Tackleberry Posted March 2, 2023 Report Share Posted March 2, 2023 1st and 2nd snafu with the big truck. Stuck on icy grass and Frozen fuel filter.... Had to stop 1/2 way to our destination in Northern NY for the night. We stayed in a hotel, and I was very nervous about the truck not being plugged in overnight. Temps dropped to 15 overnight. Truck fired right up the next morning, no problem! Then we hit our destination, and while turning around in the driveway, I got the rear wheels over a lip of frozen ice left from the plow. Figured I'd go back a little further and get a running start. Nope, ended up stopping with the rear wheels in a little dip in the lawn, couldn't move forward or back. There was about an inch of ice on the grass. Luckily my brother was able to pull me out. I've done plenty of off road recoveries at the beach. Never used a kinetic rope, but we all use our poor tow straps as is they were! Broke a few. We'll, my brother put an old tire between the straps to act as a shock absorber, and I thought it was genius! His truck actually pulled me out with ease, so no running start needed, but the tire would've been a great shock absorber if we needed it. Then we parked the truck for a week. Yes, I put a bottle of Howe's in the tanks before heading up North. Large Marge sat for 8 days in 5 degree temps. Yes I had the block heater plugged in for 24 hours before starting (although I don't know if the block heater actually works). Truck fired right up, but then died within seconds (starved for fuel). This happened a few times before it occurred to me that the fuel filter must be clogged. My brother is a trucker and told me to heat the fuel filter with a torch to melt the wax. I did that a few times, but probably not enough as I was afraid of dying.... Went to NAPA to get a new filter, and of course they didn't have one. Closest one was an hour drive away. *Note to self, have spare filters on hand before next trip. Loaded new fuel filter with about 1/2 a coffee cup of denatured alcohol and diesel fuel. Dumped rest of denatured alcohol in the fuel tanks. She fired up and got us home (500 miles away and 50 degrees warmer). Anybody else use denatured alcohol? My brother has owned rigs for 50 years and swears by the denatured alcohol. He said with the new low Sulphur diesel, the anti gel additives don't always work. Used our Mudflap app on way home and paid $4.03/gallon for fuel. Saved $1.39 off pump price! Best price in NY! Quote Hal from Long Island 2000 Volvo 770, Cummings N14, 10 Speed Eaton Auto-Shift 2016 XLR Thunderbolt 420 AMP Toy Hauler Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spindrift Posted March 2, 2023 Report Share Posted March 2, 2023 Ya know, the only reason your story has a happy ending is because your brother owns a Ford. Quote 2012 F350 KR CC DRW w/ some stuff 2019 Arctic Fox 32-5MCindy and Tom, Kasey and Maggie (our Newfie and Berner) Oh...I forgot the five kids. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aknavy Posted March 2, 2023 Report Share Posted March 2, 2023 If you're gonna be traveling where there is snow and ice, Autosocks work great for navigating the iced up parking lots and campground roads. I was stuck on flat, packed snow, unable to move as my one wheel drive just spun. Put the Autosocks on and it was like shifting into 4x4 on a regular vehicle. Maybe some exaggeration, but a significant difference in traction. My truck will go forward with the trailer attached most of the time, but it doesn't like reverse on packed snow or ice. Quote 2001 VNL 660 2018 DRV Fullhouse JX450 2018 Jeep Wrangler Rubicon Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moresmoke Posted March 2, 2023 Report Share Posted March 2, 2023 Make sure you read the fine print on the Howes bottle. It takes twice the standard label rate to keep the fuel from gelling in real cold temperatures. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rickeieio Posted March 3, 2023 Report Share Posted March 3, 2023 If you were in Northern KY, fuel has been $3.72 at Costco since mid January. Right at the Florence Mall exit on I-75. I'll be topping off when we get home. Quote KW T-680, POPEMOBILE Newmar X-Aire, VATICAN Lots of old motorcycles, Moto Guzzi Griso and Spyder F3 currently in the front row Young enough to play in the dirt as a retired farmer. contact me at rickeieio1@comcast.net Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jenandjon Posted March 3, 2023 Report Share Posted March 3, 2023 Depending on how big a bottle of Howes you used it takes twice as much to winter treat. We go through several cases a year on the farm. We couldn't get blended fuel until after harvest was over this year. Quote Farmer, Trucker, Equipment operator, Mechanic Quando omni flunkus moritati-When all else fails, play dead I'm a man, but I can change, if I have to, I guess. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tackleberry Posted March 3, 2023 Author Report Share Posted March 3, 2023 18 hours ago, Moresmoke said: Make sure you read the fine print on the Howes bottle. It takes twice the standard label rate to keep the fuel from gelling in real cold temperatures. I'll have to check the label, but I put a big bottle in for 200 gallons. Quote Hal from Long Island 2000 Volvo 770, Cummings N14, 10 Speed Eaton Auto-Shift 2016 XLR Thunderbolt 420 AMP Toy Hauler Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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