Winterized fuel

mpierce wrote:

john&bet wrote:

nomad 289 wrote:

ShotinAz wrote:
At what temperature does diesel gel?

17.5 F

Problem is, the wax crystals that form and clog your fuel filter then have to be heated up to around 32F to unmelt and remix.

Don't think all Engine block heaters heat the filter/fuel pump, so I use an additive when Daytime temps of below 32 are forecast.

I must be one very lucky dude. I have never used an additive in my truck. I even drove it to Great Falls,MT. at Christmas time of '12. I have no cord for the block heater either. Several nights in Great Falls it fell to -4 and truck started right up. Never had a gelling issue going out I-70 then north or coming back via I-90 and I-80. All the way across Iowa it was 0 degrees. Truck performed as expected and it is a 2wd if that makes any difference to you 4x4 fans that insist that all tv trucks need to 4x4. JME.

At those temps, you will probably always be ok. But when it gets COLD, fuel WILL gel. I drive almost every winter at -30F, and have been driving at -40F. If you think regular #2 will be ok, go ahead. You can usually get a tow truck out in a few hours! LOL

Fuel is usualy winter ized to "local conditions". However, I can fuel in GA, and drive to ND! Might be 70 when I fuel, and -40 when I arrive! Need to do some planning here.

You are right. I did not say it never happened to me cause it did one year. Jan. '88 on I-80 in either ILL or IA. Wind chill was like -40 or -50. It was an International straight truck full of day old chicks picked up in IN. A whole lot of other trucks were having trouble that nite. We R&Red the filter and went on our way.