Diesel cold weather issues

[90cummins]

I live in Western Mass. and have had a Dodge Diesel since 1990 I have used PS (Power Service) thru the winters at -30 with good results. Once when going to work as I went into the valley which was 10 degrees cooler and my truck started to run rough, I immediately pulled over & added 1 quart of 911 to keep me going.
I increased the PS ratio at my next fill-up.
I also have a 275 gallon tank for my tractor & other equipment that I dose with PS when I get the tank topped up.
It needs to be noted that when it gets cold diesel clouds up due to wax which clogs the filter element.
This can occur at temps in the mid 20痴 depending on the quality of the diesel.
For water to fall out of suspension it must be much colder or be contaminated with excessive water.
My solution would be to use a diesel fuel additive. If you have your own fuel tank tip it and drain the low end to check for water.

 

[Industrial Toys]

Thanks for all the help. I do feel quite STUPID at the moment. I bought a new electric fuel pump/filter/meter for the dyed Diesel. When pulling out the old hand pump suction pipe, I was horrified when it just kept coming and coming! Seems the suction pipe went right to the bottom of the tank. It seemed so long, I'm surprised it even fit! I don't know how I let this happen. I think this explains a lot of my fuel issues over the past little while!

 

[Industrial Toys]

Does anyone know if there is an Difference in STP Engine treatment and Seafoam, which are in exactly the same packaging and have almost identical labels for application? STP is cheaper!

 

[RFB]

Anyone ever use these?

http://www.cim-tek.com/petroleum/tankdryers.html

 

[vtsnowedin]

I was told to mix K1 with Diesel as it prevents it from gelling. I have used K1 in my Mahindra at a ratio of 1 to 3 1 K1 to 3 Diesel as a mix and have had success. Maybe others can comment on this practice. I'm in Northeast and temps can go as low as -20 and so far so good. I tried 911 but would love to hear if there are better options.

That is the solution I have found that is working at -10F. The diesel 911 didn't seem to cut it despite how much I added.

 

[JoeL4330]

That is the solution I have found that is working at -10F. The diesel 911 didn't seem to cut it despite how much I added.

911 is not designed to PREVENT gelling, but to deal with gelled fuel; the white containers of PS are for prevention. As for pump suction pipes, going all the way to the bottom of the tank is generally not advisable ...good practice is to cut bottom of pipe on a slant ...it will then lose suction before it gets to the worst of the nasty stuff. If water is a problem, I have found that spin-on water-block filters work best ...they simply stop the flow when saturated ...have a spare to spin on.

 

[vtsnowedin]

911 is not designed to PREVENT gelling, but to deal with gelled fuel; the white containers of PS are for prevention. As for pump suction pipes, going all the way to the bottom of the tank is generally not advisable ...good practice is to cut bottom of pipe on a slant ...it will then lose suction before it gets to the worst of the nasty stuff. If water is a problem, I have found that spin-on water-block filters work best ...they simply stop the flow when saturated ...have a spare to spin on.

Oh it was jelled up all right. so bad you could remove the fuel line before the filter and blow air back into the fuel tank and hear bubbles but no fuel would come down the line to the filter. I used a half bottle in ten gallons of jelled fuel and refilling the fuel filter per directions but no luck. Once I got a new fuel filter on it and 30% K1 kerosene mixed in the fuel I've had no further problem. Warmer today but snowing and blowing to make the wires moan. The soft cab makes all the difference in the world.

 

[Industrial Toys]

I have a water drain on my Kubota loader fuel tank that I have never touched. Yesterday, I endeavoured to get that bad fuel out of there. I could make no serious headway with a magnetic heater, so I removed the valve (which was still frozen) and pushed an awl up through the ice. What a miserable stinky job! Anyway, there was ice in the botom of the tank. Once the fuel was gone, the ice did melt. I poured in boiling water and mopped it up with a rag tie wrapped to a stick. Changed the fuel filter which looked disgusting, put in new fuel with a litle seafoam to address any little amounts of water and the machine ran better then before!

All the while thinking, ALL this should have been done in my shorts in July!

 

[coobie]

Just remember TRUST your fuel supplier,NOT.This is why I add biocide and use diesel fuel addtives in my diesel tanks.Some folks call addtives snake oil.LOL.

 

[CJONE]

Just remember TRUST your fuel supplier,NOT.This is why I add biocide and use diesel fuel addtives in my diesel tanks.Some folks call addtives snake oil.LOL.

+1 And they are the ones sitting on the side of the road when it is cold!!! If at all possible I buy diesel from 1 trusted source and run premium with power service in the winter. I have never had anything I own gell on me. Now I have rescued a BUNCH of our trucks when they went out of state and bought cheap fuel. Standard procedure, pull both fuel filters, fill with 911 and put another bottle of power service in the tanks. That fixed 95% of them but I have gone as far as putting a torpedo heater at the delivery tank to get them running. It is not worth trying to save a $ on cheap fuel. Run premium or a mix of premium and #1 in the winter! CJ