Frozen, Gelled fuel

[Don87]

I use Power Service. It's actually rated better than Howes(IIRC). But read the bottle carefully, I think you need to add more at certain temperatures. I always go for the 'max' amount just to be sure. Today may have been 12 degrees, next week might be -15..........just never know.

EDIT: There was a big thread on which additives to use in the 'oil, fuel & lubricants forum last winter.

Double edit: The new ULSD fuels can start 'clouding' at temps of 40F and can gell at temps below 30 degrees.

 

[Firefighter Kubota]

This is my first experience with diesel, but from info I've gotten here on TBN I use PS. It's cheap from Wally and no probs. Though I'm sure the weather here is close to your's. Mine lives inside garage on a carpet even, but I don't want to take any chances especially when it's so easy to avoid.

Ahhhh a "Princess" tractor...:laughing: Sometimes its just best not to say..... HAHA

 

[kuboman]

I am betting your fuel problems are biofuel related. It is being added to diesel now and biofuel turns solid at a relatively high temp. Your best bet is to use a good additive every fill once the temps go down.

 

[cheoah]

We use B99 biodiesel during the warm months exclusively, then switch to B20 or 50 in the winter for machines that will be run regularly. The combine has all of the biodiesel drained out and replaced with No 2 and run for a while so as not to have any bio in the fuel system at all. The time to get the right fuel in your tractor is before cold weather.

Using good clean No 2 with proper winter additive and decent filtration should not gel in the 20's. How long does it take for you to go through a tank of fuel? Is it parked undercover, and do you fill the tank at the end of a hot day in the sun?

Which racor did you mount on your tractor?

 

[carmedic310]

power service diesel 911 in the red plasic bottle is the best thing Ive ever used for jelled fuel

 

[Scooby074]

Which racor did you mount on your tractor?

Racor 120a

 

[WilliamBos]

Kleen flo, Howes, wont touch powerservice with a 10 foot pole.

 

[unbidden]

Does anyone here us Seafoam as an additive and if so, has it helped in preventing gelling?

 

[crazyal]

Since I get my off road diesel the same time I get my heating oil, late spring to early summer when the price is usually the best, it usually doesn't have any anti gel in it. I'll I've ever used is power service, it's easy to get. Never had an issue, even with the cold nights we see I've never had it gel up. My guess is that if your seeing gelling issues with any additive then it's most likely either you are not adding it in the correct ratio or something unrelated is happening.

 

[kw22614]

Ahhhh a "Princess" tractor...:laughing: Sometimes its just best not to say..... HAHA

I know how to treat my girls who know how to treat me! You ought to see what wifey gets.
I bet if you ask real nice Santa will bring you a carpet too!!
(Biggest case of "carpet envy" I've ever seen) :laughing::laughing::thumbsup:

 

[Scooby074]

I got my princess to get rid of all her carpet. Best thing she ever did

 

[kw22614]

I got my princess to get rid of all her carpet. Best thing she ever did

:rotfl:

 

[avc8130]

Since I get my off road diesel the same time I get my heating oil, late spring to early summer when the price is usually the best, it usually doesn't have any anti gel in it.

Be careful, that sounds like it could be false economy. Doing some math, white bottle Power Service is $.144.gallon to treat for below 0F conditions. There may be times it might work out cheaper to just buy the fuel with anti-gel in it.

ac

 

[Don87]

Be careful, that sounds like it could be false economy. Doing some math, white bottle Power Service is $.144.gallon to treat for below 0F conditions. There may be times it might work out cheaper to just buy the fuel with anti-gel in it.

ac

If they actually put it in.

The last trucking company I drove for installed their own tanks. I personally talked to the fuel delivery guy and asked if it was treated. He assured me that it was. I filled up, brought the truck home..........and it gelled up. The fuel was not treated at all and cost the company several hundred dollars for my truck alone.

I was told by the company shop that 30 of our trucks gelled up that weekend.

 

[sw03]

From 1997 I used Power Service till I noticed issues with UOA (stopped in 2001). Never use Power Service again in my diesels..... Since 2001 never use anything but a TC3W oil in fuel. I have my BX in MASS and no issues. Used the BX today (started just fine after 5 seconds glowing) to remove loader since we were to get some snow last night.

 

[newbury]

To thaw filter -
Put large heavy duty plastic bag around it (gallon Ziploc in my case) fill with hot water, repeat.

 

[gsmaneeley]

Ahhhh a "Princess" tractor...:laughing: Sometimes its just best not to say..... HAHA

Firefighter,

I just had -22 on 1/24 and I was very skeptical to even turn the key. But I had to clean up after a storm and there was no choice. I just went to a local auto store and got a magnetic heater put it on the oil pan and put a hair dryer on for about 1/2 hour and she fired like a true princess small cloud of diesel mist but no prob. I use PB and K100 additives (both in winter) and made sure I had winter blend diesel. (not sure if it would have started without the heater or hair dryer but I just wanted to think I did something).

 

[eray1066]

While living in Rangeley Maine. I ran diesels in -40 degrees F occasionally and -20 degrees F for weeks at a time. The local diesel stations would put a clear jar on top of the pump with fuel from that pump in it. When really cold, you could see the paraffin flakes floating in the fuel just looking for a filter to clog. I used 50% to 100% kerosene whenever it got real cold. Mercedes Benz at one time allowed up to 35% regular gas by volume to cut the diesel. In a pinch I would do the regular gas trick. My engines all lasted from 160,000 to 245,000 so no ill effects in my experience. There are too many people and variables involved from the refinery to the pump to trust a clerk who says the diesel is treated. I have seen Arctic diesel from Irving gel.

 

[cheoah]

Great post. Love the idea of the jar on the tank if I was fueling in that climate.

 

[crazyal]

Be careful, that sounds like it could be false economy. Doing some math, white bottle Power Service is $.144.gallon to treat for below 0F conditions. There may be times it might work out cheaper to just buy the fuel with anti-gel in it.

ac

The usual price difference between late spring and fall is $.50 or more so it's almost never worth it.