Winter hard staring - Diesel additive

[Rabenfels]

Now that its cold Diesel is flowing sluggish and starting in freezing temps is so much harder. What additives are you all using to keep the diesel flowing easier and keep it from gelling? Coldest for starting so far around Cero Degrees - took a while with a lot of "caughing" to get going.

 

[steveschlutt]

I am running Power Service and small amount of Kerosene- about a pint of Ker. to 5 gallons. I notice a little more smoke when I run this, but this could mean more lubrication qualities are present in the fuel mix. I kind of like the smell.

 

[Diamondpilot]

Howse.

Chris

 

[Smallplot]

Power Service (The white container, not the red container).

 

[buickanddeere]

It's not the fuel . It's cold weather causing slower cranking speeds and lower combustion chamber temps that isn't hot enough on the compression stroke.

 

[spruce Deere]

Power service, white bottle. Ya know what is said about an Ounce of prevention

Best stuff for frozen temp weather- block heater, glow plugs or intake air heater. Some engines even have fuel heaters.

Best thing in cold weather for starting a diesel is some heat.

 

[powerscol]

I also use power service. My CT235 started fine at about 10 degrees the other day. I cycle the glow plugs fully for a couple of cycles without starting first, then on the third cycle wait for the light to go off and hit the starter. Took only two try's, but second one she finally caught and sputtered to life - purred like a kitten after 30 seconds. I also do have a block heater, but forgot to plug it in. It will pre-heat my tractor in about an hour though.

 

[pedalstomper78]

Most modern fuels you really don't have to worry about gelling with. The bio-diesels are really the only ones that still have much of this problem.

Spruce Deere is right. If you want your tractor to start better, give it some heat. Good glow plugs can make a world of difference. Cycling them 2 or three times when the thermometer dips into the - range is a good idea. You would be amazed at how much even putting a 100W drop light on top of the intake for a few hours will help things to start that much better.

 

[Copperhead]

I have used most all of the major brand... PS / Howes / FPPF, etc. They are all pretty effective. I tried the Amsoil diesel additive for a few years and grew fond of it. Out of a request from the son of a friend, I am trying out the XLP diesel additive from Amway. Yeah, I know, it sounds goofy being from Amway, but the makeup is darn close to the Amsoil product. And this XLP additive is being made by Midcontinent under contract from Chevron. So the name brand is there. The application rate is very cost effective. Guess that means more to me than the average person since I go thru over 21,000 gallon of diesel a year. A little goes a long way. So far so good, but the coldest I have operated this stuff this year has been in the single digits above 0F, with no blending of #1 fuel in the mix. So the final analysis is still pending.

I would take some issue with reduced gelling from current diesel. It has been shown that ULSD has higher cold flow and cold filter plug point properties than previous LSD or pre-LSD fuels. And water is becoming a bigger culprit nowadays. Water crystal formulation is becoming a bigger problem. You really need an additive that addresses several issues, with gelling only being one of them. Forget the cold flow rate, you have to concern yourself now with cold filter plug point. And an additive must include an effective deicer in the formulation.

I guess all of this is moot depending on where you live. But if you are going to see temps consistently below 20F, as was stated, "and ounce of prevention". In my case, I can't afford to be stranded along side the road with 80,000 lb of truck and cargo with a gelled up or froze up fuel system. Especially when it may require a tow to the shop, and just to have a tow truck show up is $500 even before they hook up. Sure, I carry spare fuel filters, but if the fuel system is overpowered by water contamination from a bad load of fuel, even a couple bottles of 911 additive may not help.

Your call.

 

[D7E]

Nothing , Winter diesel does'nt need it .