Winter fuel

[dnw64]

What's your strategy for a not-often-used tractor?

I've let my tank get pretty low, hoping I can fill it with winter blend. But, when do they start putting out winter blend?

I feel like I have three choices.

• Wait until I need the tractor (snow removal) and hope they have the winter blend out by then.
• Fill it with summer fuel and add conditioner (I have and generally use Howe's)
• Buy and mix #2 & kerosine (what ratio?)

How do you approach this situation.

Note that I am in Vermont, so it will get below 15°F before you know it. We've already seen 26°.

 

[Cycledude]

I filled up two 5 gallon plastic cans with off road diesel fuel the first week of November, I’m thinking it should be winter blend by now but asked the fellow working there and he didn’t have a clue, I just don’t understand why the fuel pumps don’t have any markings to indicate if it’s winter or summer blend. Leaded gasoline disappeared about 50 years but most gas stations still waste money advertising unleaded gasoline.

 

[Thomas]

I purchase regular diesel where highway power companybuy often and add anti gel also new fuel filter before the cold sets in,yet to have issue over the years.

 

[RjCorazza]

I got an answer from my off road supplier here in Maryland, and they add cetane improver and anti gel additives on the second Monday of November. That is 11/10 this year.
In Vermont I would imagine fuel is treated earlier
That said, I still begin treating my fuel with an anti gel additive November 1st, and make sure to get the tractor down to about 1/2 empty, add the anti gel, fill up, and run the treated fuel through the whole system.

 

[dodge man]

I use an anti gel additive and blend in kerosene, about 20%. The kerosene is really only needed when the temps get close to zero in my experience. I had my previous tractor gel up 3 times even when running Howes but no kerosene.

 

[big bubba]

rule of thumb: always keep your tank full to help prevent condensation, then just use a field tested additive regardless of season. regards

 

[LouNY]

I add an anti-gell at the higher dose. Most years I run a 70-30 blend of #2 with #1 kerosene. This year my tank is filled with #2 and maybe 40 gallons of my blended fuel, I've double dosed that tank and when it starts heading for winter temps I go to town and fill a couple of 5 gallon jugs with kerosene to dump in the tanks when needed, (sub zero).
If the forecast starts to get real nasty I'll get a barrel of kerosene and get the tanks blended to 50/50 with the initial additive. I also keep at least 2 sets of fuel filters on hand in case I get gelled again.

 

[mjonesnh]

Almost never buy fuel in winter months, as very limited use in cold months. Use left over summer blend with double dose of anti-gel if I need to add fuel. Last time I used tractor I gave an extra shot of additive in tank so fuel in tractor should be ready for cold weather, probably more ready than I am.

 

[leonz]

What's your strategy for a not-often-used tractor?

I've let my tank get pretty low, hoping I can fill it with winter blend. But, when do they start putting out winter blend?

I feel like I have three choices.

• Wait until I need the tractor (snow removal) and hope they have the winter blend out by then.
• Fill it with summer fuel and add conditioner (I have and generally use Howe's)
• Buy and mix #2 & kerosine (what ratio?)

How do you approach this situation.

Note that I am in Vermont, so it will get below 15°F before you know it. We've already seen 26°.

Use a kerosene fire spaced heater for an hour on your mule warming it from one side
and you will not have to worry about freezing fuel.
The winter blend fuel is already out, at most you would want to use some HEET in the mules fuel tank.

 

[Cycledude]

I have never experienced tractor diesel fuel jelling but after reading so many reports of problems I started using this stuff during winter a few years ago , it’s on sale right now but I still have plenty leftover from last year.
https://www.napaonline.com/en/p/NCB1026
I believe one quart bottle treats about 100 gallons of diesel fuel

 

[dnw64]

I experienced it once, when summer fuel had not been cycled through. A hair dryer melted the fuel filter and I was good to go, but it was a bit of a hassle.

 

[Midniteoyl]

Around here it's usually Nov 1st to the 15th that they start switching to Winter Blend. I usually fill up between the 15th and Thanksgiving, adding in the anti-gel (I use Hotshot's) then put it away ready for any snowplowing.

 

[big bubba]

given all the anecdotes here re the use of diesel fuel additives:

keep in mind there are 4 reasons to use an additive. your location is paramount in that decision: why use an additive?
1) lubricity 2) moisture removal 3) anti gel in cold 4) anti algae/fungus growth, etc.
determine your needs given location, consumption, and storage method.

in addition, not mentioned in thread, is the fuel source: always purchase from high volume dealer

 

[DarkBlack]

I’m in central NH , so I see days below 15f also. It’s normally in the 20’s and 30’s, when we get major snow storms, so my normal usage of snowblowing, almost never occurs below 15f. I always avoid running in at those temperatures, with my open station, anyway.
I’ve never put anything but #2 in, with zero issues, but I keep it in a heated garage. It’s not the air temperature that gels the fuel, but the fuel temperature. For the 1-2 hours it takes me to clear the snow and such, the fuel tank system never gets cold enough to gel the fuel

 

[Hay Dude]

rule of thumb: always keep your tank full to help prevent condensation, then just use a field tested additive regardless of season. regards

Easy to say when you don’t have a 180 gallon tank. Just having $600 of diesel fuel sit in a tank is not easy.
I use additives instead.

 

[big bubba]

correct, please note i never said not to use additives, only to adjust to your situation. whether in tractor or storage tank, just address your additive needs within in your environment...

note the OP's question was about tractor fuel tank, not a 180 gal storage tank...

 

[deserteagle71]

correct, please note i never said not to use additives, only to adjust to your situation. whether in tractor or storage tank, just address your additive needs within in your environment...

note the OP's question was about tractor fuel tank, not a 180 gal storage tank... keep it simple dude

I do believe he is talking about the fuel tank on his Challenger tractor, not a bulk storage tank. Fuel tanks on the bigger Challengers hold up to 400 gallons!

And I ***** when I have to fill the 23 gallon tank on my Kubota!

 

[ruffdog]

I use an anti gel additive and blend in kerosene, about 20%. The kerosene is really only needed when the temps get close to zero in my experience. I had my previous tractor gel up 3 times even when running Howes but no kerosene.

A normal winter blend here would be a 70/30 blend. I can get straight #1 dyed fuel and blend myself or pump some 70/30 or 60/40 (depends on forecast) from the neighbors tank. I also siphon a small amount into a bottle and throw it in the freezer. It is easy to see the difference a good winter blend fuel acts when cold.

 

[anomad]

When I lived in Fairbanks Alaska years ago they sold 50/50 #1 and #2 blend at the pump when winter set in. Being a southern boy I had no idea how important that was to run in my pickup (12 valve Cummins). Cost me a tow bill and a -40F walk home to a land line (before cell phones). Back home here in NC I have never had to do anything special. It's supposed to be in the high teens this weekend. I'll try and fire the tractor up when it is cold and see if it goes ok.

Jackson County NC here set the record (measured) low temperature for the state when I was a little boy, -19F. I don't know if that record still stands. But it used to get cold here in winter.

 

[greenie]

A quick and easy way to check to see if your diesel fuel has been treated is to put a small clear glass bottle/jar with a cap or lid with fuel in it in a freezer. Let it sit there for 6 hours then look at the contents. Depending on how cold the freezer is you'll want to see clear the sample is. In most cases a cloudy sample shows wax crystals forming. The fuel will still pour but those wax crystals will collect in the filter and restrict the flow.
Years ago after my 7.3 IDI gelled miles from home I took the precaution of wrapping 3/8's" refrigeration tubing around the exposed fuel filter and teed the tubing to the heater hoses. After that, no more issues.