Can I add anti-gel to my tractor

[sandman2234]

I love it when a plan comes together! Just glad I got to sit in my recliner in my house in Florida while you played in the snow!
David from jax

 

[lpakiz]

When fuel temperature falls below what's known as the cloud point, parafin molecules start to turn solid and stick to each other.
Anti-gel fuel treatment coats each molecule so it won't stick to its neighbor.
BUT.
The fuel treatment must be added before the molecules start to stick. Usually this is 30* or above.
If your fuel is below the cloud point, you would need to warm that treated fuel up until it's above its cloud point.
Yes, some (but not all) fuel systems will return some warm fuel to the tank. My Massey 1754 will gel up with #2 fuel at -10* F.
Over the road trucks are able to run straight #2 fuel because they are equipped with in-tank, coolant heated fuel heaters.
Years ago, we had frame mounted diesel fuel heaters using coolant. The elbows and shutoff valves would plug with parafin glop before fuel could even get to the heater. In-tank heaters only.

 

[bigtiller]

Add it, then run your engine for 15 minutes. That will make sure all the fuel in the lines that is NOT treated is used and give the additive a chance to blend into your tank.

I stayed on or very close to the garage approach to make sure everything got warmed up before I went down the road...I'm not much of a gambler.

 

[UsmanShahid7231]

If you choose to add an anti-gelling fuel additive to your fuel tank, make sure you let the engine run for several minutes to allow the additive to reach all the fuel lines, especially the fuel filter.

 

[ttman4]

Here in Oregon recently we had 4 nights of -20, -20, -10, -5. I had recently a week before filled my '94 Chev diesel truck up full, my JCB TLB, my Ford 4500 TLB, my other tractors.
January....... I assumed it was winterized fuel.
1st cold morning my Chev crank & die,,,,, fuel jelled!

I called an 'ol timer mechanic friend of mine. Chev was full tank 35 gal diesel. He told me to get my Diesel 911 out & double dose, add 1 qt of 90% rubbing alcohol, (70% if I didn't have 90%), add 1to 1 1/2 qt of non ethanol premium gasoline. When I could get it started & run for 30-45 min & circulate all my additions. Do same thing on my tractors if I needed to be running them down to +5*.....Diesel ain't what it used to be as well as it don't always get winterized.

 

[TCSavage]

A double dose doesn't hurt a thing. I have used a double dose for over twenty years in the winter months with no problems. Go to P.S. web site and read the directions/information. Many semis use it around here to avoid problems in the cold weather.

 

[CoyPatton]

I have read page 1. A double dose will not be beneficial in my experience, and could cause problems as it is not fuel.
Yes you can add it as long as your storage location is warm enough that fuel does not gel inside there. However, fuel in the system beyond your tank will not be treated, do your tractor needs to run in the heated area long enough to run that untreated fuel through the engine and be either burnt or returned to your tank.

 

[Shady oak]

So much of this is equipment specific. My JD955 will run all day in any temp on #2 since the tank is under the hood, on top of engine, and behind the fan. My Kubota F2560 won’t run across the driveway, since the tank, fuel pump and both fuel filters are out in the open. I have been told 911 not only cleans out paraffin it also destroys filter elements? I never had any luck with it. A friend of mine puts gasoline in his diesel in winter, pickup trucks and farm tractors and has been doing it for years. Btw, very few big trucks use fuel heaters anymore as most return enough warm fuel. My last two did not have fuel heaters (2007-2013) and I never put an ounce of anything but #2 in, and this is in MN and all over the US and Canada. In fact in 28 yrs as an OO I don’t recall ever buying a gallon of #1. That said, the older truck did have some form of fuel heaters, which worked well.

 

[t44e6]

I have never added anti-gel to my tractor because it sits in a heated garage and it takes less than an hour to clear my driveway.

But it is -15° F and the neighbor wants me to blow a 4' x40' drift in his driveway and I am concerned about the fuel gelling. Both driveways may take 2 hours.

If I pour some Power Service White Bottle in the fuel tank before I head outside, is there any chance it will get mixed up and do it's job before gelling?

I have not had any issues here in NH, I park inside a unheated closed shop. The old timers up here suggested mixing 10% max unleaded gasoline to stop gelling. I haven't tried it, and not sure if it would affect the emissions controls on newer machines. Mine is a 1985 YM336D and so far I have been treating it with StarTron Diesel treatment. I also add a splash of MMO to increase lubricity for the pump and injectors. So far I have had no issues starting in the cold and have never had to use the Thermo Start system.

 

[MapleLeafFarmer]

I stayed on or very close to the garage approach to make sure everything got warmed up before I went down the road...I'm not much of a gambler.

I too wouldn't want to gamble. Like post #17 said its cheap insurance.

Just for giggles we know a freezer is normally about -18c (0f) so take a sample in a small bottle out of one those 5 gallon jugs you have. Put it in the freezer for couple of hours and take a look if clarity changes / consistency changes. A cheap and easy test to see if what you are doing is good enough for your conditions.

I often do this in November when our local supplier is supposed to have fully changed over to winter diesel to for my comfort to see if the incoming fuel is truly winter ready. it always has been. he has never let me down.

I also used to take a sample of my winter fuel and put it in a baby food jar and leave it sealed all winter on a bench in my unheated shop. When I passed by a quick 1 second look at it was a good comfort check like checking engine oil levels, etc... never seen a problem but would see it right away if something was wrong. After a few decades I stopped doing this as I never had a problem and got lazy.

I also like the cheap insurance of a splosh (technical term used by us non scientists but from a guy who has a little experience guessing what a 1oz shot looks like ) of PS on top of the dealer winter blend. its cheap, its easy, it gives me comfort and never let me down.