Diesel Gelling - Never Would Have Expected It

[sdk131]

Yesterday I had a gelling episode on my BX1870. Backed her out of the shed to idle/warm up and she sputtered and died after about a minute. Here's why I never would have expected this:

1. I live in MD, coldest temps since I ran it about a week ago were around 25.
2. There was about 4oz of Power Service White in the tank (and it has been in there since November when I added the PS and about 5 gallons of diesel).
3. 22hours on the tractor (so all filters newer and not neglected)

After swapping out the first filter (pre-fuel pump), adding a dose of PS 911, bleeding at the injectors and allowing it to warm in the sun I got her running again. I then cut open the old fuel filter and found a bunch of waxy goo confirming that in fact had gelled. I'm a bit puzzled by this since I had the PS white in the tank, and the fact that I have been running my car on diesel from the same station. Anyone have any ideas on this? Perhaps there had been some water sloshing around in the tractor tank since new last fall? After doing a little searching it seems like a fair number of people have also had gelling while using PS white. I'm wondering if they changed the product. I'm also wondering if perhaps I had gotten some bad diesel when I filled my 5 gallon can.

I'm now considering adding a racor filter in the spring so that I can drain any water that may make its way into the fuel.

 

[jesseb3@att.net]

Wow, that's the lowest number of hours at which I've seen of that problem occurring. I just recently had my BX freeze again, but I realized I hadn't changed the filters in two years. I had just convinced (scolded) myself to change the filters every fall, but that doesn't sound like a sure fix. I guess I'll look at the Racor as well!

 

[Mowbizz]

I too have been having gelling problems. Had a BX24 years ago that always sat outside and NEVER had any fuel delivery problems.
With my new BX 25D with 100 or so hours on it I have had the same problems as you although the temps up here have been very low (zero to teens with wind chills going down to -30)

I actually made room for the BX in my garage and installed a block heater. Yesterday I experienced a couple of "blips" in the fuel delivery but I stopped right away and filled the tank and added PS White to the tank. Problem never surfaced again. I have been thinking about the quality of the diesel as well.
I think the BX fuel filters are a major weak link and would like to upgrade to a better system too. Only trouble is I have no fabrication skills or equipment. If someone were to start selling a bolt on kit I would be on the bandwagon in a heartbeat. With snow falling again and an expected snowfall here over the next 2 days being up to 18" I'll be out on the BX quite a bit. Hopefully the fuel problems will be nonexistent.

Good luck !

 

[oosik]

Hmmmmm I had jelling about 25 years ago. It was -25F - which is just about as cold as I'll ever see around here. Tractor was half way down the driveway - about 1/2 mile from house. Took generator and wife's hair dryer and in about 30 minuets it was going again. Figured the problem was - I was still running summer diesel.

 

[RalphVa]

You could have used a hair dryer on the fuel filter housing and not have had to replace the filter. Add some kerosene before restarting next time.

Had gelling on an old 220D @ -20F. Just had to let it sit for the heat from the engine block to melt the fuel filter stuff and restart. Did it twice before the engine and filter were warm enough to keep going.

Had icing (think that's what it was) on the Jetta's fuel filter. Just put a bulb next to the fuel filter for about and hour to get it going.

Gel is just congealed fuel that will easily melt if heated. Ice is a separate phase but melts, too. Will cause a miss when water drop hits the injectors.

Now, if your Kubota has one of those silly in-line filters like is on my JD 1025, you'll have to heat it up as well.

Ralph

 

[Mendonsy]

I wonder if the fuel you are getting has a high bio-diesel content??? That stuff can turn into mayonnaise below 32 F.

 

[DarkBlack]

Are you sure it cold jelled? Was it shiny black colored. Maybe you have bacteria growth, as I have had a few times.

 

[repete]

Do you keep the tank full when not using? I have found that condensation can form in the tank, especially when less than full, and will naturally settle to the bottom of the fuel tank forming a whitish scum in the fuel filter bowl. It would seem odd that it would be gelling at 25 degrees, but half frozen moisture laden fuel can perhaps seem like waxing.

 

[SLIMSHADIE]

I had a similar isue last year. The temps were worse. I filled up my 5 gallon can and had a full tank in November waiting for snow to fly. It was like the first or second batch of winterblend diesel from the terminal. The Kubota doesnt run much that time of year unless its snowing. I use the same station for the last 8 years to also fill my Dodge Cummins, never had a gelling problem. Its Jan/Feb and jelled for the first time. I was kind of concerned thinking i had the same fuel in my truck. My truck ran fine, it wasnt the same fuel since i fill up weekly.
Lesson learned, keep up with more current fuel. I only filled the Kubota halfway with the winterblend diesel and only bought 3 gallons in my can. If a month went by and i havent used my can, then I dump the 3 gallons in my truck and bought another fresh 3 gallons. No problems this year and its been cold but hardly any snow, so the Kubota mostly sits.
Around here, when they make a batch of diesel for all these stations, they try to forecast less than a 30 day supply period. So every batch in the winter is made to run at lower temps. 2 or 3 month of old fuel is not the same as todays fuel even with power service in it.

 

[SLIMSHADIE]

Bio is anither concern, around here in the summer is fine but not winter.

 

[repete]

Agreed on the bio fuel. As a fire chief, I have changed fleet diesel fuel suppliers to one one that does not use bio-diesel. Too many fuel related problems.

 

[Sawyer Rob]

I've NEVER have had any gelling issues... When fall comes, I switch to premium diesel out of a gas station that sells quite a bit of diesel. Their diesel is fresh and also already blended for winter use...

I also do NOT use any fuel additives at all, in ANY of my diesels...

SR

 

[sdk131]

Yep...wondering about the bio possibility too. Perhaps the station got a batch of it and didn't even know it (or even care). There are zero signs/stickers at the pump indicating a bio blend, but we all know that doesn't mean anything. I filled my car the same day I filled my five gallon can, but of course that was probably 5-6 fills ago in my car.

I've been driving my VW diesel for 11 years and always use additive, fuel at high volume stations (been using this same station for 4 years and have never had an issue), etc. and this was the first fuel problem I have ever had and it was with the bota. The gelling was a white mayonnaise like substance and not algae. Really suspecting a bio blend or possibly bio blend and summer fuel was still at the station at that time.

 

[Mowbizz]

I guess the solution is to buy from a reputable dealer that has good winter blend but how the **** do you know? I use an Irving station right off a very busy highway exit...guess it's time to go refill and hope it's good winter stuff...I have 2 5 gal cans which I had filled early in the season...perhaps that fuel was summer blend?

 

[thatguy]

I wonder if the fuel you are getting has a high bio-diesel content??? That stuff can turn into mayonnaise below 32 F.

OR there was excess water in the fuel that the filter trapped..

 

[dodge man]

Kind of a common problem with the BX. Add a Racor to it and that will help a lot.

 

[George the Beagle]

Mine gelled last week for the first time. I'd just done the 200 hr service w/filter changes, too. I was still using summer diesel w/PS additive, but that's not good enough. It started sputtering behind the house but I was able to nurse it back into the heated garage. Filled my 5 gal jerry can with half diesel and half kero and topped off my tank, which was down about halfway, with that blend which did the trick. Additives are no substitute for properly blended winter diesel IMHO.

 

[MHarryE]

If bio diesel is the problem I should have the worst. Minnesota changed July 1, 2014, to B10 from April through September and B5 October through March. My fuel is October fuel with no gelling problem although I had very bad gelling problems last winter with B2 fuel. My larger Kubota was at the dealer's from November to January having a 3rd function installed and getting new wheels and I did not have time to service it before it left. Consequently the first bowl after the tank, one with a fine mesh screen where the red fuel gelled and stopped things up last year, is now nearly to the drain this water line with water but I don't look forward to breaking into the system when the temperature us below freezing and we haven't seen 30 in several weeks. Last year we had many continuous days below zero but this year we rarely have below zero highs. Having learned what it took to get me running last winter I pitched all my white Power Service and only use 911.

 

[mikehaugen]

I had a little bit of an issue last year one night (after about 3 hours of use) when it was -15f. Worked fine for about 3 or 4 hours but while travelling back home I got a couple little blips where it almost died and I was still about a mile from home- made me quite nervous. It never happened again for the rest of last year and I didn't actually do anything about it. The other day I had an issue where the tractor would run fine but if really pushed it just didn't have as much power. I pulled the filter and there were small white chunks which I assume to be gelled fuel in the secondary filter (paper), and the pre-filter (screen) was fine. I cleaned it with mineral spirits because that's what I had after bringing inside to warm up and the problem went away. It was like 20f that day, so not really that cold... certainly has seen colder weather. Last year was cold, it was the first time I have ever had gas freezing problems in a car... and I have never used heet. Now I do anytime it is supposed to go below about 5f.

I run power service white bottle year-round for the lubrication and never switch to the silver bottle because I had never had an issue. Now maybe I should. I also have never had to use the red "911" bottle, in fact I don't even have any around- I need to reconsider that as well I guess. My question is, since I don't go through a lot of fuel throughout the year and I don't know how long a couple 5 gallon can will last, is there any reason not to run the silver bottle all year?

 

[skyhook]

mikehaugen, I would say your doing fine, diesel will last quite a while.
I would keep a bottle of 911 on hand for those extremely cold days, and throw a couple of "caps" in at fill.
I always throw a couple of caps of "KleenFlo" in my 5 gallon can during winter.
I did have a problem once as you described, it was -25C, closer to -40C with the wind, it made it home, but barely, threw some 911 in and it solved the problem.