Sta-bil for diesel discontinued

Dargo · Dec 6, 2004

( Now I'll admit I'm not sure how far south in Indiana you are located)

If I stand on my roof, I can see KY; but please don't hold that against me. /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif Ya, I know, now I'll have everyone from KY loading me with Indiana jokes! I was only being funny.

Dargo · Dec 6, 2004

Oh yeah, my fuel tank and all of my equipment is in my barn. I don't recall it ever getting below freezing in the insulated barn. I fortunately have never had any issue with jelling.

Bob_Skurka · Dec 6, 2004

If I stand on my roof, I can see KY; but please don't hold that against me. Ya, I know, now I'll have everyone from KY loading me with Indiana jokes! I was only being funny.


Now why would the Kentuckians be upset with you? Afterall we built that new bridge across the river so they could swim to Indiana in the shade.

By the way, I don't think you really need anti-gel, but if you are a belt & suspender sort of extra careful guy, buy a quart (enough for 100 gallons) and put it in your 300 gallon tank. You are more at risk in your fuel lines if you take the tractor outside than in your storage tank.

Oops, I forgot the smiley when I wrote the joke about the new bridge /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif Yea, sure I forgot /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif

PineRidge · Dec 6, 2004

Bob we have used Power Service in our diesel for the past 6 years here in Ohio and never had a problem with gelling. The bottle says: disperses water, cleans fuel injectors, de-ices fuel filters, re-liquefies gelled fuel.

Yet on the back of the jug it says: diesel fuel supplement provides optimum fuel reliability even in cold sub-zero temperatures when engine is in continuous operation. If engine is to be shut down for extended periods during severs cold add Power Service Diesel Lube or Arctic Express Diesel Fuel Antigel.

We always thought we were covered in the past and now we read the fine print. Geeze! /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif

So tell me what is the 9-11 product that I have seen on the shelves?

Bob_Skurka · Dec 7, 2004

So tell me what is the 9-11 product that I have seen on the shelves? 

I dunno. We are not a distributor for that product line.

As for diesel, there are 3 big issues with that fuel (and guys I am not an expert, I just run a fleet of trucks so if a mechanic wants to jump in you'd probably get better information).

Issue #1. Water in the fuel.
Issue #2. Frozen (gelled) fuel.
Issue #3. Algae growth in the fuel.

Issue #1 is resolved by buying from a good source, keeping your tanks full to eliminate condensation and making sure your water separator is in good condition.

Issue #2 is simple to resolve if you use an anti-gel. They say anti-gel on the FRONT OF THE BOTTLE and they work. I see very little need for a conditioner, etc. for a typical homeowner (like me). It is only needed if your tractor is subjected to cold temps below freezing for long periods of time.

Issue #3 is ONLY an issue for folks who store fuel for long periods of time and subject it to temperature & humidity fluctuations. I'd say periods of more than 90 days MIGHT-MAYBE be a concern. It is probably more likely that you have to worry if you store for 4 to 6 months, but for the belt & suspender doubly safe folks, then maybe 90 days. Add a biocide to your storage tank. I've never used the stuff, I don't keep more than a fuel can of diesel at the house. I refill the tractors, then I refill the can. My practice also eliminates water in the fuel via condensation.

PineRidge · Dec 7, 2004

In our case we use the New Holland a lot more in the summer than we do in the winter. Presently we are sitting on about 250 gallons of diesel. My main concern is for the few times we do use the tractor in the winter it's for digging ourselves out of a snowstorm that sometimes hits with little or no notice. That's when we need the tractor the most through the winter and we would rather err on the safe side than to go out to the barn only to find gelled fuel in the tank as well as the tractor. Bob what has your experience been with Arctic Express?

We were hoping that a few with more experience in diesel storage might chime in here and suggest a product or two that might do it all, especially for cold conditions. Otherwise we'll stick with the Power Service and drop in some anti-gel to boot. Thanks!

Bob_Skurka · Dec 7, 2004

Bob what has your experience been with Arctic Express? 

As I stated earlier, we distribute this type of product and we occasionally damage a case so we simply use the damaged product, regardless of brand. From what I can tell, all the brands of anti-gel that we have tried work.

Now that said, we had a cold snap a couple years ago, temps were in record low range for about 10 days (-20 to a high of about 0) and we had to use double doses of anti-gel, we also threw large tarps over the cabs of some of the trucks we could not get into the building and we pointed a torpedo heater under the truck to thaw the tanks and fuel lines. Even then, we had trucks freeze up while they were on the road driving! /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif We ended up thinning the fuel with kerosene to keep the trucks running, about 5 gallons of Kero into each tank at fill up.

rameye · Dec 7, 2004

just another country heard from on overdosing your tank with powerservice...

I frequently double or triple my additive rate to pick up my cetane values. The winter 80-20 mix up here really kills my power and MPG.

No harm in the overdose.

frank_f15 · Dec 7, 2004

Bob as usual u hit the nail on the head. i live in western new york and it gets cold, my tractor is garage kept and i make sure my winter fuel is purchased after novermber 1st, i have never added an anti gel to it and i have never had a problem with gelling.