Winter and the diesel in my tractor?

[corey9212]

Your fuel consumption decreased by 50%? Amazing!

BTW, I stored my BX25 outdoors at the cottage for 2 winters, and it always started and ran no problem. And the temps were 30 below (Celsius) or lower at times. I now have a block heater, however, and will be storing my tractor inside my new (unheated) garage. Does anyone know how much power those block heaters consume? (I suppose I could put it on a timer.)

Yeah, I was absolutely shocked at the performance increase and decreased consumption.

 

[corey9212]

I'm one of those with about 3/4 tank full of #2 going into winter. This will also be my first winter with my BX, so I guess I'll know more about the do's & don't this spring. I'm done mowing and have the blower on now and it's just sitting. I do use the white PS year around though.

Most of all the conversation here is about those who have their tractor sit in the cold, either inside or outside a garage. I have a little diferent concern as mine is in a heated garage (55f) and will go into -15f at times. I wonder what the temp shock will do to fuel? I'll have to pull it outside and let it warm up for about 5-10 min before use to warm trans fluid. We'll see how that goes. Any suggestions?

I store my tractor in a heated garage as well and am wandering what will happen to the fuel once it hits the cold from the heated garage. I do have a cab on my tractor but the fuel tank is under the seat so I'm not sure.

 

[Duffster]

I have a little diferent concern as mine is in a heated garage (55f) and will go into -15f at times. I wonder what the temp shock will do to fuel? I'll have to pull it outside and let it warm up for about 5-10 min before use to warm trans fluid. We'll see how that goes. Any suggestions?

You have to act is if it is sitting outside. You won't have starting issues but the fuel can gel after being outside for a short period of time. 15 below really isn't that cold if you treated accordingly.

 

[gdh]

Admittedly I am a diesel newbie. Here is a simple plan to keep from gelling this winter. 50/50 mix of #1/#2 and appropriate amount of white power service. From all the prior posts this seems simple, foolproof and should be very effective in the coldest of temperatures. Am I misguided? Can I get clarification if I am.

 

[corey9212]

Admittedly I am a diesel newbie. Here is a simple plan to keep from gelling this winter. 50/50 mix of #1/#2 and appropriate amount of white power service. From all the prior posts this seems simple, foolproof and should be very effective in the coldest of temperatures. Am I misguided? Can I get clarification if I am.

I'd be worried about the summer one diluting the winter one. You will still have to add some sort of anti gelling agent (if white power service is anti gelling and it's the right amount for the volume then you are good) but I'm not sure what white power service is so I'm not 100% sure if it will work or not.

 

[leonz]

I store my tractor in a heated garage as well and am wandering what will happen to the fuel once it hits the cold from the heated garage. I do have a cab on my tractor but the fuel tank is under the seat so I'm not sure.

Thirty minutes with a kerosene fired salamander wil warm your beast of burden up nicely and warm the fuel as well- do not forget that the minute you try to crank your engine over is the moment that the engine and drive train is starved for motor oil and is the time when any internal combustion engine is at its weakest point in lubrication protection as there is no oil in the upper oil galleries.


You should also invest in an engine oil pressurising heating system to preheat your motor oil and pump it through the galleries prior to start up.