Gelling in fuel, GC2410

[ScottW]

All, thanks for more suggestions. I haven't had the combination of low temperatures and needing to clear snow again since I first had the problem. I do have the OEM block heater in my tractor, and it certainly helps with starting, though my impression was that it did not help avoid gelling. In the future when we get the unusual combination of lots of snowfall and temperatures in the single digits F, I may put the tractor inside the garage and put a car out in the cold carport. Overall, I think the best option for me is to use some additive liberally, especially with any diesel bought before the heart of winter. I assumed I had winterized fuel all through the line by that time, but maybe I was wrong--chalk it up to the fuel-sipping quality of these machines!

 

[cdaigle430]

All, thanks for more suggestions. I haven't had the combination of low temperatures and needing to clear snow again since I first had the problem. I do have the OEM block heater in my tractor, and it certainly helps with starting, though my impression was that it did not help avoid gelling. In the future when we get the unusual combination of lots of snowfall and temperatures in the single digits F, I may put the tractor inside the garage and put a car out in the cold carport. Overall, I think the best option for me is to use some additive liberally, especially with any diesel bought before the heart of winter. I assumed I had winterized fuel all through the line by that time, but maybe I was wrong--chalk it up to the fuel-sipping quality of these machines!

Correct, it wont help with gelling in the tank or filter but will help in the injectors and block.

 

[Jerry/MT]

All, thanks for more suggestions. I haven't had the combination of low temperatures and needing to clear snow again since I first had the problem. I do have the OEM block heater in my tractor, and it certainly helps with starting, though my impression was that it did not help avoid gelling. In the future when we get the unusual combination of lots of snowfall and temperatures in the single digits F, I may put the tractor inside the garage and put a car out in the cold carport. Overall, I think the best option for me is to use some additive liberally, especially with any diesel bought before the heart of winter. I assumed I had winterized fuel all through the line by that time, but maybe I was wrong--chalk it up to the fuel-sipping quality of these machines!

The block heater heats the coolant and it makes for easier starting in cold weather when the battery output is down and the cylinder temperature due to compressionn are lower and the lube oil and hydraulic oils have higher viscosity than when the ambient temperatures are higher. It will have no effect on the fuel temperture in the filter and the water separator where gelling is the problem. There are filter heaters available but for most of us, simply treating the fuel with a good winter additive or having winterized fuel is enough. There is a treatment called 911 that is for use when the fuel in the filter has gelled but it's meant for that emergency situation and not for general fuel treatment.

I just filled my diesel tank and I always add PS White per the label (1 ounce per 3 gallons of diesel) more to deal with the possibilty of water contamination than for gelling, but there is some benefit for gelling prevention also.

If I buy fuel before in the fall before early November I treat it with PS White and also add #1 diesel to the #2 diesel in a 1:2 ratio(#1:#2). I can honestly say i have never had a problem attributed to fuel gelling in over 13 years of operating diesel tractors.

My advice to you is to treat your fuel with a good diesel additive made for winter diesel operation and consider blending some #1 diesel with your fuel if you are filling a big tank in the fall before the winterized fuel is available.

Try to keep you tractor's tank as full as possible to minimize water condensation. I don't let mine get below a half tank and probably I should not let it get below 3/4 tank. Drain your water separator/fuel filter regularly to rid it of any water.

Change your fuel filter in the fall (I believe a partially clogged filter makes the gelling and /or icing situation more common) and keep a spare filter available. Murphy's Law says that a run down due to fuel issues will occur at the worst possible time- in the middle of the worst blizard in 100 years or during a Blue Norther when you have to get to town in an emergency and your inoperative tractor is blocking the driveway!

 

[ray66v]

Yes, Power Service 911, seems to be the only product so far, in researching this, that people say can help you once your fuel has jelled.

Heat seems to be the only other option at that point.

 

[Don87]

Yes, Power Service 911, seems to be the only product so far, in researching this, that people say can help you once your fuel has jelled.

Heat seems to be the only other option at that point.

That's the key.

Power Service 911 is only supposed to be used when the fuel is already gelled.

It was never manufactured for/nor intended to be used as a daily or weekly diesel fuel additive. It's intended use is for emergencies.

P.S. Ray, I only added this comment to your post to add to what you already posted. This is although directed at the post made by seville009.

P.P.S. To the OP.............I will never again rely on the delivery truck driver to be honest with me about additives added to the fuel after my tractor trailer gelled up after fueling at our terminal. My company had to go buy additives and add to their tank after my truck(and several others) gelled up. And my Massey gelled up last year after I purchased fuel at the local gas station............the same station owned by the local concrete company(his own trucks fuel there). Whooda thunk it.

 

[ljohnson778]

Yeah, plenty of people say "I've never run an additive, and no problems yet". Those are the people asking - "why doesn't my truck/tractor start now that it's x below zero?"... I've always run an additive, and never, read never, had a problem.

 

[LBrown59]

1*My heating oil tanks set outside.
2*Using regular HHO, it gelled the first winter. That particular winter, my BIL told us to put around 10% K1 in the tanks. It cleared up immediately.
3* After that, I buy Diesel Supreme for HHO, and was actually cheaper this year, than regular HHO.

1*Do you fill your tractor from this tank?I sure would.
2*HHO on road and off road are just ULSD here.
3*The only thing we have here is plain old ULSD.

 

[LBrown59]

no, winterized diesel generally doesn't need any more additives, unless you get an unusual cold snap.

That's why it's winterized .