2 cylinder diesel dont gel up?

Retro80 · Jan 16, 2011

Why is it an 80 loaded on a trailer in 10 degree weather hauled 55 mph, will run for her 50 mile trip with #2 diesel? Are 2 cylinder diesels immune to gelling up?

No Horses · Jan 16, 2011

Because 10 Degrees isnt that cold, and idleing dosent take much fuel.

Dave H · Jan 16, 2011

I don't know what kind/blend of fuel was in it but the wind doesn't make any difference unless maybe that machine had a return to the tank that ran heated fuel.

JDemaris · Jan 16, 2011

Any diesel with a good flow on the return circuit, warms fuel as it sends it back to the tank. So running is rarely an issue when temps are above zero F. That's why many diesels in arctic areas are left running all winter and never shut off.

The bad gelling problems happen when a machine has sat outside, not running, in below zero temps and THEN started. Worse with ultra-low-sulfur fuel.

And yeah, even a running engine can suffer from gelling when temps get real cold, or the filters are are a small micron-number.

Mike M · Jan 16, 2011

I hope you don't get caught with a running machine on a trailer. I think this involves fines.

gtx1967jewison · Jan 16, 2011

according to the fuel pumps at our stations around here, straight
#2 is good to -10f so your 20 degrees above gel point thats why.

JDemaris · Jan 16, 2011

If it's highway fuel coming out of a public pump, it's going to be more then just #2 diesel fuel. Low-sulfur fuel has many additives stuck into it, and the varies by who is selling it.

ULSD fuel has more wax and aborbs water more easily then the older fuel - and has more gel problems. And, many newer diesels have filters that plug easier due to small micron passing.

Here are specs from one company:
During the winter season, all Midwest low sulfur No. 2 diesel fuel from Marathon-supplied terminals will have a maximum cloud point of +10° F.

Cloud Point, ºF (ASTM D 2500)

Winter 10/1 to 2/28 Midwest : 10 degrees F Southeast: 14 degrees F
Summer 3/1 to 9/30 Midwest : 20 degrees F Southeast: 20 degrees F

Pour Point, ºF (ASTM D 2500)

Winter 10/1 to 2/28 Midwest : minus 10 degrees F Southeast: 0 degrees F
Summer 3/1 to 9/30 Midwest: plus 10 degrees F Southeast: plus 10 degrees F

Lubricity, HFRR @ 60ºc, Micron (ASTM D 6079) - 520 max

Retro80 · Jan 16, 2011

I sure wouldn't run strait #2 in the 4020 at 10 above. The fuel in the tank was strait #2 farm diesel with 10% soy.

gtx1967jewison · Jan 16, 2011

interesting. I live in the north, & the place i buy mine has straight #2, 70/30, 60/40, & straight #1 in both died & undied fuel. they also sell kerosene & stanisol (parts washing fluid) from the pumps. It states on the pumps the temp at which you are supposed to be trouble-free. the 60-40 when treated is claimed to be good to -40f.

gtx1967jewison · Jan 16, 2011

standard practice around here, left running with lights on. Its the only choice we have at these temps, even the city/county does it.

BushogPapa · Jan 17, 2011

Our old Cat 3408 will Idle fine at -10 deg..
It just won't even pull the truck in Creeper gear if it gets to gelling...!!
Took me over a hour to get 1/2 mile up near Ft Wayne..!!
Changed the filters, put some Gas in the fuel and life got better...!!

Ron..

F-I-T · Jan 17, 2011

We used to run a couple of VW Rabitt diesels in the in the late '70s/early 80's. The '81 gelled up on a -20 day ( the day they played the play off game in Cincinnati and it was sooooo cold). I put it in the shop and plumbed a small copper line, coiled around the fuel filter, and hooked that into the heater hot supply side after the valve, so when you turned on the hot water to the heater coil, the fuel filter got that warmth as well. It worked really well, so I did that to my other diesel cars over the years. A little insulation helped keep the heat in the copper coil.

Anonymous-0 · Jan 17, 2011

I had a '79 Diesel Rabbit. In '79 the diesel models were made in Germany & had a few differences in 'em. For one they had round headlamps while the Amreican made ones had rectangular ones. Mine also arrived with a metric speedometer which VW insisted on changing. ANYWAY.... At about -18°F it would start fine but would not pull the hat off yer head! It had a very fine plastic screen in the tank and since it did NOT have a transfer pump, the injector pump simply could not pull fuel out of the tank throgh that screen. When I'd give up on it & shut it off or if it finally stalled you could hear (and watch if out there) the fuel being sucked back through the return line re-filling the fuel filter.

F-I-T · Jan 17, 2011

I had a German '78 and a US '81. I didn't have any suction problems with them, just the filter gell. Later bought a new '85 Ford Tempo diesel, and plumbed it the same way.

We used the heck out of the small diesels when my wife had a 27 mile commute each way. Saved a lot of money on fuel with them.

2 cylinder diesel dont gel up?

Retro80

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No Horses

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Dave H

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JDemaris

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Mike M

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gtx1967jewison

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JDemaris

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Retro80

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