Is this what gelling looks like?

[GeneV]

I run power service and an algaecide, and pour the fuel into the tank via a Mr. Funnel.

 

[Deepdrop]

Peter315, yes, buying it at the Fort. Yep!

 

[Peter 315]

I run summer fuel all year with PS .... I would get some double the dose add it to the fuel can before you add fuel put in half a gallon of fuel and shake it up then fill it .......

 

[ruffdog]

Do some testing by putting a fuel sample in the freezer. I have a small clear plastic bottle that i freeze so you know what you are buying. The fuel will start to be a bit cloudy or hazy, then you will see more opaque swirls of white particles. Then you will see it start to settle on the bottom of the bottle. As it warms up it goes back to clear. The particles just start to get filtered out of the fuel until it gets plugged. The freezer I test at is -3F and a good winter fuel is clear at that temp.

 

[LouNY]

The dye has nothing to do with the fuel gelling.
Around here most of the Stewarts shops and Mobil stations that carry diesel also carry kerosene.
All of the home heating oil companys have kerosene they may have a minimum amount though,
I usually take a barrel over to the farm to be filled when they bring the farm fuel they do the blending at that time,
he has kerosene in one compartment and #2 diesel (fuel) oil in the others at our desired ratio.
The main reason you find the gelling in your filters is that it is tiny particles of paraffin your fuel filter is designed to stop
small particles from getting to your injection pump. It would take quite a bit of heat to liquidfy that paraffin,
it can be done. You can also get jacketed fuel lines that are heated by engine coolant and heated filter bases it all depends on
how you wish to prevent or cure the issue.

 

[Reb954]

Years ago I was heading down I-80 across southern Wyoming, in the Red Desert area. Driving a semi hauling boom and counter weights. The engine starts loosing power. This is early in the morning, pitch black and bitterly cold with virtually no traffic. I figured the fuel filters had gelled. The only resource I had to warm up the filters was a match and a can of starter fluid. I used the starting fluid as a blow torch to warm up the filters. After a few minutes of warming I could hear the sound of the engine change so I knew it was getting fuel. I gave it a couple more minutes, closed the hood and went on my way. No more problems.

 

[Richard]

Side question regarding gelling, if I may.

So his filter is plugged and it's cold outside.

If he were to wait until warmer weather (forget that he might need tractor in meantime!!)

Will this gelled stuff "melt back" or dissolve into the diesel and life goes on or since it's been precipitated out, the only way to get rid of it is physically remove it?

Knocking on wood.....I've never had a fuel issue.....yet.

 

[LouNY]

Some of the softer 'slimy" gell will dissolve back into the fuel, unfortunately there isn't enough fuel volume in the filter housing.
Also some of the paraffin harder particles the fuel will have to get quite warm to dissolve, above 45F.

 

[NWOH_Grizz]

I've had fuel gelling issues in the past, when it gets to 0 degrees F or lower. Always at the filter, like everybody else. I had always used Power Service white bottle, and am now convinced that stuff is far from the best, even at high concentrations. My tractor would be hard to start at anything below 5 degrees, and ran rough and surged for several minutes. Last fall, I changed to Hot Shot. Last week we had temps around -7 to -10, and that tractor had to start because we had 15 inches of snow I had to plow. One 10 second cycle on the glow plugs, hit the key, it fired right up in 2 seconds each time. Ran smooth right from the go-get, no issues at all. Hot Shot is the only additive I'll ever use in that tractor in the future. Calls for 1/2 oz per 5 gallons, I had put in a 3/4 oz - 5 gallon concentration on the last previous fill.

Also, be very careful using that red bottle 911 Power Service. It shouldn't be used as a substitute for whatever other additive you're using. It to take care of an immediate gelling problem, not as a long term additive. Read the directions carefully. I think somebody else here mentioned a You Tube video comparing the various diesel fuel additives. There is an excellent one by a guy that calls himself Project Farm. He puts out a lot of videos where he compares various items. He is scientific and impartial, and I recommend people take a look at his stuff. The one on diesel additives is extremely good.

 

[RalphVa]

Side question regarding gelling, if I may.

So his filter is plugged and it's cold outside.

If he were to wait until warmer weather (forget that he might need tractor in meantime!!)

Will this gelled stuff "melt back" or dissolve into the diesel and life goes on or since it's been precipitated out, the only way to get rid of it is physically remove it?

Knocking on wood.....I've never had a fuel issue.....yet.

Yep. Gel is just solidified wax from the fuel. Wax turns to good fuel or oil above its solid point.