Cold no start. Frozen fuel?

[Chris In Gallupville]

Diesel definitely thickenes up to the point of not flowing. Up here in greater capital district of NY retailers adjust the mix of fuel in Dec to add kerosene exactly to ward off the gelling. You gotta get it warmed up, add additive (somebody mentioned 911 but they all work) get ‘er started then drive around to mix the fuel in the tank. Can you get it inside and near heat? This might take a little time.

 

[RHiebert]

Hi. GC 2410, I haven't used my tractor in a month. Stored outdoors now for the first winter, temps in 20°'s. Battery is on trickle charge and I turned block warmer on an hour ago.
She started up fine but died in 30seconds. Hmm, seems like fuel issue. Look under at fuel filter, full. Shut off fuel line and drop fuel filter and it's full of what seems clean diesel. Replaced and tried to start. She wants to but sputters out before turning over. Fuel is overflowing a full tank when key is on, never saw that before. Took off filter canister and it's empty and left off. Try starting it, hear the pump gurgling but nothing is coming out of lines at the filter.

Frozen? I placed a heater under it and seeing if lines had water and frozen.

Ideas?
Back out to shovel.

Many fuels will contain ethanol which creates water which will freeze and plug up the fuel filter, that would be the first thing to address. If it's a diesel then using a fuel additive that prevents that would be my suggestion.

 

[ZiggyD]

serious, diesel 911. not a lot needed.

Diesel 911 - Diesel Fuel Additive

Diesel 911 is a winter emergency use product that restores the flow of diesel fuel to an engine caused by gelled fuel or frozen fuel filters.

powerservice.com

I’ve always been curious how this works. The 911 goes in the tank but the blockage is likely somewhere in the filter or the fuel system. How does it get to where it’s supposed to be if there’s no fuel flowing?

 

[dodge man]

I’ve always been curious how this works. The 911 goes in the tank but the blockage is likely somewhere in the filter or the fuel system. How does it get to where it’s supposed to be if there’s no fuel flowing?

I had the fuel in my Kubota BX gel up years ago. Twice in the little factory filters and once in a Racor filter I had added. With the Racor even if I had added 911 it wasn’t going to ungel. I had to swap the filter out. It was obvious it was permanently plugged. It was a thick white material and I threw it outside but never melted even after it warmed up. I did add the recommended amount of 911 and it ran after swapping in a new filter.

This happened using Howes also. It happened after a few days of zero degree temperatures.

 

[thieany]

I’ve had my fuel gel several years ago and that’s what is sounds like. I personally like to add kerosene when it gets cold. When mine gelled it was zero or colder out though.

I use half kerosene in my Toolcat when very cold. Works very well.

 

[Snobdds]

While this helps with the gelling... There's water to contend with. All Summer, your tanks, both on the tractor and in the shed are condensing water vapor from the air.

Treating the diesel fuel to absorb the water and prevent gelling avoids a bunch of problems... algae being the worse.

Water is a factor with any fuel source. It's not specific to #1 diesel or #2 diesel.

 

[Dmacleo]

I’ve always been curious how this works. The 911 goes in the tank but the blockage is likely somewhere in the filter or the fuel system. How does it get to where it’s supposed to be if there’s no fuel flowing?

gravity works.
plus you turn key and fuel pumps start working.

 

[RjCorazza]

I’ve always been curious how this works. The 911 goes in the tank but the blockage is likely somewhere in the filter or the fuel system. How does it get to where it’s supposed to be if there’s no fuel flowing?

The fuel filter is usually where fuel has problems first in cold weather, so heat, drain and refill the filter with treated fuel. Make sure the tank is also treated and well mixed prior to messing with the filter.
I treat all of my fuel regardless of what the supplier may (or may not) add to it.

 

[Michael Corbin]

Years ago my Kubota L3130 diesel fuel gelled plugging the tank outlet. I've added 911 in the winter ever since with no recurrence.

 

[bgr]

We need to make it clear that Diesel 911 is for fuel which is already gelled. Do not use as a regular additive. There are plenty of additives for diesel fuel to keep it from gelling(Howes is one of many) and you can use them at a much lower concentration every time you add fuel, starting before it gets cold in the fall. Don't use any additive rated for gasoline.
It is a good idea to start additives early before it gets cold, as gelled diesel is a pain to get out of the system.