Goldenrod 496 fuel water filter no good in the cold?

[screamin400]

Have had a 500 gallon diesel tank for a few years and all going great. Run tons of additives in the winter with zero issues. Last year I thought it might be a good idea to put the goldenrod water filter on it just as added protection. Everything worked great. We never got as cold as usual.
This year went the other way. I changed out the filter just before winter and all was good. We then went below zero for a couple of days. Went to fill my tractor and it could not pump. Changed the filter again and it pumped about 1/2 a cup. Took that filter out and put in another one just to rule out a bad filter. Got the same results. Had to take the filter out to fill the tractor. I had to fill the tractor twice in this temp and had no issues running.
Today we warmed up and I put a new filter back in and ran the nozzle back into the tank to see what I may catch. Ran it for almost 3 hours. Took filter out and put in another new one. Cut open the old filter and found nothing. No dirt. No water. No water in the bottom of the bowl at any time in the time I have had this setup installed.
My question is can this filter not flow really cold diesel? I fell I have no water as tractor runs fine. We hit 10 below and never missed a beat. Is the filter so small that the pariffins cannot go through it when below zero? What would work better? I have enough additive to not want to add anymore and go overboard. What have you guys seen?

 

[RjCorazza]

Have had a 500 gallon diesel tank for a few years and all going great. Run tons of additives in the winter with zero issues. Last year I thought it might be a good idea to put the goldenrod water filter on it just as added protection. Everything worked great. We never got as cold as usual.
This year went the other way. I changed out the filter just before winter and all was good. We then went below zero for a couple of days. Went to fill my tractor and it could not pump. Changed the filter again and it pumped about 1/2 a cup. Took that filter out and put in another one just to rule out a bad filter. Got the same results. Had to take the filter out to fill the tractor. I had to fill the tractor twice in this temp and had no issues running.
Today we warmed up and I put a new filter back in and ran the nozzle back into the tank to see what I may catch. Ran it for almost 3 hours. Took filter out and put in another new one. Cut open the old filter and found nothing. No dirt. No water. No water in the bottom of the bowl at any time in the time I have had this setup installed.
My question is can this filter not flow really cold diesel? I fell I have no water as tractor runs fine. We hit 10 below and never missed a beat. Is the filter so small that the pariffins cannot go through it when below zero? What would work better? I have enough additive to not want to add anymore and go overboard. What have you guys seen?

I have never experienced any issues with several different types of Goldenrod filters. Are you using the water block type, or particulate only? I have had a Goldenrod spin on water block filter lock up solid (and suddenly) on a slug of water.
As to paraffins, that should not be a problem if the fuel appears clear. "Cloud Point" is the term, and the fuel will be noticably cloudy. The filter WILL clog eventually with clouded fuel.

 

[screamin400]

It is very cloudy at that temp. Never had an issue above zero but when we dipped below the filter gave up. This is a water block filter.

 

[Cycledude]

Check how fine the filter is rated to filter, we experienced a similar problem when it was much below zero the pump pumped very slow, talked to the filter place and they said the filter was to fine for the extreme cold, they recommended a different number filter and we installed that and the very slow pumping issue disappeared and never came back.

The fuel tank used to be inside a non heated building and we never experienced any trouble there, it wasn’t until we moved the fuel tank outside at a different location where the slow pumping issues started.

 

[screamin400]

I think you are spot on. I am betting this filter is for gas or diesel and cannot handle the cold.

 

[screamin400]

Check how fine the filter is rated to filter, we experienced a similar problem when it was much below zero the pump pumped very slow, talked to the filter place and they said the filter was to fine for the extreme cold, they recommended a different number filter and we installed that and the very slow pumping issue disappeared and never came back.

The fuel tank used to be inside a non heated building and we never experienced any trouble there, it wasn’t until we moved the fuel tank outside at a different location where the slow pumping issues started.

I believe it to be 15 microns

 

[dodge man]

I’m guessing you had fuel gelling. Even with additives I’ve had it gel, kerosene works best when it gets down near zero.

 

[screamin400]

I’m guessing you had fuel gelling. Even with additives I’ve had it gel, kerosene works best when it gets down near zero.

Neighbors had 100% kerosene gel up and kill the furnace this week. It actually froze solid they said. I did not see it but know it was cold. I have enough additive in a 500 gallon tank for 2000 gallons. I have two different kinds in by the time I was done.

 

[RjCorazza]

It is very cloudy at that temp. Never had an issue above zero but when we dipped below the filter gave up. This is a water block filter.

You definitely are at the cloud point and the filter is bound to clog up with paraffins as you suspect. You could pump unfiltered fuel, but you also still run the same risks in your engine.
Maybe come up with a way to warm the diesel, or cut with more kerosene. I keep an infrared heater in my barn that I can warm my tank if necessary... But have never needed to.

 

[screamin400]

You definitely are at the cloud point and the filter is bound to clog up with paraffins as you suspect. You could pump unfiltered fuel, but you also still run the same risks in your engine.
Maybe come up with a way to warm the diesel, or cut with more kerosene. I keep an infrared heater in my barn that I can warm my tank if necessary... But have never needed to.

I hear what you are saying about cutting with kerosene but our neighbor froze up the same day on 100% Kerosene. He thought he was safe. I did better than he did