Winter Fuel Additives ?

TomG · Dec 13, 2000

You might ask a compact tractor dealer. I imagine that few compact owners want fuel in 500 gallon deliveries. This question probably comes up from time to time, and a compact dealer might know the answer. Another possibility is to ask heating oil dealers. My dealer has a gas station as part of the operation. Off to the side is a pump for #1 coloured.

I discovered my #2 off-road source by accident. I stopped at a regular sort of highway service station to gas my truck. I sat a diesel container down by a pump marked 'diesel.' and asked the attendant to fill it. I figured it was standard tax-ridden clear diesel. The attendant says 'it's coloured diesel' and said the regular diesel pumps are on another row.

Turns out he keeps coloured diesel for log skiders. For my small jug of diesel, he had to go turn the pump on. Seems like people have the habit of starting to fill their trucks themselves, and more than one put in some coloured fuel before he could stop them. I guess he has the coloured fuel pump in the same row as gas pumps so people can fill fuel drums at the same time as their trucks. Somehow, I just can't see somebody driving their skider in off the highway, pulling up to the pumps and saying 'Fill'er up with coloured please.'

Tax savings aside, I don't think I'd use a really obscure dealer. Some small volume operations have condensation problems in their tanks. Water in the fuel can give nasty ice problems in the winter and really nasty algae problems in the summer.

JonSpinosa · Dec 13, 2000

I have 4 Kubota tractors all with diesel engines and I use Stanadyne diesel fuel conditioner in all of them. There are many benefits of a top notch fuel conditioner.

First: the EPA has required diesel fuel to be lower in sulfur to meet and improve emmission standards. However, by reducing the sulfur you have decreased the lubricity required for our fuel injection pumps. The Stanadyne conditioners adds the lubricity required for our pumps and improves pump life.

Second: the Stanadyne formula adds Cetane to the fuel which helps starting in all weather conditions. I am continually amazed on how easily my diesels start in weather below 20 F. I feel like I am starting gas engines.

Third: the Stanadyne formula will prevent diesel fuel to gel in cold weather.

I would highly recommend not to use kerosene for our expensive toys for all the above reasons. We all want to take the very best care of our tractors.

Boondox · Jan 28, 2001

I've used Stanadyne since day one. At my elevation a high in the mid-twenties is rare from late November till late March. I've never had a problem even at 30 below. The glow plugs groan in protest, but the tractor starts every time.

Check the photo for an idea of how much I get to plow!

Pete in Northern Vermont

Bird · Jan 28, 2001

Pete, with that much snow, you just need to learn to hibernate./w3tcompact/icons/laugh.gif

Bird

bpence · Jan 29, 2001

Pete, only one word I can think of to describe that photo........AWESOME!!!!

Do you plow that much snow or blow it out of the way? Looks like your snow banks are several feet tall. If you plow it, how do you manage to keep the piles back?

Also, got to be a mess when it all decides to melt.

Bob Pence

Boondox · Feb 4, 2001

Bob, I use a rear blade to clear the driveway and the road. When it gets too high, I shove it back with the loader to make room for more. Just have to remember to shove it over the DOWNHILL side, so it doesn't revisit me in the spring thaw!

Pete

Yearning for a bigger tractor!

Boondox · Feb 4, 2001

Bird, You have it all wrong! Winter is the best time of year! Endless hours on the tractor are quite comfy provided I dress for it. The snow is light and not much of a load (generally). Besides, the tourists provide endless entertainment opportunities. Just last night some woman was looking for a friend's house and mistook a groomed cross-country ski trail for a road. Her little Toyota was well and truly stuck!

Pete

Yearning for a bigger tractor!

Thomas · Feb 4, 2001

Pete,
Seen that more than twice while snowmobiling in Vermont. People thinking they were on a country road,only to find out they were on a snowmachine trail. /w3tcompact/icons/shocked.gif

Thomas..NH /w3tcompact/icons/wink.gif

Bird · Feb 4, 2001

OK, I'll agree that winter and snow are lots of fun; if you don't have to go in and out of heated places too often, and if you don't get wet.

Bird

JerryG · Feb 4, 2001

Bird,
I have to agree with you. Nice to see but not to be in. It's amazing how much your views change as you get older. I don't think that there is a kid alive that doesn't like for it to snow, so they can get out in it and get cold and wet.
JerryG

Boondox · Feb 4, 2001

Yes, isn't getting wet the pits when it's cold?!? Now and then one of my dogs will get stuck in the stream when the ice gives way and I have to go in after them. The water is so cold my bones ache! Wind is the other thing that gets me. Wet cold is the worst, then windy cold. If I'm dry and well layered and the day is still, thirty below is okay.

Pete

Yearning for a bigger tractor!

Bird · Feb 4, 2001

Ouch, Pete, you can't just throw those dogs a rope?/w3tcompact/icons/laugh.gif You're right, wet and cold is terrible, wind and cold is a little better, but still bad. A dry, cold, and calm day; no problem. I remember one morning in Illinois when the thermometer said -20F, no wind, and I went out, started my pickup, jump started a couple of neighbors, took one guy to the parts house to buy a new battery and helped him put it in; was out most of the morning and quite comfortable. The next morning, it had warmed up to -3F, but the wind was howling and I couldn't stand it out there.

Bird

cowboydoc · Feb 4, 2001

That's the truth Bird! I was out the other day and it was -15 and no wind and I was fine doing chores and all. The next day it had warmed up to 5 above but the wind was blowing and it was all I could do to finish chores. Where did you live in Illinois?

Bird · Feb 4, 2001

Richard, the police department sent me up to attend the Northwestern University Traffic Institite for 9 months (the school year of 1971-72) in Evanston, and we rented an apartment with an address in Des Plaines, right on the east side of I-294 and just north of Niles. I think that coldest morning, the "official" low in Chicago was -16F, but the thermometer at the apartment read -20F. I guess that was the coldest temperature I've seen personally. Even the last time I crossed from Canada into Alaska in the middle of the night, last day of March '91, it was only -5F.

Bird

Boondox · Feb 4, 2001

They're golden retrievers. All five dogs share one brain cell. Love em all, but smart they ain't!

You know, sometimes I wonder if a swig of Stanodyne would help my blood avoid gelling...

Pete

Yearning for a bigger tractor!

cowboydoc · Feb 5, 2001

Bird,
I'm west of there in the quad cities in Iowa. It's been as cold as -30 and -100 wind chills. I sure don't like the winters here at all. Looking forward to getting back to Idaho in a few years and some more temperate climate

Bird · Feb 5, 2001

I sure don't like to see our temperature go above 90, and especially don't like the 100+ days in this part of the country, but I think I can tolerate that better than the sub-freezing weather you folks have. I do seriously wonder about global warming, though. We're having the coldest winter I can remember, as far as the lows each night are concerned. "Normally" we have about a 20 degree spread from the daily low to the high, but this month it's 30 or more. In fact, it's 26 right now, but is getting over 60 every afternoon.

Bird