Jelled Fuel

[ovrszd]

You can't winterize #2 diesel into #1 winter diesel. The paraffin wax is still in there. One can add a brew of elixirs and potions to try and keep the wax dissolved but good luck.
Time to drain and re-fill with real #1 diesel or kerosene.
Winter #1 diesel is not #2 diesel mixed with kerosene either.

You are absolutely right. An additive will not magically turn #2 diesel into #1 diesel. #1 diesel has a lot lower cetane rating than #2, so you certainly don't want to make that transformation because you'll suffer a loss of power.

I know nothing about elixirs and potions. But I know what Power Service and Howes additive will do to #2 diesel. It lowers the gel point significantly. And as for Power Service White Bottle, one ounce will treat 3 gallons of #2 diesel and lower the gel point to -40F.

Straight #1 diesel has a lot less lubricant in it. I would read the owners manual or inquire directly to the manufacturer about the safety of using it without a lubricant additive.

I run straight #2 diesel in my Super Duty with the appropriate doseage of Power Service with no problems. I also run a John Deere road grader using the same "elixir and potion" mixture in sub zero temps with no problems.

 

[ovrszd]

Forgot to mention, I have also ran a 50/50% blend of #1 diesel and #2 diesel in the road grader. There is a noticeable drop in useable HP running that blend. That's why I prefer the Power Service White Bottle additive in straight #2.

 

[buickanddeere]

Cetane no more affects the btu's and mileage of diesel fuel. Than octane affects btu's and mileage of gasoline.
Somebody is also mixing up ignition temperature and flash point.

Gasoline has a higher ignition temperature than diesel but a lower flash point.

Mileage and power drops with #1 winter diesel because it contains less btu's per gallon. Those long chain paraffin wax chains that were removed had a lot more carbon atoms per chain than the shorter/lighter molecular chains left with more hydrogen.

 

[diesel lover]

Cetane no more affects the btu's and mileage of diesel fuel. Than octane affects btu's and mileage of gasoline. Somebody is also mixing up ignition temperature and flash point. Gasoline has a higher ignition temperature than gasoline but a lower flash point. Mileage and power drops with #1 winter diesel because it contains less btu's per gallon. Those long chain paraffin wax chains that were removed had a lot more carbon atoms per chain than the shorter/lighter molecular chains left with more hydrogen.

Thank you for pointing that out. I do believe I mixed up the terms ignition point and flash point.

To correct this I will say while the vapor of diesel fuel is ignited at between 140 and 190F depending on fuel grades and other differences in diesel fuel.

The vapor gasoline produces can be ignited at near -45 degs F.

This easily explains the large differences between the two fuels. Diesel fuel needs to be preheated before it is ignitable

 

[ovrszd]

Gasoline has a higher ignition temperature than gasoline but a lower flash point.

What???

 

[buickanddeere]

Gasoline has a higher ignition temperature than diesel but a lower flash point.

What???

Yup

 

[buickanddeere]

I bought a fuel filter heater and fuel filter thermostat for my JD but have yet to get around to installing it. The heater should allow just about any gummy old #2 diesel to flow through the filter in the coldest of weather.

 

[MarkF48]

Just posting a picture of my own bowl of jello :licking:

My tractor doesn't get frequent use and much of the fuel left in the tank was likely from late fall and may have been more of a "summer" grade diesel. A proper dose of 911 seems to have kept me going since I had the problem.

 

[ovrszd]

I bought a fuel filter heater and fuel filter thermostat for my JD but have yet to get around to installing it. The heater should allow just about any gummy old #2 diesel to flow through the filter in the coldest of weather.

If you expect to be able to run straight #2 with no additive in the coldest of weather with just the addition of a fuel filter heater you are going to be greatly disappointed. Your fuel will get in the tank and look similar to MarkF48's picture and will never flow to the filter heater.

My neighbor filled his 500 gallon storage tank with straight #2 fuel a few years ago. Couldn't pump it out of the tank until the temps rose back up into the high teens. Then he added Power Service White Bottle to the tank and used the pump to circulate it. Then was able to use the tank the rest of the Winter.

 

[wbb]

View attachment 359593

Hello ksbowhuner I have went the extra mile and while I was getting fuel I checked out the precautions and directions of power service diesel 911. The picture above is the back of the bottle. I myself am a heavy truck technician but I also work on other equipment and am very interested in learning the correct procedure to completing task the right way.

Note it says on the bottle the safe mixture is 50% d911 to diesel fuel inside the fuel filter. If it were me, I would remove the fuel filter, replace with new fuel filter and add between 1/3 to 1/2 D911 to the filter. Add the rest to the fuel tank if any is left.

I purchased a tool box and tools from a tool man in my area and make regular payments. I saw an opened bottle of diesel 911 on his truck. He made the comment that he uses it as a regular winter anti gel and conditioner. NOTE as it says on the bottle this is not the correct use for the product. Although it de-ices and liquifies fuel instantly it DOES not work as an anti-gel to keep fuel unthawed permently. It will unthaw the wax that has formed but it will not keep the wax unthawed, it will let it freeze/wax over again.

It's best to apply this product in the fuel tank and or the fuel filter and also apply an anti-gel formulated chemical. As said Howes and the power service white bottles are just great products!

I am familiar with someone who had a dodge one ton pickup truck, and a 5.9 common rail cummins engine. The injectors were going out on his truck and it was a rather costly fix. In order to get him through the next few months of winter he would add a bottle of Diesel 911 every single fuel tank. His injectors would not atomize the fuel properly for a complete burn in cold temperatures. It was a hard starting truck. What did the diesel 911 do in this case? It lowered the combustion temperatures required for the fuel to ignite. For instance adding gasoline to diesel lowers the ignition point. It's something I do not practice doing. I do not add gasoline to diesel fuel. It's an unsafe practice. The vapor of diesel fuel no 2 is ignitable between 140 and 200F roughly depending on blend etc. Gasoline's vapor is ignitable -45F.
If injectors cannot properly atomize the fuel in cold weather to start, you may need to lower the ignition point. This is normally correctly done with a blend of number one and number 2 diesel fuel mixed. My friend was using diesel 911 to lower his ignition point of the fuel. Did he cause any fuel system damage? I'm not sure. Once he had the money was he able to install fuel injectors and the engine ran like new again? Yes.

Didn't know if you wanted a long explanation but there it is!

If you ever have to use diesel 911 use it correctly and add fuel anti-gel shortly after. Enjoy

Wow, i did not know that. I 'assumed' that 911 was 'extra strength' Power Service (white bottle)
That explains why we can use 911 to get the CTL going when it gels up, but after a while it will bog down again and lose power.
We even dosed a 100 gallon transfer tank with 911 thinking that would be good for winter use.
From now on it will be...
911 for emergencies only and also always add Power Service to the fuel when below 20 - 25 degrees.

Learn something new every day
especially in these forums.