Fuel gelling?

[mfeining]

I bought the diesel in August. I agree, this made a believer out of me. I was reading my manual as I sat in disgust and it actually says to use 100% #1 when the temp is below 7 degrees F. I have another question. Should I drain one half of the tank out and add at least 50% #1 or do additives actually make #2 perform like #1? I'll keep you guys updated. I plan to try to fix this today. It's still blizzarding here. The only way to town right now is via snowmobile. We had a very harsh winter last year and the snow from the last 36 hours is worse than anything last year. Thanks for the help.

 

[mfeining]

testing

 

[Duffster]

do additives actually make #2 perform like #1?.

YES........

 

[bp fick]

Don't wanna kick a guy when he's down with all the "you should haves".


However, It's OK. Lessons learned. New filters before entering winter. Fall maintenance is THE time, imo.
Just another case of getting bit by August purchased diesel. Thus, I asked whether purchased in late summer. Get her warmed up, and she'll thaw out. Hair dryer on the filter, etc. Get some winter blend in it. Don't over board the additives. That's just double locking the gate after the horse is out.

 

[Diamondpilot]

My wondering involves when that diesel was purchased. 5 degrees is cold, but not THAT cold. Was this diesel left over from late summer?
I gotta believe even reputable winter blend wouldn't have gelled at 5 degrees, but who knows. I also have theories, (quite unsupported by testing) that older, dirty fuel filter wax easier.

I have seen B20 gel up my neighbors Dmax at about 2 deg so if it has any bio in it yes, it could get that early.

I ran B20 for a while but will not mess with it anymore plus in my area B20 runs $.20 more per gallon and B5 is $.05 more per gallon. Go figure.

Chris

 

[Duffster]

I have seen B20 gel up my neighbors Dmax at about 2 deg so if it has any bio in it yes, it could get that early.

I ran B20 for a while but will not mess with it anymore plus in my area B20 runs $.20 more per gallon and B5 is $.05 more per gallon. Go figure.

Chris

B20 surely isn't a reputable winter blend, neither is B5 as far as that goes.

 

[Diamondpilot]

B20 surely isn't a reputable winter blend, neither is B5 as far as that goes.

That is what they sell around here. Indiana has more bio produces than any other state I have read. Its the whole midwest bio crap. I hate it personally. E85 is big here also. I have a dozen producers within 50 miles of my house. The stations love the 30% less range. Means the customer is on the lot every 3 days instead of every 5 and that brings them in to buy a pop and candy bar, where the money is made. The farmers all though they were going to get rich off of it but that is not happening and you are now seeing some of the producers closing.

My uncle owns a Shell station. He looses money on fuel most days trying to compete with the BP and other station on his intersection. Biggest killer is he usually makes $.02 per gallon on the fuel but with credit card charges he is in the red. He averages $30,000 a day in beer and cigarette sales a day. If it were not for that he could not keep the doors open.

Chris

 

[Duffster]

That is what they sell around here. Indiana has more bio produces than any other state I have read. Its the whole midwest bio crap. I hate it personally. E85 is big here also. I have a dozen producers within 50 miles of my house. The stations love the 30% less range. Means the customer is on the lot every 3 days instead of every 5 and that brings them in to buy a pop and candy bar, where the money is made. The farmers all though they were going to get rich off of it but that is not happening and you are now seeing some of the producers closing.

My uncle owns a Shell station. He looses money on fuel most days trying to compete with the BP and other station on his intersection. Biggest killer is he usually makes $.02 per gallon on the fuel but with credit card charges he is in the red. He averages $30,000 a day in beer and cigarette sales a day. If it were not for that he could not keep the doors open.

Chris

I doubt I could find a station near you selling B20 as winter blend.

And I i can than it surely isn't a reputable station.

 

[Diamondpilot]

I doubt I could find a station near you selling B20 as winter blend.

And I i can than it surely isn't a reputable station.

You are probably right about the B20 but B5 is very common. We all hate it. I have my fuel delivered to my house and run it through both of my diesel trucks and my tractor. I have to pay a premium for non bio blended fuel. The only time I do not fuel at home is when I am on the road.

I also hate the 10% and 85% ethanol. There was one station that had pure 100% gas but that no longer can be had as of last summer when the law changed requiring a minimum of 10%. It has caused so many problems with fuel lines, ect. Boats really do no like the 10% and I would never put 85% in a boat.

Chris

 

[Duffster]

You are probably right about the B20 but B5 is very common. We all hate it. I have my fuel delivered to my house and run it through both of my diesel trucks and my tractor. I have to pay a premium for non bio blended fuel. The only time I do not fuel at home is when I am on the road.

I also hate the 10% and 85% ethanol. There was one station that had pure 100% gas but that no longer can be had as of last summer when the law changed requiring a minimum of 10%. It has caused so many problems with fuel lines, ect. Boats really do no like the 10% and I would never put 85% in a boat.

Chris

I regularly fill my truck at a station that sells B5 and they pull the the Bio for cold weather.

Are you sure they don't do the same?

We run B2 in our farm diesel all winter and have never had a problem.