What does diesel gelling look like?

[Gizmo2]

Good post by the OP and good comments. If nothing else it brings to the surface a reality check for new and old alike. It will get ya sooner or later. Funny thing I never had a problem for the 20 years I owned my JD650.

 

[Reg]

At 15ｰF, I doubt you had gelled fuel. More likely water frozen on the filter, or the water separator or on the screen in the tank. Drain the water separator before and after every use to try to rid yourself of the problem. You could also drain the entire tank and let the water settle out and decant the fuel and reuse it.
When's the last time you changed the fuel filter? Try to change it in the fall and keep your tank full so you minimize condesation of water in the tank. Use an additive to help disperse the water. Contaminated fuel is a real problem with diesel fuel systems and water is usually the biggest contanimant and it'll get you every time in sub-freezing temperatures. have spare filter available just in case.

Careful on the water dispersant additives.
{I am not remembering the proper term for it right now..... senior moment.}
Anyway, you are generally better off WITHOUT additives, but if you need them for psychological reasons at least use the ones that aid the SEPARATION of water so that your fuel_filter/water_separator can deal with it properly.
It is best to NOT try to dissolve it in alcohol and try to get it through the engine.
{still not remembering the opposite of dispersant...}

 

[Mousefield]

Careful on the water dispersant additives.
{I am not remembering the proper term for it right now..... senior moment.}
Anyway, you are generally better off WITHOUT additives, but if you need them for psychological reasons at least use the ones that aid the SEPARATION of water so that your fuel_filter/water_separator can deal with it properly.
It is best to NOT try to dissolve it in alcohol and try to get it through the engine.
{still not remembering the opposite of dispersant...}

I think the word is Coagulate or congeal.
It's not hard to have a senior moment, me included. :laughing:

 

[Jerry/MT]

Careful on the water dispersant additives.
{I am not remembering the proper term for it right now..... senior moment.}
Anyway, you are generally better off WITHOUT additives, but if you need them for psychological reasons at least use the ones that aid the SEPARATION of water so that your fuel_filter/water_separator can deal with it properly.
It is best to NOT try to dissolve it in alcohol and try to get it through the engine.
{still not remembering the opposite of dispersant...}

Respectfully, If the water settles out in the tank it can freeze at the bottom and block off the strainer or fuel tap. Dispersants don't "disolve" water and allow it to get past the filter. They hold it in suspension so the filter can filter it out and then the filter can freeze. But it's removable and handier to deal with than a blob of ice at the boom of the tank.

 

[Jerry/MT]

Careful on the water dispersant additives.
{I am not remembering the proper term for it right now..... senior moment.}
Anyway, you are generally better off WITHOUT additives, but if you need them for psychological reasons at least use the ones that aid the SEPARATION of water so that your fuel_filter/water_separator can deal with it properly.
It is best to NOT try to dissolve it in alcohol and try to get it through the engine.
{still not remembering the opposite of dispersant...}

If the water settles out in the tank it can freeze at the bottom and block off the strainer or fuel tap. Dispersants don't "disolve" water and allow it to get past the filter. They hold it in suspension so the filter can filter it out and then the filter can freeze. But it's removable and handier to deal with than a blob of ice at the boom of the tank.

 

[LBrown59]

Mix your fuel 1/3 Kerosene and 2/3 Diesel for the cold weather. End of problem

In my Kubota manual it says you can run summer fuel down to 14 degrees F.
Winter fuel is only required below that temperature.
I'm running summer fuel right now and it's working fine in all 3 of my BXs.

 

[Jay4200]

Attached picture.

Ew. Looks like boogies. I'm running a heavy dose of Power Service (white bottle) - I put 1/10 quart into 5gal, which I think is almost twice what is recommended. I mark the bottle into tenths with a sharpie and dump a line per fuel can. I'm pretty sure I double-dosed the fuel that is in my tractor now - I couldn't remember if I added PS to the previous fuel, so I did it again once it was in the tractor. Should be good down to Antarctica temps.

That being said, it was no warmer than -5F last night where I park my tractor (at my camp). I had planned to go up this morning to snowblow the 1000' driveway (from last Wed), but once I saw that it was -1F down here, I decided to stay home and play on the internet instead.

JayC

 

[Egon]

It looks even worse when it's -20F with a strong wind blowing and fuel supplier dropped of a load of summer diesel.

When I lived in Alberta I remember one warm spell that suddenly turned into -35 C. All kinds of semis from Vancouver pulled to the side of the road with solid fuel problems.

 

[johnamon]

In my little John Deere 2320 I do the following. It has always worked for me, maybe I'm just lucky.
1) The tractor is stored in an unheated metal pole barn,
2) Turn on the block heater for about 30 minutes when the temperature is below or close to 10F.
3) Buy 4 gallons of fuel at a time. This gives me the correct commercial blend for the season.
4) Add Power Service diesel fuel supplement. White container in the winter and the silver for the summer.

White
Silver

Good luck!

 

[Gordon Gould]

I use Stanadyne summer and winter. I have always used it and have never had a problem. It may be purely a psychological crutch but thats OK with me.
I use my block heater below 10F for 1 Hr or so, longer below 0F to make starting easier. Good post. I learned about gelling and wax separation without having to deal with it.