to gel at -40F (cloud point). The problem is that it doesn't have good lubricating properties and it doesn't have as much energy per gallon.

I use Opti-Lube XPD as an additive. The last time I saw independent rating of diesel additives, this was rated #1, unfortunately the distributorship is limited, so I ordered it on line. It is also pretty expensive. It also suposedly reduces the cloud point as do most additives, but I have yet to see any cloud point effect figures for any additives, so I use #1.

If #1 starts gelling you would be best to stay inside and bundle up.

 

[JOHNTHOMAS]

I bought my first tractor almost 5 years ago. A BX2200. On another board that I visited before finding this one most seemed to recommend Power Service. Bought a bottle at Wal Mart and always pour "some" in the 5 gallon container before I pour it into the tractor. Have done this on my BX2200, BX1500, B7800, and now BX2350 and L3240HST and will get a bottle for my F2880E which I keep at another location. I don't use it for cold weather. Not enough snow to plow so I'm sure not going to be out on my tractor when it's cold. Wellll, actually I did get the B7800 out one time when it was really cold. I had a friend doing some front end loader work for me. He came one morning and couldn't get the loader off his trailer. The tracks were frozen. He used to kid me about my little Kubota. I told him I could pick up his loader with my Kubota but never had to prove it to him. Well, the day his tracks froze he tried everything to free them with no luck. He finally told me to go get my Kubota and bring it down to the trailer. I knocked his tracks loose from the side with the front bucket which loosened them enough for it to drive off the trailer. He never said much after that about my "little" Kubota but I did kid him about it taking a Kubota to get a CAT moving.

 

[7800DUDE]

Hello
I use howes lubricator in my b-7800 have had it for 5 yrs with no gel ups in RI

 

[BrierPatch]

My fuel filter gelled the other day and I was using double doses of Power Service. It was sub-zero a few days prior and the tractor sits in an unheated pole barn. I just bought some Howe's diesel treat and will see how that fares.

I am curious what the difference is in our situations. I checked and it was -13 deg. F that morning (1-16-09) at like 8am and I got the tractor out around 2pm when it had warmed up to about 15 deg.F. The warmest it got the day before was 8 deg.F. I was wondering what kind of diesel you use. I use off road/Ag (red) from my local Co-op. I wonder if they have something added to it as well. I just thought about it, I believe the diesel in my tractor right now I bought back in the fall well before it was even close to getting cold out.