in mid north Indiana we don't have that bad of cold weather, but it's going to be below zero at nights for several more days. I've treated everything at work and farm with power service, lucas and then yesterday on my most important snow equipment, lucas extreme anti-gel the salesman brought me. We always mixed kerosene into our mix also when it's like this. We don't have any problems so far. Do you guys just run #1 and everything is fine or do you run #1 and treat also. Do any of you run #2 and treat heavily and it works below zero just fine? Just wondering. Maybe I just need to buy a couple drums of #1 to use or mix in, going to the gas station to mix kero into my mobile bulk tank and a couple trucks is kind of a pain. Luckily for this weather, 98% of my trucks and equipment are gas. Thanks
- Thread starter OliverGuy
- Start date
hydro70guy
Member
Personally we use a winter blend that fuel supplier delivers off the truck for winter time. In 50 years have never had a problem with fuel gelling except if we needed to use a tractor that was full of #2 when put away then needed to be used in extreme cold. Then we tried the fuel additives but ended up using heater to warm tractor up.
Joe
Joe
Not sure how much of a expert I am on this issue but will offer my experiences. Snow blower tractor always got pretty much drained out and refilled with No 1. Many times would also be treated with Power Service. Never had a issue with the big snow blower. Have had a combine and truck gel up on me. Combine was as I was putting it in the shop to do post harvest service. was able to get it going just well enough by heating the filter with a propane torch (I DO NOT RECOMMEND THIS). Other was the big truck which started running poorly one cold day. repleced the filter and put in Power Service 911 and was back in business.
I would never even think of using Kerosene with todays diesal. The lubricity is so low already, and I have had my fill of taking pumps to the shop at $1000 a pop.
Also keep in mind your carburated gas engines. Many people don't know that there is winter and summer blend of gasoline and it does make a difference on carburated engines. Memory serves me the switch is in November and maybe Feburary or March. there will be a spike in price during the switch. If you are having trouble with a Gasser in the winter try getting fresh fuel in it.
jt
I would never even think of using Kerosene with todays diesal. The lubricity is so low already, and I have had my fill of taking pumps to the shop at $1000 a pop.
Also keep in mind your carburated gas engines. Many people don't know that there is winter and summer blend of gasoline and it does make a difference on carburated engines. Memory serves me the switch is in November and maybe Feburary or March. there will be a spike in price during the switch. If you are having trouble with a Gasser in the winter try getting fresh fuel in it.
jt
coonie minnie
Well-known Member
Fuel delivered here in the north is winter blend, up to half number one. No gelling issues. Go buy some blended fuel. that is a lot easier and fool proof than all the additive crap. Equipment runs here 365 days a year, and I DO NOT mess with any additives. You mentioned a truck with a fuel tank, go to the truck stop and fill er up.
In really, really extreme weather- like -20 F for a daytime high, we have added a quart or so gas to 30 gallons diesel if the tractor started to act up. That does work, just don't over do it, and I'm not sure i'd try it on the new Tier 4 diesel engines. Works fine on non-computerized diesels though.
In really, really extreme weather- like -20 F for a daytime high, we have added a quart or so gas to 30 gallons diesel if the tractor started to act up. That does work, just don't over do it, and I'm not sure i'd try it on the new Tier 4 diesel engines. Works fine on non-computerized diesels though.
Bruce from Can.
Well-known Member
- Location
- Woodville, Ontario, Canada
I am running straight winter fuel right now with no additional treatment. Some years never a problem, other years trouble all the time no matter what we add the the fuel tank. My opinion is it is much more to do with the refining than the temperatures or the additives
rusty6
Well-known Member
- Location
- East central Sask.
Here in Sask. where extreme cold winter is the norm, its quite simple. If I'm buying fuel in late fall the fuel truck brings me diesel fuel that will handle the cold and not gel. If I still have summer diesel in the tractor tanks I mix in some of the fuel thinner products and get by with that ok too although it is a little more work doing the mix. I'm planning to get a batch of real winter diesel in January to take me through the rest of the winter.
It has been many years since I have had any problem with fuel gelling in my farm tractors even though I have often used them in sub zero weather. The secret is no secret. Just keep your fuel filters changed on a regular basis and use winter blend fuel from your supplier. The modern gas blend does not seem to have many problems such as icing or freezing in the line either.
"Also keep in mind your carburated gas engines. Many people don't know that there is winter and summer blend of gasoline and it does make a difference on carburated engines. Memory serves me the switch is in November and maybe Feburary or March. there will be a spike in price during the switch. If you are having trouble with a Gasser in the winter try getting fresh fuel in it."
Bingo.
Don't even try starting a vintage gasoline tractor engine in Cold weather with summer formula gasoline in the tank and carburetor unless you well know how to do so. Most of my vintage Fords are not started between October and April so I don't worry about it but my 52 8N (my quad) is used year round so I keep winter formula gasoline in it in the cold months and rarely have trouble starting it in single digits even though it (like all of my others) has the OEM 6V system.
Dean
Bingo.
Don't even try starting a vintage gasoline tractor engine in Cold weather with summer formula gasoline in the tank and carburetor unless you well know how to do so. Most of my vintage Fords are not started between October and April so I don't worry about it but my 52 8N (my quad) is used year round so I keep winter formula gasoline in it in the cold months and rarely have trouble starting it in single digits even though it (like all of my others) has the OEM 6V system.
Dean
number 1 mix is all i use now. before they made the big change to diesel fuel, which is now, quite a few yrs ago. we used Howe's but have now found that the treatment of diesel by the oil companies, actually is all the can be done, successfully. so adding number 1 is about the only thing left.
Fuel is marketed differently in different parts of the country. Most areas, the fuel sold at the pump is blended to accomodate typical temperartures. You can have problems when you get a cold swing like we are having right now. The upper midwest is a little different in that many stations have both #1 and #2 pumps. The customer is responsible for blending their own. If you try the #2 pump when it is -20F you likely will trip the breaker before you get any fuel.
Many of the modern diesels recirculate a large amount of fuel through the engine and back to the tank. Once everything is warm, you can run straight #2 even well below zero as long as everything stays warm. If you keep it in a heated shop, it is possible to run #2 year round without problem, just dont leave it sit outside and cool off. Below about 20F you can start having problems with untreated #2.
Many of the modern diesels recirculate a large amount of fuel through the engine and back to the tank. Once everything is warm, you can run straight #2 even well below zero as long as everything stays warm. If you keep it in a heated shop, it is possible to run #2 year round without problem, just dont leave it sit outside and cool off. Below about 20F you can start having problems with untreated #2.
showcrop
Well-known Member
I noticed a lot of trucks on the roadside and on the hook yesterday. I don't know why. They were local companies too. As others have said the oil companies blend the fuel, starting Nov. 1 here. Perhaps they are not using the anti-gel additive. I always add Power service treatment starting late fall.
The key is to do what you are going to do a couple days before the cold snap.
#2 and Power Service works fine for me, but I've worked the kinks out of that plan over the years... my tank heater is below the fuel filter, so while plugged in the fuel filter gets warmed a few degrees. The filter is new before the temps get this cold. You have to do the additive or the blending before the #2 has the wax settle out - like toothpaste if you squeeze it out of the tune it is very hard to put back in, once the wax settles out of the fuel in your machine it pretty much takes a warm garage or tent to get it all mixed back in and working again.
If you have problems, a new filter and do what you can to heat up the filter to get the machine to drag itself back to a shop. 5 gallon buckets of hot water poured on a filter housing does more then one would think, but know that you will have cold fuel full of wax heading right back to the filter and cooling it right back down to plugging temps......
Paul
#2 and Power Service works fine for me, but I've worked the kinks out of that plan over the years... my tank heater is below the fuel filter, so while plugged in the fuel filter gets warmed a few degrees. The filter is new before the temps get this cold. You have to do the additive or the blending before the #2 has the wax settle out - like toothpaste if you squeeze it out of the tune it is very hard to put back in, once the wax settles out of the fuel in your machine it pretty much takes a warm garage or tent to get it all mixed back in and working again.
If you have problems, a new filter and do what you can to heat up the filter to get the machine to drag itself back to a shop. 5 gallon buckets of hot water poured on a filter housing does more then one would think, but know that you will have cold fuel full of wax heading right back to the filter and cooling it right back down to plugging temps......
Paul
flying belgian
Well-known Member
"I live in SD and use number 1 fuel and power service to get the water out"
Where does the water go??
Where does the water go??
I've always run 'winter blend' diesel with a bit of Power Service or Schaefer's Diesel Treat added. Never had a problem until J didn't use any and the station that I got a tankful from had not changed to winter blend yet and the weather went from 30s to teens for overnight lows. My next trip to town was interrupted by the fuel trying to gell up! I got to town and bought another bottle of PS and treated the fuel in the tank, problem solved. 8)
rusty6
Well-known Member
- Location
- East central Sask.
Can't say I've noticed any difference starting my gas engines in winter other than slower cranking speeds. I had my Cockshutt 50 going las week to run oats through the hammer mill. Gas in the tank was from last July, or maybe August. Had to leave the tractor out overnight as I did not finish before dark but it started right up the next morning.
fixerupper
Well-known Member
For you, in your climate, just pour the recommended amount of Howe's or Power Service or whatever other brand in your vehicle's tanks just for this cold snap.
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