Cold weather and diesel advice
So just picked up a new 2019 3500 SRW diesel on Friday. I grew up around cars, my dad is a GM mechanic, but know nothing about diesels. Does anyone have any advice as far as fuel treatments for sum...
Forum Discussion
ppine wrote:
No 1 diesel
use a fuel additive
synthetic oil
plug in your rig at night
NO on straight #1. it has even worse lubricity than #2 and some mfg say not to use #1. And while decades ago one needed to mix #1 to avoid gelling, anymore diesel is blended to not get at well below local temp minimums during the winter.
I've started my 04.5 duramax after it sat for a week with highs near -10F and lows near -40F, no additive, no block heater. Just cycled the ignition twice for the glow plugs and at -35F it fired right up. clattered for sure but started easier than a 1980s car would have at those temps.
The only time to worry about gelling is if you filled up in an area that is warm year round and didn't refill tank at a very cold climate place.
Even here in portland Or where we don't get temps much below freezing the winter diesel blend is blended for temps well below freezing.
Use the block heater (at least on GM it's std) if you can for a few hours if you want.
