Cold no start. Frozen fuel?

[Dmacleo]

then you had bad fuel.
and I reiterate.
Diesel 911.
toss a few ounces in.

 

[ray66v]

As Dmacleo said, Diesel 911.

If you live where it's gets real cold, you want a bottle on hand.

Finding a better supplier for fuel, is helpful too. If you can find a good supplier, your fuel will already be treated, and you won't need the 911.

Gas station fuel is usually sketchy. Try finding out where the farmers near you get their fuel. And, ask about "premium" diesel. It's not higher octane, it's a premium product.

In the meant time, a tarp over it, with an electric heater inside may bail you out.

 

[Dmacleo]

I deal with pony tank fuel every single day of the year, which is why I asked if pony tank used earlier.
have 911 on hand year round, much cheaper than driving 20 miles 1 way to grab high turnover fuel. plus those high turnover are ALL on road so taxed.
6 miles one way (actually 2 stores 6 miles 1 way) are offroad pony tanks. few oz 911 every few gallons from December to march and I have never gelled\frozen. and my units all stored outside in Maine.

 

[DJ54]

Most diesel fuel is adjusted seasonally to prevent gelling. If you filled your tank up in late Summer, fuel may not been adjusted for winter fuel. Neighbor found that out the first winter he had his new Kubota. He did the right thing by keeping the tank full, but did not know about winter/summer blends, or additives to prevent gelling.

I advised like these guys said, add 911, and use a heat gun to warm up fuel line to pump. No problems since.

 

[Dmacleo]

yeah the seasonal thing REALLY matters when pony tanks used.
a general store owner may fill that 750 gallon pony tank 5 times a year in rural areas.
but at least you got diesel to use
you just have to know HOW to use it.

edit: also...spare filters on hand ALWAYS help...just saying. I have 3 spares on hand now after servicing few weeks ago. many tractors surrounding me use the same bowl filter.

 

[JWR]

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.

It sounds that way ... except that diesel fuel will not gel at 20 degrees. More like 10 or 11 degrees. I too would use a mix of kerosene and diesel, #1 with #2 , as all serious heavy equipment operators do in cold climates. "Frozen" does not happen but gelling can happen...just not at 20 degrees. Some websites claim fuel gels at about 17 degrees but not in my experience. That MIGHT be because filling station fuel is completely unpredictable in "middle latitude" areas where it is sometimes cold enough to warrant mixing or additives. Cannot depend on whether the stations/suppliers have treated the fuel or not. MAYBE mine gelled at 10 deg because it was lightly "conditioned" by the fuel suppliers? A 50/50 mix of #1 and #2 will not gel until 10 below zero F or worse. So I see in post #10 above that you got it going with heat. Either it was colder than you thought (by a bunch) or else you had water somewhere in the line that freezes at a much higher temperature. Seems unlikely that you had enough water in there to stop flow when frozen. That would have given you other serious "won't work" issues with a diesel. Puzzling. Any post mortem comments?

 

[JWR]

Oh geeze! Just re-read you original description. I would bet that it was much colder than "the 20's" during the several hours before you tried to start it. That would cause the gelling to occur in your more open places like fuel lines and filters. Then after it warmed back up into the 20's it had not been "warm enough long enough" to turn the gel back to 100% free flowing liquid. Also explains how your heating up the flow path "fixed the problem."

 

[Pixguy]

Ok, to add to this.
It was in the teens a few of the past nights and mid days in the 20's.
I did start to buy diesel at a new place when I also get off road gas but it's not a pony tank but I will not buy there any longer and grab some 911.

 

[RayIN]

then you had bad fuel.
and I reiterate.
Diesel 911.
toss a few ounces in.

I agree with using 9-1-1, but;
Not "a few ounces". The label requires 1 bottle per 20G to work as engineered.
The first step is to remove filter, empty, then refill with 9-1-1. Then dose fuel tank as directed and wait for specified time before starting.

 

[hosspuller]

9-1-1 is for gelled fuel. One takes a hit on lubricity with the stuff. It's better to be prepared before the cold weather hits. I've used Howes Diesel Treatment to prevent gelling and absorb any moisture for years. A single bottle every Fall gets me through the Winter. Label says will treat 320 gallons. Your usage may require more.