Winter and the diesel in my tractor?

[newdeal]

I don't put on THAT many hours a year. 60-70, but if someone really still has a full tank of summer diesel in their tank come January, that is really, really low usage. :laughing: No tractor hours from September through December? That's kind of sad.

I guess if this is the case, then planning ahead, I suppose, is necessary. Such a user would have to desist filling it up in after August. Just keep it below half and wait to top it off in December when the "big one" is forecast.

The oil companies aren't making much money off diesel consumers like that!!

I use my BX for many things including mowing the lawn, I just got it in the spring and have 70 hours on it, problem is that the lawn likely won't need mowing anymore this year and so until the snow falls I won't be using it as much, likely not enough to go through the fuel in it since its near full. What temperature does diesel gel below?

 

[some zilch]

Want to do damage to your fuel system and engine then mix in gasoline.:confused2::confused2::confused2:

thats just untrue. my cummins powered dodges can live on probably a 50/50 mix. any old school trucker will tell you they used to mix some gas in with their diesel to keep the gel point up. my dd powered genset runs happily on 2 gallons of gas/50 gallons of diesel fuel. you can over-do it, but a little gas to keep your gel point up is not going to hurt anything.

 

[brokenknee]

It gets to -30 or colder here at times. I do use an additive, however at times that is not enough. I can tell you it is not fun siphoning off a tank just so you can add some #1 to the mix. You also end up having to change your filter since that is also all gelled up.

The only gas station close does not mix the fuel for you, you have to do that yourself. He sells #1 and #2. It's up to you how you want to mix it. In the winter I try to go with 75% #2, 25% #1 and use an additive.

As far a gas in the fuel, the farmers around here do it, maybe not as a general practice, but they do it.

 

[bp fick]

Setting aside the gasoline bunny trail discussion, and returning the OP's issues, he isn't really THAT unique. OK, let's say you mow until October 30. Pretty typical. Then, the machine doesn't get a lot of hours until the snow flies.

The time elapsed just isn't long enough for condensation. My gosh, gents, let's not make mountains out of mole hills. In 6-8 weeks nothing bad is going to happen. We're talking about a 5-6 gallon BX scut here.:laughing:

Just don't "fill 'er up" in late September. Or, if you did, stick a little hose in it with a squeeze bulb and drain some out if you cannot find a way to put a couple hours on in November.

Once you get past November 15th, any busy station you buy your little 3 gallons of diesel for your scut is going to be winter blend. Dump that in, to top it off, along with a splash of Power Services or Howse, etc, and you are golden.

Know what you're up against. I am due north west of you and had a BX last winter. No issues. Nada. .

 

[corey9212]

I live in Alberta and know what Canadian winters can throw at us in terms of cold weather. I was talking to the gas stations that I use to get fuel about "winter blends" and they said they gradually add anti gelling to their fuel based on month and weather and they start adding in September so by late October it is fully mixed for winter. I was told this by both UFA and Petro Canada. So the best thing I can say is talk to your gas station and find out if they add any anti gelling and when do they add it, to be extra safe add some yourself as well, the stuff I use also has lubrication to compensate for the low sulfur fuel (my fuel consumption has decreased by 50% since adding it) instead of getting 4 hours mowing from it I now get 6 hours.

 

[smstonypoint]

I So the best thing I can say is talk to your gas station and find out if they add any anti gelling and when do they add it, to be extra safe add some yourself as well, the stuff I use also has lubrication to compensate for the low sulfur fuel (my fuel consumption has decreased by 50% since adding it) instead of getting 4 hours mowing from it I now get 6 hours.

Corey,

Inquiring minds (or at least one inquiring mind) want to know --what "stuff" is that?

Steve

 

[corey9212]

Sorry I couldn't think of the name at the time of posting but it is called Diesel Kleen with Cetane Boost and Slick diesel. It says it's supposed to clean dirty injectors, boosts power, decreases fuel consumption up to 8%, reduces exhaust emissions, and effective in Biodiesel blends. It came highly recommended by a lot of people that drive tractors and diesel trucks in the area

 

[smstonypoint]

Corey,

OK, the Power Services "stuff" in the gray bottle. I've been using their "Supplement" in a white bottle. I may switch.

Steve

 

[corey9212]

Corey,

OK, the Power Services "stuff" in the gray bottle. I've been using their "Supplement" in a white bottle. I may switch.

Steve

Yes it comes in a gray bottle, the unbelievable part is how little it takes to do 60 Liters of fuel (3-20 Liter fuel cans) a little bottle will last me a whole year using the tractor lots year round

 

[StrangeRanger]

[QUOTEJust keep it below half and wait to top it off in December when the "big one" is forecast.]

Then you risk water accumulation due to condensation.

Sometimes you can't win.[/QUOTE]

Yup, surprised no one mentioned this yet. One of the best things you can do over the winter aside from running winter mix fuel is to keep your tank full when storing. This greatly reduces the risk of condensation accumulating in the tank after you shut her down.