Stanadyne ??? Afters Years of Use Has Let Me Down

[Laderbuilt]

Haven't had any issues here with gelling, but not getting out and working in it either. Just too cold.

But regarding additives.....

Seems everyone has their opinions. Just like motor oil. Rotella vs delo vs amsoil vs Valvoline, etc.

What's odd, is that I have read alot....on other forums......that stanadyne is one of the better ones. And to avoid PS....especially the 911 stuff like the plague.

But in general......three reasons for additives...
1. Anti-gel. Never had a problem with this here.....unless you use a can filled in summertime for the winter. So j do t worry about this.
2. Lubrication. Have always used howes. But got a case of different stuff last time. It's in a round pint sized blue and silver bottle....treats about 60 gallon per bottle so half a bottle when I fill truck. Just don't remember what it's called. Never added anything in the off-road tank
3. Anti-microbial / algaecide. This is needed more if fuel is stored long term. PS makes a product called kleen diesel. I put a little In Every other tank in the truck. Because truck only sees about 4k mi a year.

Yet to find a single additive that will do all 3.

Or really, since gel isn't a concern of mine, have yet to find an additive to handle 2 and 3

Look into Schaeffers diesel treat 2000. It has everything your looking for. They make a summertime and winter version.
Winter has anti-gel, lubricity, a biocide, injector cleaners.
Schaeffer Oil | Diesel Treat 2™ Ultra Low Sulfur
This is what I use personally as well as a fleet of 50 trucks I maintain. So far this winter I have not had any gelled fuel issues. I did have one truck that suffered a CFPP issue but it was due for service and filter was most likely full of crud before hand.

 

[Laderbuilt]

I understand about the potential icing problems but in my case it was gelling not icing. I have clear filter bowls and could see the yellow wax that filled them. When I removed the bowl/filter assembly it was a real education for me. They were filled with a thick yellow heavy gravy like substance - messy stuff. And my fuel tank looked like tapioca pudding with little yellow specs suspended in it.

I put the 911 in the tank and let it set for a day. I cleaned as much wax off the filters as I could in a warm place and filled the bowl with 911 which started dissolving the remaining wax imbedded in the filter. When I put the filter back on the motor and opened the fuel valve new wax stared to collect as fresh fuel flowed in but then started dissolving. After I started the tractor I added regular PS as instructed. Everything is still good today at 5* above. We will see Saturday when it is -25* again.

gg

There is a slight difference between gelled fuel and a filter with wax.
If your fuel is cloudy in the tank it starting to gel but hasn’t yet. If your filter is cloudy or “gelled” that is something called Cold filter plug point, CFPP. This is more prone with cloudy fuel that hasn’t been treated but can also happen even when the fuel is normal looking in the tank.
I see this more then straight up gelled fuel tanks. I am not saying you weren’t gelled up In the tank but wanted to pass this on as things to look for.

 

[Phillip w]

Just remember PS 911 will un gel the fuel it will not stay that way. You need to add the white PS to keep it un gelled. I see you added it but some people don’t and then they claim that 911 is junk, they just didn’t read the directions. Glad it’s working.

I have been around diesel engines all my life. I use howes and power service and Winter blend fuel. I have had good luck going that route. The times I Have gotten into trouble, that 911 stuff has never been the answer. I have never gotten it to work. So my opinion of 911 stuff is it is overrated and don't work. I know some gits swear by it, but I'll never waste my money on it again.

 

[Jerry/MT]

I understand about the potential icing problems but in my case it was gelling not icing. I have clear filter bowls and could see the yellow wax that filled them. When I removed the bowl/filter assembly it was a real education for me. They were filled with a thick yellow heavy gravy like substance - messy stuff. And my fuel tank looked like tapioca pudding with little yellow specs suspended in it.

I put the 911 in the tank and let it set for a day. I cleaned as much wax off the filters as I could in a warm place and filled the bowl with 911 which started dissolving the remaining wax imbedded in the filter. When I put the filter back on the motor and opened the fuel valve new wax stared to collect as fresh fuel flowed in but then started dissolving. After I started the tractor I added regular PS as instructed. Everything is still good today at 5* above. We will see Saturday when it is -25* again.

gg

From your description waxing was definitely your problem. My point was that "jelling" is not the only cold weather fuel problem and they can both happen concurrently. I'm glad you solved the problem.

I've been fortunate not to ever have a wax problem( knock on wood!) but I have had and ice in fuel filter and water separator on a new tractor(93 hrs). Either one will stop you in your tracks.

 

[coobie]

I have been around diesel engines all my life. I use howes and power service and Winter blend fuel. I have had good luck going that route. The times I Have gotten into trouble, that 911 stuff has never been the answer. I have never gotten it to work. So my opinion of 911 stuff is it is overrated and don't work. I know some gits swear by it, but I'll never waste my money on it again.

Please expand on this comment.If you do not use the 911 stuff what product works better?Just curious?

 

[Cat_Driver]

And that's the problem, lol. It's one of those things I don't think about until I need it. When I need it I just want to grab it off a shelf and be done with it. How are they on shipping? I really hate to buy something that'll cost as much (if not more) to ship. Usually all I use is one smaller bottle of PS per year. 1 gallon (depending on the ratio) could last me years.

Just went to their site and it's $20 to ship one $15 quart size bottle and $25 for a $50 1 gallon jug. No dealers close by so my choice is to buy a quart of PS for about $7 which I can get anywhere around me or $35 for a quart / $70 for a gallon of Opti-Lube. If they would get some dealers close by I would most likely use it.

Amazon free shipping $56/gal.

 

[Cat_Driver]

The old truckers in Alaska in the late 60s-early 70s always threw in a couple quarts of ATF in their fuel tanks for added lubrication. I don't know how that affected the fuel gelling problems.

I talked to a guy who had 850k miles on an olg GM 6.5 diesel who always threw in a couple quarts of ATF in their fuel tanks for added lubrication.

 

[Doofy]

I talked to a guy who had 850k miles on an olg GM 6.5 diesel who always threw in a couple quarts of ATF in their fuel tanks for added lubrication.

Fairly sure they all had in-tank diesel fuel heaters too. Those were the days when we had -50 to -60F for weeks on end and those trucks never shut down. Don't miss it a bit!