Winter Diesel Fuel Issues?

General question, but insight from Marylanders would be appreciated.

Do you guys experience fuel turning to gel during the winter? Do you put an additive in your fuel or mix kerosene or something else? Do your local fuel stations sell a "winter blend" of diesel?

Maryland isn't the coldest state in the Union, but we usually get into the low teens at some point. Sometimes only for a few days, but sometimes it lingers.
Murphy's Law dictates that I will need/want the truck at the worst possible time.

All diesel in most states has some type of winter blend after Oct 1 thru apr 1. Which has kerosene in it. If the truck is going to sit in the winter mostly then a power service additive is good for most fill ups.

I can't speak for any other state, but last winter here in the wonderful state of New York we had some of the worst problems with fuel gelling. The fuel was absolute garbage... put all the additive in it we could and it would still gell. After our company mechanic witnessed fuel gelling at 28° he started using tank heaters on all of the equipment. Hopefully this winter is better.

Yes, as Wes said, MD uses a winter blend of diesel fuel during the colder months. With that said, the problems often come in when fuel you purchased during the summer or spring have sat in the tank all year because of lack of use. In those cases, you could have gelling issues. I had this happen with a truck that I usually drive more frequently, but it was down for repairs. Then, after I fixed it, when it was 12 degrees, I HAD to use it. The truck started fine and drove for about 15 miles until the fuel gelled. In that case, some Power Service Diesel 911 (red bottle) solved the issue. If you burn your fuel through your truck regularly, you will be fine with the fuel purchased at the pump throughout the year. I do recommend a good fuel conditioner being used throughout the year, though. I use Power Service (usually the white bottle), but other companies (e.g., Howes) sell good stuff, too.

Hm, I didn't even consider that I might have summer blend still in the tank. Good points, and thanks for the advice.

Assuming the sale goes through on the truck I'm considering, I expect to exercise it at least bi-weekly so hopefully I would run through all the summer fuel.

last winter ND gets a ton of truck traffic on both I94 and I29 which both go around the city and 94 seems to be the worst for JELLED up diesel trucks and I think its because of two things. 1. MN has no alternative types of fuel to use but BIO-DIESEL and that stuff seem incredibly prone to JELLING. and the 2 problem is IGNORANCE, I dont care if I am driving me diesel pickup or a semi tractor if its cold outside USE A LIQUID ANTI-GEL SOLUTION!! I have had to change fuel filters on the side of the road because the truck cant make enough power to get up a hill because of fuel system that is starting to jell. Buy vast quantities of it then use it because its sure a **** of a lot more pleasant than freezing my hands off and playing in fuel up to my elbows!!

Karl

I put Power Service antigel in my deuce during the winter just to be sure.

I've found the local diesel, either at the pump or delivered in bulk, to be very inconsistent in regards to additives. Which strikes me as odd given the Dakotas. Whenever I put Power Service in my 5 ton and my tractors, I've never had an issue. I add it in the fall and it's super easy. Whenever I have forgotten, it always jells in the filter and a royal pain to get it unjelled in an unheated shop.

Al Jones
M923 + 3 diesel tractors.

I run winter anti jell til about February. I'm just over the line in PA. I'm pretty sure PA only sells a biodiesel blend. Biodiesel has more water in it typically from the manufacturing process.
Fuel never really un-jells.
I've pulled my fuel filter on cold days, after noticing a power problem, to find what looks like a snowball that someone pee'd in! Even after sitting in a heated shop for 8 hours, the filter is still frozen/clogged.

Jakelc15 said:

I run winter anti jell til about February. I'm just over the line in PA. I'm pretty sure PA only sells a biodiesel blend. Biodiesel has more water in it typically from the manufacturing process.
Fuel never really un-jells.
I've pulled my fuel filter on cold days, after noticing a power problem, to find what looks like a snowball that someone pee'd in! Even after sitting in a heated shop for 8 hours, the filter is still frozen/clogged.

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I used to have those pad type heaters. I had one made so it would wrap around the fuel filter easily or you could leave it on there. After plugged in for about 10mins the filter was unfrozen. And of you leave it on for a longer period then it will make the starts alot easier.

In Montana I had one to wrap around the injection pump and filter on my M61. And each battery had one under it. Plus the block heater