Winter Fuel for dummies?!?

[scott_vt]

Good Mornin tc24guy,
I think all the guys have made some helpful posts...

What I dont think was mentioned in previous posts, was that it really helps to keep your tractor fuel tank topped off to help condensation from forming and creating icing problems...

I have a 55 gallon drum in my Uncle Daves barn with my diesel along with a large bottle of diesel 911 treatment that we dump in the barrel everytime we refill it. This has really minimized the water issues for my tractor, and we do get occassional temps of -25 F ...

To revisit the on/off road fuel topic again, in my second carreer as a truck driver transporting petroleum products, the only difference is the red dye !

Good luck with eleminating your water issues !

 

[Duffster]

I was under the impression that the off-road had more pollutant causing sulfur and that was one of the reasons it was not legal for on-road use. However a call to my friend that has been building and repairing gas stations for the past 20 years confirmed that the only difference would be the red dye. when I mentioned the extra smoke and burning eyes he said that was probably the result of what ever blend that particular station is using and may be caused (by some small extent) by the red dye.

At some point the off road could have still been high sulfur but pretty much all NonULSD has been phased out now.

 

[smfcpacfp]

I have a simple approach to deal with the gelling issue which is to use #1 diesel (which has a cloud point (i.e., temperature at which solids begin to separate from the liquid) of -40 F) in the winter. Perhaps because it so cold so often here, the usual diesel fuel stations sell #1 and #2 as separate products.

Using #1 diesel eliminates the gelling issue but it is not desirable to use otherwise. It is more expensive and has less energy than #2 diesel. More importantly, you do have to worry about the lack of lubrication in #1 diesel, so you need to add a lubricating additive. I use Opti-Lube XPD. It is a little expensive but is rated as the best.

Perhaps in Medina, they might not offer #1 and #2 as separate products, but just sell someting called diesel. They probably sell a "winter blend" in the winter which will supposedly solve the gelling problem - most of the time. I used to use the winter blend they sell up here until I had my two diesel cars gell up on me a couple of times when it got really, really cold. Now I am a non blender. I use straight #1 this time of year, with the lubricating additive.

 

[masscity]

I live in the UP of Michigan and buy my diesel fuel from a town on Lake Superior.

Last few years they had a winter mix of 70/30, so this year I didn't ask and filled up my Dodge cummins.
I went inside to pay and I asked what the winter mix was. They said it was straight #2 with additives, because adding #1 to it for winter would have increased the price too much.

This year I just mix my own and next fall I won't assume they have a winter mix.

 

[Duffster]

I live in the UP of Michigan and buy my diesel fuel from a town on Lake Superior.

Last few years they had a winter mix of 70/30, so this year I didn't ask and filled up my Dodge cummins.
I went inside to pay and I asked what the winter mix was. They said it was straight #2 with additives, because adding #1 to it for winter would have increased the price too much.

This year I just mix my own and next fall I won't assume they have a winter mix.

Didn't the treated #2 work?

 

[Casco1]

I have not seen any mention of the additive I am partial to. I have been using this for several years and have never had any problems. My tractor sometimes sits for four to five weeks at a time between starts at below freezing temps. I use the 805 to get the anti-gel along with the rest of the benefits.

 

[kenstrac]

Didn't the treated #2 work?

Same thing here I bought fuel just before Xmas added a generous amount of PS to the truck and 5gal can,when it got down to 2 the fuel gelled in the truck thawed the truck out and was gone about 5hrs cam back and looked at tractor that I put the 5 gal in and it was clouded.
I added K1 and will keep on doing so till it warms up,the station I bought it from is a well known brand and good diesel sales.I have never in 10 yrs had my Dodge gell.

 

[LBrown59]

1*I was under the impression that the off-road had more pollutant causing sulfur and that was one of the reasons it was not legal for on-road use. However a call to my friend that has been building and repairing gas stations for the past 20 years confirmed that the only difference would be the red dye. when I mentioned the extra smoke and burning eyes he said that was probably the result of what ever blend that particular station is using and may be caused (by some small extent) by the red dye.

Off road is on road with red dye in it.
It doesn't change anything about the fuel except the color.
The only reason it isn't leagl for on road use is it hasn't been taxed.
It's a tax matter not an EPA issue.

 

[Duffster]

Off road is on road with red dye in it.
I doesn't change anything about the fuel except the color.
The only reason it isn't leagl for on road use is it hasn't been taxed.
It's a tax matter not an EPA issue.

Kind of an old one LB.

 

[mytbucket]

Guys , its this simple , & I mean Simple , 1st , the old saying buy clean fuel & KEEP it clean is true , the 2nd KEEP YOUR FUEL TANK FULL !!!!!!!!!!!!!! I keep my tractor outside year round (unfortunately). Your tractor goes thru the warming/cooling trends with the weather. YOUR tractor has a VENTED FUEL cap, it lets air into the tank . This air contains moisture . & just like a glass of ice cold tea , will sweat, so will your fuel tank. It always "sweats" on the warm side of a cold object. When the temperature changes , lift the fuel filler cap off & watch the moisture droplets on the under side of the cap . YOU ALL HAVE IT! It will be more apparent when your tank is less than half full & in the spring & fall of the NORTH LANDS. Keeping your tank full especially in these seasons will GREATLY reduce your FREEZEUP of the WATER/Condensation in your tank/fuelines. Change your fuel filters (BOTH) LATE in the fall & you will be VERY happy! Unless your colder than 20 below you fuel is NOT going to GELL or "freeze up"