Ga. cold and diesel fuel

[John Weaver]

Don't laugh, but it is cold here in Georgia. This is my first winter owning a tractor. I filled my 5 gal. fuel can about 3 months ago, but have not used it since. Is the fuel still good to use? The temp. has been as low as 16F for short times, and stayed in the 20F - 35F range for the last two weeks. We are currently in a heat wave (50F) and I want to use this fuel. What do you think? John.

 

[Thomas]

John,
If you think the diesel fuel might jell pick up some anti jell.
Fill your fuel tank and than add three or four cap fulls {depending on the size of your tank} than add some anti jell in your storage tank.

I always had good luck w/ Gunk anti jell,or you could vist your dealer.

I don't think to many are laughing this winter about the snow an ice plus the cold,sure has been a strange winter so far. /w3tcompact/icons/shocked.gif

Thomas..NH /w3tcompact/icons/wink.gif

 

[TomG]

My can of anti-gel says that wax crystals can form in #2 diesel in temperatures as warm as 32F--of course they're trying to sell their product. I believe that cloud points of some winter blends sold in some regions are 15F. You could have a fuel problem, and anti-gel would be a good idea. You might pour a bit of fuel into a clear container and see if the fuel appears cloudy. If it's cloudy then wax crystals may have formed, and use of the fuel may slowly clog the fuel filter.

My can of additive also gives directions for treating large quantities of fuel. I bought a large plastic veterinarian syringe so I get the measures accurate.

 

[Anonymous Poster]

Instead of using "expensive" anti-gel... just mix kerosene up to a 50/50 mix. 1st. it will "restore" some old diesel fuel laying around, 2nd it will "winterize" your fuel and prevent jelling down to about -20 F.

For an experiment, take put some diesel fuel in a clear jar, put it outside for 4 hours @ 0 F... feels & looks like vasoline... that's jelling!

 

[John Weaver]

Are you guys saying that if my fuel is not cloudy (I use the green on-road stuff, more expensive, but easy to find) it is OK to use? Thanks, John.

 

[TomG]

Kerosene works and so does #1 diesel. However, kerosene is a more refined product that provides less lubrication for the injector pump. I use anti-gel additive year around even with regular off-road #2 fuel because most additives also have a pump lubricant.

Right now I'm running close to straight off-road #1 fuel, which has a cloud point around -25F. I does get colder than that here, and I still use an additive. Kerosene & #1 also have lower flash points than #2, so it should start a bit easier as well. Kerosene and #1 fuel do produce a bit less power than #2, but I have more traction than power problems during the winter anyway.

 

[heehaw]

i know some of you aren't going to believe this, cause i didn't when it was told to me, a friend drove a vw diesel truck for quite a while, in the owners manual, it said if the temp was below 32 for extended periods, mix a gallon of gas with every ???? ( seems like it was 5 ) gallons of diesel. like i said, i didn't believe it till he brought the owners manual in..i don't remember the exact ratio; but he had a pretty good hill to pull going home; and said it made a big difference, not counting how much better it started..
heehaw

 

[RobS]

I don't think I'll try that mixture in my tractor, just doesn't seem right. Fuel additives like Power Service are pretty cheap help. Does anyone know what happens to a diesel engine if you run straight gasoline in it? Someone once told me the engine will rev out of control until something disintegrates. Not planning on trying it, just curious.

Rob

 

[geneP]

Rob, Filling a diesel engine's fuel tank with gasoline will cause it to stop running. I know because the fuel vendor put gasoline in a diesel truck while we were fighting an ice storm. The truck didn't make it off the parking lot. It was taken to a diesel shop, drained, refilled with diesel, bled, and started. To my knowledge no damage was done. The ratio of gas/diesel might be varied so that it will run enough to harm the engine.

I do understand that if a solvent is introduced through the air intake the engine will run away.

If this isn't correct, somebody jump in.

 

[Thomas]

Never heard of someone do that. /w3tcompact/icons/shocked.gif
If I remember right the older John Deere 1010 started on gas than swtich over to diesel.

Thomas..NH /w3tcompact/icons/wink.gif