freestoneangler Posted December 18, 2016 Report Share Posted December 18, 2016 What is your preferred additive to protect your fuel from gelling? At/below what temperature do you begin using it? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kirk W Posted December 18, 2016 Report Share Posted December 18, 2016 In general, if you buy your diesel fuel in the same area as you are traveling you should be fuel that has been adapted for cold weather when needed. I drove a diesel in Wyoming for 4 years and never had a problem but did buy my fuel at major stations. Good travelin !...............KirkFull-time 11+ years...... Now seasonal travelers.Kirk & Pam's Great RV Adventure Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vladimir Posted December 18, 2016 Report Share Posted December 18, 2016 Be careful. Out west you can cross from warm to frigid in less than 100 miles. A friend filled up his diesel on the "warm" side and promptly came to a halt once he got to the "frigid' side. I always try to fill up on the "frigid" side. I even ask if they have winter blend in their tanks....but many times the folks have no clue. Vladimr Steblina Retired Forester...exploring the public lands. usbackroads.blogspot.com Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
I'mdonewiththis forum Posted December 18, 2016 Report Share Posted December 18, 2016 My recipe this year is to keep adding heat. Trying to keep close to that 70* line is the ticket!! Otherwise Power Service makes some decent fuel conditioner. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alie&Jim's Carrilite Posted December 18, 2016 Report Share Posted December 18, 2016 Power Service will work. By the time we left North Dakota we were running #1 diesel. That station that we used most often had #2 Diesel, #1, and what they called Artic Blend ... which was #1 and Kerosine mixed. Alie & Jim + 8 paws 2017 DRV Memphis BART- 1998 Volvo 610 Lil'ole 6cyl Cummins Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gjhunter01 Posted December 18, 2016 Report Share Posted December 18, 2016 When I lived in Michigan with a 2006 Duramax motor, 13 deg F was the magic number. If the temp got below the magic number, the truck would start and run for about 2 miles before the fuel filter would gel up and shut down. If I added 911 to the fuel tank in the evening, I would have no problems in the morning down to 0. Greg Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
I'mdonewiththis forum Posted December 18, 2016 Report Share Posted December 18, 2016 One thing you NEED to do when fueling up is LOOK AT THE PUMP. There will be a sticker close if not on the pump telling you what temperature the fuel is good for. If you are around Minnesota or Wisconsin watch out for the pumps at Kwik Trip that say #2 fuel NOT Winterized. They mean it........... Most places winterize the fuel and you don't normally have much of an issue. In fifteen years of northern Minnesota my pick up only gelled once and I rarely used additives. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
freestoneangler Posted December 18, 2016 Author Report Share Posted December 18, 2016 Now in Montana, this is new upkeep for me. Someone did mention that the fuel stops have blends for cold weather, but it sounds like it can be hit and miss. I never concerned myself with this in Puget Sound - even on the few occasions when temps dipped into the teens. I can see why a good many of the p/u trucks here in MT are gas... probably got tired of having to fuss with diesel in cold weather . I'm trying Stanadyne at the recommendation of the shop who recently did some service for me. I know many on the forum have diesel and just wanted to get advice on what works. It was -24F yesterday morning with a high of 0F. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cotreker Posted December 19, 2016 Report Share Posted December 19, 2016 I agree Stanidyne is a high quality product. Currently i use the diesel additive from Amsoil,been happy with it for last 4 years. . Volvo 670 / 2006 10-Speed ATV's & Sleds 2017 Host Mammoth Slide-In Camper on Deck Jackalopee Build article published here Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ray,IN Posted December 19, 2016 Report Share Posted December 19, 2016 Now in Montana, this is new upkeep for me. Someone did mention that the fuel stops have blends for cold weather, but it sounds like it can be hit and miss. I never concerned myself with this in Puget Sound - even on the few occasions when temps dipped into the teens. I can see why a good many of the p/u trucks here in MT are gas... probably got tired of having to fuss with diesel in cold weather . I'm trying Stanadyne at the recommendation of the shop who recently did some service for me. I know many on the forum have diesel and just wanted to get advice on what works. It was -24F yesterday morning with a high of 0F. At those temperatures, use a "winter-front" like you see on semi-tractors. It keeps operating temperature near normal. Hard on a diesel engine to operate it "cold" continually, as heat is what ignites the fuel/air mixture, and makes a complete burn. Do not use a full winter-front when towing, you can quickly overheat the engine. The winter-front has small panels you may open when towing, in fact that's what GM requires, otherwise the coolant fan cannot operate properly. 2000 Winnebago Ultimate Freedom USQ40JD, ISC 8.3 Cummins 350, Spartan MM Chassis. USA IN 1SG retired;Good Sam Life member,FMCA ." And so, my fellow Americans: ask not what your country can do for you--ask what you can do for your country. John F. Kennedy 20 Jan 1961 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tyates007 Posted December 19, 2016 Report Share Posted December 19, 2016 Standyne is a good additive and winter fronts help. Hopefully you are where you can plug in the block heater. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alie&Jim's Carrilite Posted December 19, 2016 Report Share Posted December 19, 2016 There is also a 2K additive... Add 2000 miles to your odometer heading south.... I should have bought the 2.5k version..... Still cold in Houston! Alie & Jim + 8 paws 2017 DRV Memphis BART- 1998 Volvo 610 Lil'ole 6cyl Cummins Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pat & Pete Posted December 20, 2016 Report Share Posted December 20, 2016 There is also a 2K additive... Add 2000 miles to your odometer heading south.... I should have bought the 2.5k version..... Still cold in Houston! It's cold in Rockport , too . Goes around , comes around . Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Liberty Posted December 27, 2016 Report Share Posted December 27, 2016 As has been said about #1 and #2 fuels. I add Howells fuel treatment in Oct. and continue till April. This will keep us running fine till warm weather returns. We have been caught and had the genset gel up due to not getting enough fuel ran through it when i serviced it in the fall. That was one co;d trip to Tucson from the Wichita area as we are total electric. LeRoy & Anne Silver Eagle conversion PT Cruiser Conv. OK & KS now SD well sometimes The journey is the trip not the destination. http://2010liberty.wordpress.com/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dartmouth01 Posted January 3, 2017 Report Share Posted January 3, 2017 I have run my 2007.5 Chevy 2500HD LMM for about 100k with no additives (I know it was a risk, but ignorance and my own laziness contributed to the decision). No ill effects so far, and never had trouble starting in cold climates (spent a winter in Lake Tahoe, so it got cold a few times). I did generally plug in the engine block heater though. Before embarking on our latest full-time adventure, I had preventative work done at a Duramax Shop (Dmaxstore in CA) and they recommended using Opti-lube Boost! for warmer times, and Opti-Lube XPD for colder times. Whether or not it has helped things, I am not sure, but I'll keep using it. I just recently crossed the US in December through the northern route, and am camped out in Maine at the moment. Only issue I have had was making the mistake of filling up in Sioux Falls SD with bio laced desiel, and not using enough Opti-Lube to mix in with it. Even with the engine block heater plugged in overnight, I went into limp mode at the beginning of the day trying to pull the trailer (in 0 degrees). I shut it down, cleared the codes, and started it up and things were back to being fine. I believe the engine had built up enough heat at that point to keep things burning. Burned through that tank, and avoided bio laced fuel from that point! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Trailertoad1 Posted January 6, 2017 Report Share Posted January 6, 2017 Power Service additive mixed about 20% stronger than listed. Always carry a spare fuel filter, know how to install it and a bottle of PowerService 911 in the orange bottle "just in case". The 911 is not a fuel additive, it is an ice melter. My diesel is pre-emission and I also use a quart of trans-fluid in the fuel tank when it is about 1/4 full two or three times a year. The new diesel is "dry" and the earlier pumps need the extra lubrication (according to my diesel mechanic). Jok Nicholson '94 Hawkins Motor Coach Jok and Barb Nicholson On the road with our Trailer Toad. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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