Fuel addative

[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.