Fuel addative

[coobie]

I use nothing, and do't even bother with winter diesel. Never had a problem in 9 years, and it gets down to -30 or more up at the cottage. Should I be worried?

To each his own.Just stating what works for me.I don"t know if you should be worried or not time will tell.

 

[Gary Fowler]

I agree with Coobie in that everyone has a tale about this and that that works for them. Personally I have never used any additives in my diesel and never had any issue with gelling or slime in the tank. Some folks do however have problems with both issues. I know when I worked in Northern Alberta Canada we had -40 temps much of the time and none of the equipment got special additives other than winter blend fuel. If the winter fuel blend is done right, you shouldn't have any issue with it. NOW, how do you know it is good for low temps. NO WAY for the average Joe to know so now we have special additives to prevent certain things (at least advertised properties) that get folks to buying them by urban myths and tales and the low life suppliers that sell us summer blend in the winter because they still have some in stock. I think this issue is what causes all the tales of needing additive started.

Whether or not they are required is unprovable since lots of users can say that they have used XXXXXX for 10-40 year and never had a problem. How can we prove that those users would not have had a problem if they didn't use the snake oil? We cant, which is why the products continue to be used.

I do know that one additive works for gasoline storage and that is STABIL. I know first hand what not putting it in my lawnmower gas did vs putting it in every year since.

 

[thatguy]

one thing to think of.. If you are from a more northern state, then go to say SC on a trip and fill up, that fuel may or may not be winterized.. And when you get back to your colder, home state you may have issues..

Also those in extremely cold area will def have winterized fuel.. But other areas that dont get that cold may or may not.

Just some thoughts if you fuel up outside of your home area..

Brian

 

[D2Cat]

I've never taken my tractor on a vacation trip!

 

[powerscol]

All I can say if things do go wrong, their 911 anti-jell works like a charm. It will re-liquidity a tank in no time. I had run some summer biodiesel (never again) and it jelled at about 10 degrees, and I mean jelled. I first pulled the fuel filter and cleaned the bowl and filled it with 911 and added the rest to the tank and stirred what I could. In a few minutes tank fuel was fine. Then borrowed the wife's hair blower :shocked: and heated the fuel lines and injector lines. She wanted the drive way plowed. What was dumb on my part is I forgot to plug it in the night before, but the tank would have jelled anyway. . Took about 15 minutes of heating everything up and she started fine.

 

[FreedomFamilyFarms]

Not sure where in northern Indiana you are but I purchase ag diesel at the Countrymark Station in Fort Wayne. They’ve already converted to a winter blend.

 

[TheMan419]

Not sure where in northern Indiana you are but I purchase ag diesel at the Countrymark Station in Fort Wayne. They’ve already converted to a winter blend.

I'm over by south bend. Interestingly while my property is rural the closest gas stations are in the city. They sell diesel but I would not trust their pump jockeys to know what blend is in the tank.

The weather men and women here are all predicting a colder and snowier winter.

 

[FreedomFamilyFarms]

Looks like you have some Countrymark locations close by. The one I use sells Ag diesel and ethanol free gasoline which I prefer for my small engines. They both store well.

 

[edgarrian]

Live in Indiana and I don't use it and just use summer blend as a i have 60 gallon tank that i just filled. I work in north dakota where I have seen temps -50 and in alaska where temps have been -80. Some equipment gels and some doesn't. I didn't add anything to the pickups i drove and never once gelled up. I think people worry to much about that stuff as for additives

 

[FreedomFamilyFarms]

edgarrian- How far north and what tractor? I’ve wondered if I could just skip the fuel additives and seasonal blends altogether. Would be nice to know how cold it needs to be to really worry about it. My Kubota’s weak spot is most likely the fully exposed fuel filters. Even wondered about making a kind of zip on insulated sleeve to slip around the filters and fuel line where the gelling is most likely to occur.

Also, if you keep plain kerosene around you can cut your diesel with it to prevent gelling. I’ve been running a 50:50 mix for a month now just trying to dispose of some old K-1 my brother needed to get rid of. Runs great, smells a little funny.

 

[s219]

I generally buy diesel 55-110 gallons at a time, and that may mean I get summer fuel and have it through winter. Certainly for my generator tank, the fuel may span several years. So I always add anti-gel, as well as biocide, whenever I get a new tank.

I will say this, I have vivid memories of watching my dad deal with gelled diesel 1-2 times when growing up in Connecticut, and it was no fun. He had a building/construction business. Can take a normal day of work and make it zero productivity. He could not count on his employees to care about this so he had to really get on them to treat fuel on the "fringes" of the cold season.

 

[powerscol]

Live in Indiana and I don't use it and just use summer blend as a i have 60 gallon tank that i just filled. I work in north dakota where I have seen temps -50 and in alaska where temps have been -80. Some equipment gels and some doesn't. I didn't add anything to the pickups i drove and never once gelled up. I think people worry to much about that stuff as for additives

I would say your a lucky fellow. Most trucks now a days have a fuel heater and the return line puts heated fuel near the tank pickup - at least my Ford is that way. However I have had fuel jell even with this feature after driving back from Mississippi (straight #2) in the winter and having it start to jell in north Texas that might. I always carry a quart of the PS 911 (orange bottle) just in case. I mentioned before what I had to do with my tractor when I forgot what was in it.

 

[Shady oak]

50/50 #2 and #1 will run in any weather, but I never go that thin. I never use additive. I have a 955 JD with a Yanmar, which seems fairly forgiving. I normally add a gallon of number one in the six gallon tank. Has never failed me, whether started inside, or out.

 

[Shady oak]

I might add this. A lot has to do with the specific engine, type of injection, fuel filter location, and amount of return. I used to own some trucks. The Mercedes in Freightliners would run in any weather, once you got them warmed up. The Detroits DD's were idiot proof, and the Pacar's were a disaster.

 

[Halftrack]

A couple of ideas for you. I assume you keep your TC inside of some type of shelter which prevents that fuel from getting "outside" cold. Also I believe your tank is under the hood which will help warm the fuel once the engine warms up and let it warm up to op temp before putting it under load. Put your tranny in neutral and put a little toe into the hydro pedal and set the cruise to help warm up the tranny at the same time. Your injector pump recirculates fuel back into the tank which helps warm that fuel too. To get away from the additives, I have been using premium diesel fuel I obtain from the bulk plant on the north east side of Bremen. I have not had any problems since using it for the last 8 years, but only use it during the winter and go back to off road diesel during the summer. If there is a gelling problem, you will see it cloud up in the fuel bowl around the filter. Good luck.

 

[TheMan419]

A couple of ideas for you. I assume you keep your TC inside of some type of shelter which prevents that fuel from getting "outside" cold. Also I believe your tank is under the hood which will help warm the fuel once the engine warms up and let it warm up to op temp before putting it under load. Put your tranny in neutral and put a little toe into the hydro pedal and set the cruise to help warm up the tranny at the same time. Your injector pump recirculates fuel back into the tank which helps warm that fuel too. To get away from the additives, I have been using premium diesel fuel I obtain from the bulk plant on the north east side of Bremen. I have not had any problems since using it for the last 8 years, but only use it during the winter and go back to off road diesel during the summer. If there is a gelling problem, you will see it cloud up in the fuel bowl around the filter. Good luck.

Yes she is inside. Tank is under the hood. Not sure driving from South Side of South Bend to Bremen for 10 gal of fuel is worth it. Additives would be cheaper

In any event the warm up tips are good! Nice to know where I can get better fuel if I need it.

 

[arizona98tj]

Are all winter blends the same? If you lived in the north country and bought diesel in November, would the diesel you buy in mid-January be the same blend?

 

[PILOON]

My 2 cents.
If ever you gelled up you would not hesitate to use an additive.
I have 'limped home' a couple of times as I probably had summer fuel and froze my (you know what) off thawing that gelled fuel system.

Never again, the anti gelling stuff is a very cheap insurance.

 

[FreedomFamilyFarms]

The winter mixes are progressively more gel resistant. The folks at Countrymark tell me they use additives this time of year, then add kerosene when it gets really cold.