Oil & Fuel Diesel fuel in cold weather - Question

[tillboy2001]

Pardon me if this has been beat to death...

Is the diesel fuel they sell at the pump fine for winter (the fuel you buy in winter) and I don't need to worry about gelling or anything like that if temps drop to, let's say 0? Just trying to figure out if this is something I need to worry about.

Thanks

 

[prosperity]

In our area (Pa, Oh, etc), stations get winterized fuel starting in the fall. But.....if the station doesn't sell much fuel, the gradual mix in their tanks to all winterized fuel will be slower.

As an easy safeguard, use some fuel treatment in the winter. Power Service (available at Wal-Mart) is a good additive (white bottle), and will give you peace of mind. It will also help disperse any water that may be in the fuel.

 

[HGM]

I agree, it should not be necessary. I personally would still add it for the same reasons. It doesnt cost much, and the benefits and peace of mind are worth it.

 

[MadReferee]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( In our area (Pa, Oh, etc), stations get winterized fuel starting in the fall. But.....if the station doesn't sell much fuel, the gradual mix in their tanks to all winterized fuel will be slower.)</font>

Not necessarily true.

Almost all stations in all cold weather areas of the country will cut their existing supply of summer blend with kerosene around mid-November, just before winter blend becomes available. When I owned my station the usual mixture was 60% diesel to 40% kero.

You just can't sell summer blend or a weak mixture when the weather get cold or you will have angry customers.

 

[BarryinMN]

In my area NW MN the truck stops sell #1 and #2 it is left to the buyer to mix as he/she sees fit.

The reason is blended fuel is less btu and MPG suffers. Drivers heading immediately South may not want to blend their tanks. They get 200-300 miles South (over ~ 30F) and it's unnecessary.

Most of the retail gasoline stations that have a dozen gas pumps & 1 diesel, sell blended and the pump is labeled as such. They advertise it as good for -30F.

Generally asking the kid behind the counter if an unlabeled pump is blended gets a deer in headlights stare...

I simply add Powerservice to the vehicle tank when temps head for 30 or less. Cheap & easy insurance.

 

[ToadHill]

My neighbor sells green tractors and his recommendation was to use additive all year long. Those diesel engines really don't like moisture and the additive helps keep the fuel system dry.

 

[Dmace]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( My neighbor sells green tractors and his recommendation was to use additive all year long.)</font>

I also am going to use the power service all year long. My father has for many many years in his diesel powered 1977 Wain-Roy tractor. If you up the dosage for the summer, it acts as an octane booster. It says so on the bottle.

 

[thatguy]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( </font><font color="blueclass=small">( My neighbor sells green tractors and his recommendation was to use additive all year long.)</font>

I also am going to use the power service all year long. My father has for many many years in his diesel powered 1977 Wain-Roy tractor. If you up the dosage for the summer, it acts as an octane booster. It says so on the bottle. )</font>

that should be cetane booster- octane is for gasoline..

 

[QRTRHRS]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( </font><font color="blueclass=small">( In our area (Pa, Oh, etc), stations get winterized fuel starting in the fall. But.....if the station doesn't sell much fuel, the gradual mix in their tanks to all winterized fuel will be slower.)</font>

Not necessarily true.

Almost all stations in all cold weather areas of the country will cut their existing supply of summer blend with kerosene around mid-November, just before winter blend becomes available. When I owned my station the usual mixture was 60% diesel to 40% kero.

You just can't sell summer blend or a weak mixture when the weather get cold or you will have angry customers.
)</font>Is kero still used? I thought that kero in todays fuel oil could cut lubricity possibly harming the engine.

I use an additive all year round for a variety of concerns. One is my older tractor's injection pump and concerns of not enough lubricity in today's low sulfer fuel. Cold weather gelling, moisture prevention, algae growth, etc. are other concerns.

Power Service is a reasonably priced additive and I use that in my Dodge Cummins. For the tractor fuel I go with FPPF available at my tractor dealer. http://www.fppf.com/