Cold weather and junk fuel

[jdom84]

Off road diesel is just road diesel with red dye and you don't pay road tax. It's blended for winter by mixing with #1 diesel and winter additives. I have never seen summer diesel rated to -40F in my part of the world. Summer diesel has more BTU's per gallon because it has the long chain waxy components in it. Not so the winter fuel.

Yeah, summer diesel #2 is not rated for -40°f and I don't think anyone said it is. If off-road diesel is the same as summer road diesel #2 but with dye in it, then the cans I store under my lean-to which are from summer should have gelled up in the last few weeks/months when it was sub zero temps. But when I refilled my tractor to move some snow it poured out of the can just fine. My family buys 1000 gallons at time in May/June for the mine and I will often take a few empty cans out there and fill up to bring home. Sometimes they will last me into the winter. In the 10 years I've been using off-road diesel, never had an issue with gelling but I could just be lucky I guess. Ill check the big tank next time I'm out there and see if its gelled.

I suppose it could be chalked up to each manufacturer doing something different. Suppliers offering different products and loads of misinformation all over the internet. Maybe these stations don't go through off-road diesel as fast as others do, so they just keep the winterized all year round? But if a fuel station says their diesel is rated for subzero temps and it gels at 15°f, everyone who bought it would be pissed.

Ill take a picture the next time I'm at a pump with the sign...

 

[AxleHub]

Jdom

If they put 1000 gallons in but the tank is outside or not in a heated area, the chances are good they are giving you winterized fuel or #1. Standard for outdoor tanks is #1 so it doesn't gel and stop your heating units.

 

[AxleHub]

Just a reminder, if you believe you have wax or water in your tractor fuel tank, drain or pump out your tractor and run the fuel thru a Mr. Funnel. They work great and come in several sizes. If the fuel has dirt, wax, water or other, it filters it and you can pour it in a bottle and complain to your supplier. Also note, fuel in metal cans sitting on a concrete floor will attract moisture into the fuel.

 

[jbrumberg]

I never had a problem with water in my diesel fuel when I used a Mr. Funnel. I now have a new one.

For anyone considering purchasing one they do leave some residual diesel fuel behind with the filtering process.

I can live with that.

 

[Phillip w]

Very good points. I didn't drain tank, just kept putting power service and winter fuel in to dilute what was in the tank. It worked , but had to went thru 3 fuel filter. Kind of a big inconveminence and hassle but got through it. I really think I got summer fuel and that is what screwed every thing up.

 

[RjCorazza]

I never had a problem with water in my diesel fuel when I used a Mr. Funnel. I now have a new one.

For anyone considering purchasing one they do leave some residual diesel fuel behind with the filtering process.

I can live with that.

Yea, I just pour the leftover back into the unfiltered container unless I notice junk in it. I used the Mr Funnel several years ago to cleanup 12 gallons of diesel that I stupidly contaminated with water (using the last couple of gallons from a barrel stored outside).

 

[AxleHub]

I have a heavy duty 1 qt. Bottle for gas and another one for diesel. After filtering I pour the residual 2 or 3 ounces into the appropriate bottle and then I can see if there are contaminates or water. This tells me about the quality of my supplier. The when the bottle gets about half full I pour it in the filter during the next use. I never pour back into the supply can because I lose any reference point to quality.

No waste just good information.

 

[RjCorazza]

That’s a good idea. Even lightly contaminated fuel would become very obvious.

 

[jbrumberg]

That’s a good idea. Even lightly contaminated fuel would become very obvious.

I agree. AxelHub- Thanks for for the idea.

 

[Jstpssng]

Off road diesel is just road diesel with red dye and you don't pay road tax. It's blended for winter by mixing with #1 diesel and winter additives. I have never seen summer diesel rated to -40F in my part of the world. Summer diesel has more BTU's per gallon because it has the long chain waxy components in it. Not so the winter fuel.

Up here the off road is often high sulfur.