Oil & Fuel Diesel, Water plus Cold Weather

[Gizmo2]

I woke up to 8 inches of new snow...and a tractor that would not start. Cleaned, reassemble and then did it all again, just as bad the second time. Tractor is now running fine. It is now 12:28 PM, trying to warm up then I think I'll go plow. Just thought I would share, never seen anything quite as bad.

 

[Dale1995]

I woke up to 8 inches of new snow...and a tractor that would not start. Cleaned, reassemble and then did it all again, just as bad the second time. Tractor is now running fine. It is now 12:28 PM, trying to warm up then I think I'll go plow. Just thought I would share, never seen anything quite as bad.

View attachment 119222

We have had it cold here all week in northern maine. Temps were down to -50 one morning, then -30 for a couple of days. My tractor sleeps in the garage. So after pluging in the block heater for 4 hours it fired right up. I let it run for about 20 minutes then thought I would go out and blow a little snow to warm up the hydraulic system. After about 10 minutes of blowing...my tractor started to spit and sputter, immediately I nursed it back into the garage (I was Lucky) I plugged in the salamander to heat up the garage and added 2 gallons of kerosene to the fuel tank. I also added some kerosene to my fuel barrel to help cut that down. Funny thing is that I had treated all my fuel with Howes Diesel treatment, much stronger than they recommended. But I still had problems. Hopefully this will fix my problems. I started up the tractor and let it idle for a while. Do you think I will be all right now....Good Luck

 

[Willl]

I'm guessing you didn't use any diesel treatment ?

 

[Dale1995]

I'm guessing you didn't use any diesel treatment ?

Yep I used Howes diesel treatment, I guess it was just too cold....-50 friday and then -30 for three days in a row

 

[Willl]

Yep I used Howes diesel treatment, I guess it was just too cold....-50 friday and then -30 for three days in a row

OK....

Gizmo2, did you use any diesel treatment ?

 

[Dale1995]

yep I used lots of diesel treatment in my fuel, matter of fact I doubled what was recommended. but I still had problems

 

[mfreund]

I have seen too much of that this year. I get to see it in a filter 10x that size and the Sterling does not run any better than a Deere like that. That is not water in the fuel that is the wax for lubrication of the fuel pump. We have had more gell ups than I can remember, but this is the coldest temps we have had here in 12 yrs. I blame that **** low sulfer fuel!!!

 

[Karl2]

We have had it cold here all week in northern maine.

No kidding. Didn't have any problems with my tractor though, even if it sleeps outdoors. Block heater and cab kept the elements in check. It was even fun to watch that long plume of vapor coming out of the "funnel" (vertical exhaust lol) trail me for as far as I could see in the rear-view mirrors going down the road, felt like I was driving a steam locomotive. Didn't use any diesel treatment, last month I purchased a 500-gallon fuel trailer and had it filled with winterized commercial diesel from Irving in Portland. Almost every other commercial snow removal contractor I know uses this fuel but we have no Irving commercial retailer locally so we haul it. No idea what they put in it but it works.

 

[Gizmo2]

I have seen too much of that this year. I get to see it in a filter 10x that size and the Sterling does not run any better than a Deere like that. That is not water in the fuel that is the wax for lubrication of the fuel pump. We have had more gell ups than I can remember, but this is the coldest temps we have had here in 12 yrs. I blame that **** low sulfer fuel!!!

Thanks, I learned something already today (wax, ULSD). Just when I thought I knew everything.

 

[Dmace]

I have seen as low as -20F here in central NH and run nothing more than the recommended dose of Power Service Fuel Supplement. After this past 12" storm, I went out to my Kioti stored in a carport with just a roof, turned the key and waited for the light to go out and she started right up. I have a bottle of Power Service 911 just in case it does gel, but that has only happened once and it was in my plow truck.

I have two friends that have used Howe's diesel treatment and both had gelling issues, they have since switched to Power Service and haven't had a problem since.

 

[AKfish]

We just finished with 17 uninterrupted days of below zero weather. After 8-9 days of -35F and more my tractor started to gell even with No #1 and power service.

I used 1oz of PS 911 per gallon of diesel and that cleared things up.

AKfish

 

[Karl2]

We just finished with 17 uninterrupted days of below zero weather.

Is that exceptional or par for the course in Alaska? I would imagine that diesel fuel sold in your state is as winterized as it gets?

 

[LBrown59]

We have had it cold here all week in northern maine. Temps were down to -50 one morning, then -30 for a couple of days. My tractor sleeps in the garage. So after pluging in the block heater for 4 hours it fired right up. I let it run for about 20 minutes then thought I would go out and blow a little snow to warm up the hydraulic system. After about 10 minutes of blowing...my tractor started to spit and sputter, immediately I nursed it back into the garage (I was Lucky) I plugged in the salamander to heat up the garage and added 2 gallons of kerosene to the fuel tank. I also added some kerosene to my fuel barrel to help cut that down. Funny thing is that I had treated all my fuel with Howes Diesel treatment, much stronger than they recommended. But I still had problems. Hopefully this will fix my problems. I started up the tractor and let it idle for a while. Do you think I will be all right now....Good Luck

Thanks, I learned something already today (wax, ULSD). Just when I thought I knew everything.

Im' not so sure you did!
If the wax is gelled lubrication and the lubrication is the sulphur how could ULSD having less lubrication to gel gel worse than the higher sulfur ?
Seems to me the less sulphur there is to gel the less gelling you'd have.

 

[LBrown59]

I have seen too much of that this year.
1*That is not water in the fuel that is the wax for lubrication of the fuel pump.
We have had more gell ups than I can remember, but this is the coldest temps we have had here in 12 yrs.
2*I blame that **** low sulfer fuel!!!

1*Ie lubrication/wax = sulfer which is what gels.
2*How can ULSD with less sulfer in it to gel up do so worse than the higher suffer that has more sulfur in it to gel up?

 

[AKfish]

Is that exceptional or par for the course in Alaska? I would imagine that diesel fuel sold in your state is as winterized as it gets?

Yep... it HAS to be or whenever those long cold snaps hit - the whole transportation network would come to a grinding halt!

That said - there's a huge amount of stored fuel that is of varying "grades" at homeowner's and private retail (gas stations and fuel distributors) locations that can find it's way into the market or into your tank that will cause problems when the mercury drops.

So, it takes a good measure of "preventative maintainence" when the forecast becomes ominous. If you've got a diesel you have to pay alot more attention to your fuel. Details, details...

AKfish

 

[kthompson]

I have seen too much of that this year. I get to see it in a filter 10x that size and the Sterling does not run any better than a Deere like that. That is not water in the fuel that is the wax for lubrication of the fuel pump. We have had more gell ups than I can remember, but this is the coldest temps we have had here in 12 yrs. I blame that **** low sulfer fuel!!!

Puzzle to me. It was freezing here for a couple of days last week (for us a long cold period). Pulled water separator off a machine Saturday and it looked like his. But when I sat it in the sun it melted in just a few minutes and slide out. I really think mine was ice. It sure crumbled like ice when crushed it to get the spring out. Sure not saying it is not due to wax or other lubrication but was thought sure it was only ice. Don't think our winter fuel here is different but may be wrong. Have never had my fuel to gell unless it had then. But my fuel above it was fluid in the filter. I do use a fuel conditioner, no idea the brand, one my dealer recommended and he sells about three. I do run off road fuel.

 

[dirtworksequip]

GIZMO, i would think water would freeze in the bottom of the filter assembly and not be dispersed across the whole filter as gelled fuel would be. Looks like gelled fuel from your pic.

Sincerely, Dirt

 

[Gizmo2]

GIZMO, i would think water would freeze in the bottom of the filter assembly and not be dispersed across the whole filter as gelled fuel would be. Looks like gelled fuel from your pic.

Sincerely, Dirt

Yes, I am certain it was not water/ice but gelled wax. I do stand corrected.

 

[Gizmo2]

1*Ie lubrication/wax = sulfer which is what gels.
2*How can ULSD with less sulfer in it to gel up do so worse than the higher suffer that has more sulfur in it to gel up?

Take a look at this. You tell me.
ULSD Cold Weather Information

 

[mfreund]

I also use power serve in my tractor and have not had it freeze up. I put some in the Sterling when it was starting to gel and it came out of it. I use it because of availibity but seems to be good product.