diesel fuel frozen?

[TomSeller]

That sounds like a real good way to blow something up. I know diesel isn't as inflammable as gasoline, but I would never take a hair dryer near diesel vapor. Then again, not sure what else I would do if I had a tank of frozen diesel.

To the OP, the hydrocarbon mix called diesel ain't gonna freeze solid anywhere on this planet. Parts of it will thicken so you can't use it, but its not going to turn into diesel ice. Fuel additives, heaters, glow plugs will all help. And although probably nothing will happen, try to stay away from directly heating diesel fuel.

At -25 degF ambient the hair dryer might output enough heat to get up slightly above freezing. It is not going to get hot by any means. They only gain about 60 degF.

 

[GManBart]

That sounds like a real good way to blow something up. I know diesel isn't as inflammable as gasoline, but I would never take a hair dryer near diesel vapor. Then again, not sure what else I would do if I had a tank of frozen diesel.

There is no reasonable way a hair dryer will ignite diesel.

 

[BlackOps]

I decided to wait until it warms up here and see what happens - a couple of dealers are closed due to storms so i cannot ask them.

Thanks everyone.

 

[square1]

After two days of single digit highs and two nights of teens below zero (record lows the 2nd night) lows it took 3 hours with jumper cables hooked up and a 50,000 BTU salamander heater pointed at my tractor with a tarp over it to get it to spin up enough to fire and keep running. I gave up the first day, but had to get it running yesterday, there was work to be done

 

[TJP89]

After two days of single digit highs and two nights of teens below zero (record lows the 2nd night) lows it took 3 hours with jumper cables hooked up and a 50,000 BTU salamander heater pointed at my tractor with a tarp over it to get it to spin up enough to fire and keep running. I gave up the first day, but had to get it running yesterday, there was work to be done

Was the tractor outside? I had to start mine in -13 and it went no problem. Took forever to warm up though.

 

[BlackOps]

Thanks square1.

 

[CobyRupert]

That sounds like a real good way to blow something up. I know diesel isn't as inflammable as gasoline, but I would never take a hair dryer near diesel vapor. Then again, not sure what else I would do if I had a tank of frozen diesel.

To the OP, the hydrocarbon mix called diesel ain't gonna freeze solid anywhere on this planet. Parts of it will thicken so you can't use it, but its not going to turn into diesel ice. Fuel additives, heaters, glow plugs will all help. And although probably nothing will happen, try to stay away from directly heating diesel fuel.

FYI: Auto-ignition temperature of diesel is about 410 degrees F. Probably a little higher if it's mixed with kerosene or No. 1.
Technically it's not even considered a flammable liquid. It's a (Class II or IIIA) combustible liquid.
Gasoline auto-ignition temp is even higher at 475 F. Keeping liquid away from contacting the high temps source is usually the easy part, vapors and sparks are usually the greater hazard. (See Flash Point).
Diesel has be 149F before it gives off enough vapors to form an ignitable mixture (using a ignition source), whereas gasoline above -40F does.

 

[square1]

Was the tractor outside?

Yeah. Last year I kept it in the garage, but a couple more vehicles in the coral this year forced the tractor outside

I had to start mine in -13 and it went no problem. Took forever to warm up though.

What doesn't at those temps

 

[Capricious]

After two days of single digit highs and two nights of teens below zero (record lows the 2nd night) lows it took 3 hours with jumper cables hooked up and a 50,000 BTU salamander heater pointed at my tractor with a tarp over it to get it to spin up enough to fire and keep running. I gave up the first day, but had to get it running yesterday, there was work to be done

Many years ago I worked at a place that sold lube oil in drums, and often we would have to pump it. In the winter the only way we could do that was to arrange the drums in a "V" shape, aim a salamander at the opening of the "V" and cover the drums with the heaviest canvas tarps I have ever dealt with. We could get those drums too hot to touch with bare hands, and the lube oil flowed like water. Occasionally set a tarp on fire.

You might tray letting the oil drain (will take awhile) and re-filling with oil that you have heated up. Won't do anything to help jelled fuel, though.

 

[GManBart]

You might tray letting the oil drain (will take awhile) and re-filling with oil that you have heated up. Won't do anything to help jelled fuel, though.

In some extremely cold locations they sort of do this with airplanes. After they land, they drain the oil from the engine(s) while it's still warm enough to flow properly, and put it in a barrel for inside storage over night. Right before they start them they refill with the oil they drained the day before. They also frequently use tarps, covers, plugs, etc and heaters to keep the engines as warm as possible over night.