Oil & Fuel Diesel, Water plus Cold Weather

[Dave246]

This is my fourth winter with my 2210 here in upstate NY. The first year I had the gelling problem even when using Power Service winter anti-gel treatment whenever the temp's got near zero for a few days (the tractor stays in an unheated shed.) I switched to cutting the diesel with 20% kero (1 gallon kero + 4 gallons diesel = full tank) and have never had the gelling problems again. We just had some of the coldest weather in years and she started right up and ran well. Don't seem to be any negative effects to the kero mixture after four years of doing it either.

 

[Skyco]

yep I used lots of diesel treatment in my fuel, matter of fact I doubled what was recommended. but I still had problems

With all the posts recently about winter fuel problems I've been doing a lot of reading. One thing I came across is that more fuel treatment isn't necessarily better. In fact the cold gelling/cloud point can go back up if too much is used of some of the additives. Sort of like how antifreeze protects more at certain ratios and adding more raises the freeze point.

 

[mfreund]

I learned #1 diesel = Jet fuel A = kerosene. I like the 20% kerosene but that is one more fuel can in the garage. Is all kerosene the same??

 

[Dale1995]

I learned #1 diesel = Jet fuel A = kerosene. I like the 20% kerosene but that is one more fuel can in the garage. Is all kerosene the same??

In my area we have 2 types of kerosene one is called K1 and is cleaner and more refined, this is what i used in my tractor fuel mix. It does cost a little more but I think its worth it. I also use this in my portable heater(salamander) You can also buy the standard kerosene. its your choice

 

[cast_and_blast]

Been using Power Service on the farm (when I was growing up) and now in my 2305 since I've owned it. This is the first winter I've had any type of gelling. Couldn't get the Power Service 911 so I fired up both of my ice house heaters and warmed up the tractor.

Thought I got some bum diesel at first, but have been hearing of too many problems from too many diesel owners this year. It's not like it doesn't get to -25F here every single year for at least a week...something else has changed.

Scott

 

[dirtworksequip]

cast_and_blast, the fuel we are getting today isn't the fuel of yesteryear. If you do some reading you will find that the additives of yesterday won't always work on todays fuel. Right now it's sort of a hit or miss on fuel. I think you are better off to mix a little kero in just for that extra insurance.

Sincerely, Dirt

 

[mfreund]

I coming to the same conclusion as Dirt. Kerosene also could be the cheaper route as the additives aren't effective at below 0 F. If you read the attachment from Gizmo2, time also causes problems with wax settling out. At my work, this seems to be the bigger problem with the trucks sitting over the weekend we are getting plugged filters above 10 F.

 

[cast_and_blast]

Could be that kerosene is the way to go. I do know it's no fun to have snow to clear and be hampered by the tractor coughing and sputtering. I don't mind working on equipment, I just would rather do it when it's 75 degress instead of -15 degrees.

Almost February - my thoughts are turning to Spring (I know, it's MN...)

Scott

 

[LBrown59]

*

*
1*Could be that kerosene is the way to go.
2*Almost February - my thoughts are turning to Spring (I know, it's MN...)
Scott

1*Unless you mix in 2 much Kero which can be easy to do since winter blend already is a mixture of kero and diesel.
2*I always consider 2/28 the last day of winter.

 

[Karl2]

With all the posts recently about winter fuel problems I've been doing a lot of reading. One thing I came across is that more fuel treatment isn't necessarily better.

That must be the reason why I never have any problems with the winterized fuel supply I obtained from a supplier (Irving Oil) renown among machinery operators as a winter specialist. Must be the right proportions from the start.