On the subject of Gelling

[woodlandfarms]

Once a fuel Gels, it will ungel, right? We had a very cold winter up north and the tractor will not be run until June. Just wondering if diesel that has gelled goes back to normal or if I need to add...

 

[WH401]

It will go back to normal once it warms up. If you need to use it though, you'll have to get some Power Service 911 and get it to circulate through the fuel system to un-gel it. 911 is only for ungelling already gelled fuel, don't run it as an every day additive.

Next year pour some of the Power Service in the white bottle, (this is the gelling preventative additive you can run every day), into the tank before storage & let it run so that it circulates all the way through the system. Then if you need to, you can use it whenever you want during the winter.

 

[tomd999]

Hiya,

Yes, once jelled there are 2 ways to get it back.

1) Warm the fuel above the cloud point. This is a temp normally higher than the gel point. The cloud point is the temp where wax crystals begin to grow and clump together. Almost all fuels will be be clear above 50 degrees F.

2) Add a rescue additive. These have to be circulated throughout the fuel system to work. A word of caution about rescue additives, most of the older types contain high amounts of alcohol. They may not be appropriate for 2007 and up engines.

One thing to keep in mind, once wax crystals plug your filters, you will most likely need to change them as it is difficult to remove the wax from the media once formed. The new Amsoil rescue product advertises that it can liquefy wax in filter media however, I have not seen it in action.

OK, my two cents,

Tom

 

[CurlyDave]

One thing to keep in mind, once wax crystals plug your filters, you will most likely need to change them as it is difficult to remove the wax from the media once formed. The new Amsoil rescue product advertises that it can liquefy wax in filter media however, I have not seen it in action.

OTOH, if the engine is not run until the fuel has warmed up, then the wax won't plug the filter.

 

[tomd999]

One thing to keep in mind, once wax crystals plug your filters, you will most likely need to change them as it is difficult to remove the wax from the media once formed. The new Amsoil rescue product advertises that it can liquefy wax in filter media however, I have not seen it in action.

OTOH, if the engine is not run until the fuel has warmed up, then the wax won't plug the filter.

Hiya,

Exactly, the reason I mentioned it was that in order for the rescue additive to work, it has to flow through the system, thus the potential for plugging the filters.

If you warm everything up without running the engine the wax would not be forced through the filter media and thus less chance of clogging.

However, that being said, some filter media seem to grab onto wax and refuse to let go easy. I have warmed up trucks overnight to 60 degrees yet even with clear fuel and a warm filter, it still had reduced flow to the point that the truck would lose power over 1/3 throttle. Changed the filter out, instant fix. (recent filter with no water in the trap so I doubt it was debris/water swelled)

My 2 cents,

Tom

 

[RalphVa]

Gelling is caused by wax. Warm up the fuel, and the wax melts, even on the filter.

I had a 1973 Benz stop a couple of times due to wax causing gelling on the filter. Just let it sit a minute or two each time. The filter on a Benz is located right next to the engine. Heat from the engine melts the wax eventually. In my case, it only required a minute or so each time it stopped running. After the second time, the filter was warm enough to stop the gelling from happening.

Wax is in almost all dino oil. We remove it at the oil refineries. Otherwise, your engine oil would gel in the SUMMER time. It's just wax. It melts, at a fairly low temperature in the presence of a lot of dissolving medium like diesel. Kerosene will dissolve it even better. Kerosene is what we use to wash big rotary pressure filter cloths with in propane dewaxing.

Ralph

 

[Spudland_Dave]

It will go back to normal once it warms up. If you need to use it though, you'll have to get some Power Service 911 and get it to circulate through the fuel system to un-gel it. 911 is only for ungelling already gelled fuel, don't run it as an every day additive.

Next year pour some of the Power Service in the white bottle, (this is the gelling preventative additive you can run every day), into the tank before storage & let it run so that it circulates all the way through the system. Then if you need to, you can use it whenever you want during the winter.

Diesel mechanic (employed by Caterpillar) always told me to run 911 in the fall before the cold hits and every once in a while during the cold.... 911 has water removing properties...it removes traces of water in the fuel system, no water = no freezing problems. He says one of the most common problems these days with diesel vehicles is everybody is so concerned about the Gelling & Waxing, but neglect water buildup...

 

[WH401]

Diesel mechanic (employed by Caterpillar) always told me to run 911 in the fall before the cold hits and every once in a while during the cold.... 911 has water removing properties...it removes traces of water in the fuel system, no water = no freezing problems. He says one of the most common problems these days with diesel vehicles is everybody is so concerned about the Gelling & Waxing, but neglect water buildup...

All the Power Service product's disperse water. Running the 911 regularly is not recommended because of it's alcohol content, it's main purpose is to rapidly ungel fuel, not treat the system. If a product is needed for general optimum fuel system performance or if more preferred, the occasional refresh, the best thing would be "Diesel Fuel Supplement & Cetane Boost" found here Power Service Products, diesel fuel additives, prevent gelling, clean injectors, disperse water, boost cetane, reduce emissions, improve fuel economy. This will lubricate you system regularly, treat the fuel, disperse the water and prevent gelling all in one package so that there is most likely no need for 911. Fix the problem before it happens, that's my view.

 

[Spudland_Dave]

....the best thing would be "Diesel Fuel Supplement & Cetane Boost" .....This will lubricate you system regularly, treat the fuel, disperse the water and prevent gelling all in one package so that there is most likely no need for 911. Fix the problem before it happens, that's my view.

I run the "White Bottle" Power Service all the time....didnt help me out with water in my system last year....thats when I brought the Gelling topic up with my BIL (Caterpillar Mechanic) and thats when he told me the water story and about 911 as a prevenative tool....Also said the truckers use pure Methanol, but the 911 is much safer and to run that in the fall instead.
Gotta admit, been down to -30 here so far and my tractor has fired right up with no issues....I agree with you on fixing issues before they are problems...I thought I was doing that last year with the 50/50 Kerosene/Diesel and the white bottle PS...turn out It wasnt the fuel gelling, water was my problem.

 

[SteveInMD]

What's the warmest temp. someone has actually had gel problem here? A few weeks back I saw minus 2. No gelling here with no treatment added.