winterization diesel

Sort of new to diesels. I now have a 58 hp toro 4000d with a Kubota diesel and a John Deere 3038 38 hp yanmar? diesel. I am in SW Michigan. ?? how do you prepare for winter? I realize diesel fuel goes to a winter blend? Keep the tank full? additives? to keep fuel from jelling? The Toro will set, but the Deere will get used some.

Mine sit inside heated shop, but I add enough power services to rate -30, others use Howes and other brands.

Yes keep your tanks full. If you don't get the winter blend then use the ani gel additives. I use Power Service products. I never have a problem in the winter. Make sure you run the equipment long enough to get the treated/winter blend fuel completely through the fuel system. I also have block heaters on my tractor. Just hate to them cold.

I add power service service to my winter diesel fuel in my bulk tank. I also change the filters in my diesels every year. I never have a problem. I to live in Michigan

I used number 1 diesel and some additive for water. Worked for me. I hate walking home in 25 below weather.

We have an 01 JD 4600, with a Yanmar engine, and I usually get some treated diesel in mid Nov. but since my wife shot 2 deer we are done hunting and won't be going up to the cabin anymore. The tractor only has about 5 gallons in it so I put 3 oz of Power Service treatment in it and used it a little. I don't intent to use it until March or April anyhow. It's in a garage, has a block heater, so I will just pre-heat for a little longer if it's cold.

In Minnesota we have up to a 20% biodiesel blend in summer, 5% blend after October 1st. So, start with winter blend of fuel.....

I add a little Power Service. Need it at about 25 degrees in some tractors, for sure by 15degrees in all of them.

A winter blend, which means some #1 diesel splashed in, is also very helpful and is the way to go if you get to zero degrees or colder. The more #1 in the mix, the colder it can take it, but the more it costs and the less lubrication and fuel efficiency you have.

I have one tractor the electric plug in tank heater was right below the fuel filter, I never used anything but summer fuel in it all winter for several years, even in ero degrees weather. Plug in the tractor, it heats the antifreeze, the heat from the tank heater rose and warmed the fuel filter, and so it was good to go never gelled. So, it does depend some on your tractor..... so our guesses as to what you need and when might be a little different.....

If you aren?t using the tractor in cold weather, you don?t have to treat it. The waxy stuff forms in the #2 fuel when it gets below 25 or so degrees, but then it turns back to normal fuel and reabsorbs into the fuel when it warms up. If you have the treatment, a little bit wouldn?t hurt tho, it often acts as a bit of a stsblizer.

If you are going with regular #2 fuel and a treatment like Power Service, you need to add it before it turns real cold, you need the treatment circulated through the injector pump and filter before it is needed! There is a Red bottle of stuff from Power Service that is supposed to eat it?s way through a somewhat clogged filter and all, but I sure wouldnt want to hope that works on a cold day when I need the tractor and it?s not running.....

Paul

In your area if the states, blend your #2 fuel 3/4 number 1 fuel and 1/4 number 2. That is if you are running a premium #2 diesel. If you are running truck stop or convinence store diesel, go with straight #1 fuel. Additives are an expense that you don't need. I owned a fuel busones for 14 years. I cannot begin to count the number of times I have been out along the road with my fuEl truck changing fuel filters and filling the trucks/tractors with #1 fuel. Everytime I was there the guys said"I put the anti gel additive in the tank, why did my fuel gell", The only sure way to keep fuel from gelling is, use #1:fuel in the proper amount.

Keeping the tanks full helps a lot. Here in NH fuel is blended at the pump starting Nov. 1. My tractors sometimes have summer carry- over so I mix one part #1 in with two parts #2. As others have said with blended fuel you don't need additives, but as Wayne Lee said walking home in -10 degrees is no fun, and most likely you have no heat when the fuel stops pumping, so I add Power Service.

That reminds me, I've still got summer diesel in all my tractors and I'll need to start the old Massey tomorrow to put a hay bale out for the cattle. Temp is supposed to drop just below 0F degrees tonight. Starting won't be a problem with the big 1500 watt block heater but hopefully the fuel will keep flowing through the filters. I usually get it changed over to winter diesel or else mix up a batch of summer dieesl plus some "thinner" by the time the cold weather hits.

I have ran straight number 2 summer fuel all winter with a power service added and never had a problem down to 40 Below . I?ve only gelled up one time and that?s when I trusted the fuel station to have the right fuel and they didn?t . So do what you want but for 10$ you can treat 250 gallon of fuel and not worry

SV

The only time I gelled up is when I trusted a station too, they "blended" down to -10, well it was -10 and I gelled.

Yip it?s a good time trying to get a truck running again when it?s 30 below

If fuel stations and suppliers aren't lying to you there are two methods of mixing fuel for cold climates. Winter blend is blending Kerosene ( #1) with diesel. Winterized diesel uses additives, this is the cheaper and better way. Kerosene is "dry" and does not have the lubricating qualities of diesel, it also has less energy (BTU) so less power and economy Fuel additives don't dry the fuel out, most actually add lubricity and detergents too, it depends on what the supplier uses.

If it was mine, I would get a winter additive and not use kerosene or winter blends, at least in anything modern like common rail or unitized injection. Power Service is a trusted brand and there are many others, just make sure the label specifies for winter use.

(quoted from post at 01:21:58 11/09/18) If fuel stations and suppliers aren't lying to you there are two methods of mixing fuel for cold climates. Winter blend is blending Kerosene ( #1) with diesel. Winterized diesel uses additives, this is the cheaper and better way. Kerosene is "dry" and does not have the lubricating qualities of diesel, it also has less energy (BTU) so less power and economy Fuel additives don't dry the fuel out, most actually add lubricity and detergents too, it depends on what the supplier uses.

If it was mine, I would get a winter additive and not use kerosene or winter blends, at least in anything modern like common rail or unitized injection. Power Service is a trusted brand and there are many others, just make sure the label specifies for winter use.

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I'm with 4play on this power service has been my go to and always keep some on hand for winter. My experience has been that there are a few other brands that worked real well for the smaller diesel engines. In extreme cold valve noise upon start up used to bother me and tried Polar Power and Complete Fuel Treatment from Enertec Labs. Not a scientific study by any means but they both kept me in trouble free operation and diminished a lot of the engine noise and smoke on cold start ups. B7500 Kubota was a dramatic change, I used to not even try to start in extreme cold. NH TC33 was definitely easier starting as well. No problems with power service and still use in my trucks and the bigger stuff and it's much easier to find locally.

(quoted from post at 08:52:05 11/09/18)

(quoted from post at 01:21:58 11/09/18) If fuel stations and suppliers aren't lying to you there are two methods of mixing fuel for cold climates. Winter blend is blending Kerosene ( #1) with diesel. Winterized diesel uses additives, this is the cheaper and better way. Kerosene is "dry" and does not have the lubricating qualities of diesel, it also has less energy (BTU) so less power and economy Fuel additives don't dry the fuel out, most actually add lubricity and detergents too, it depends on what the supplier uses.

If it was mine, I would get a winter additive and not use kerosene or winter blends, at least in anything modern like common rail or unitized injection. Power Service is a trusted brand and there are many others, just make sure the label specifies for winter use.

Click to expand...

I'm with 4play on this power service has been my go to and always keep some on hand for winter. My experience has been that there are a few other brands that worked real well for the smaller diesel engines. In extreme cold valve noise upon start up used to bother me and tried Polar Power and Complete Fuel Treatment from Enertec Labs. Not a scientific study by any means but they both kept me in trouble free operation and diminished a lot of the engine noise and smoke on cold start ups. B7500 Kubota was a dramatic change, I used to not even try to start in extreme cold. NH TC33 was definitely easier starting as well. No problems with power service and still use in my trucks and the bigger stuff and it's much easier to find locally.

Click to expand...

By the way I have started treating my fuel a few weeks ago before the temps started to far down to get them through the system before it was needed.