diesel fuel frozen?

[BlackOps]

well very cold and my max 25 - first time would not start - drained the battery down a few times even after charging trying to get it started. could the diesel fuel be frozen? man of all the days i needed it to work and esp tomorrow with 15" of snow possible.
i finally topped off the battery the best i could and let it go for today.

thanks.

 

[DuckSlayer1017]

Your fuel could be frozen. Try diesel 911 or add some kerosene to the tank. You may need to change the fuel filter as well. If you have a way to warm the tractor try it. Consider a portable heater and some blankets, just make sure to not start a fire.

 

[oosik]

Your fuel is not frozen - it is probably jelled or has a small amount of water in it. At cold temps the paraffin in the fuel hardens and causes jelling. Similarly water can "slush up" and plug the system. The answer - the paraffin or water must be heated and liquified. Sooo - - its something like a kerosene space heater, wife's hair dryer, hand held electric heat gun - - you get the idea. CAREFULLY heat the fuel in the fuel tank.

Once the fuel is heated - things should reliquify and the tractor should start. Then - quick as a fox - go to your automotive store, NAPA or the like, and get some diesel fuel additive. I use Power Service diesel fuel supplement - its supposed to prevent fuel jelling.

The only time I've ever had jelling - it was very cold here -25F and it took about half an hour with the wife's hair dryer to solve the problem.

 

[RockyNY]

When was the last time you fueled up? It probably has summer diesel in it. I plowed snow today at -10F. Took a long time to warm things up, but no problem with fuel jelling.

 

[newbury]

Plus try and warm your fuel line. You can make a temp water jacket for the fuel filter (think large ziploc bag) and fill it with boiling water, repeat, repeat. Or wait till summer

 

[BlackOps]

Thanks everyone. esp oosik - I just fueld up about 3 weeks ago with fresh diesel.

 

[Dave M7040]

Are you certain your glow plugs are working?
Dave M7040

 

[buickanddeere]

Using a block heater ?

 

[TJP89]

The only time I've ever had jelling - it was very cold here -25F and it took about half an hour with the wife's hair dryer to solve the problem.

That sounds like a real good way to blow something up. I know diesel isn't as inflammable as gasoline, but I would never take a hair dryer near diesel vapor. Then again, not sure what else I would do if I had a tank of frozen diesel.

To the OP, the hydrocarbon mix called diesel ain't gonna freeze solid anywhere on this planet. Parts of it will thicken so you can't use it, but its not going to turn into diesel ice. Fuel additives, heaters, glow plugs will all help. And although probably nothing will happen, try to stay away from directly heating diesel fuel.

 

[powerscol]

Take and electric heater and place under the tractor and tarp over the tractor. However do not leave, sit and watch. heater should be aimed at oil pan. Give it at least 1/2 hour or more.

Before doing this though add Power Service 911 to the tank and filter bowl.

To start, remove heater and tarp and cycle glow plugs at least twice without starting, then turn her over and cross your fingers.

 

[TomSeller]

That sounds like a real good way to blow something up. I know diesel isn't as inflammable as gasoline, but I would never take a hair dryer near diesel vapor. Then again, not sure what else I would do if I had a tank of frozen diesel.

To the OP, the hydrocarbon mix called diesel ain't gonna freeze solid anywhere on this planet. Parts of it will thicken so you can't use it, but its not going to turn into diesel ice. Fuel additives, heaters, glow plugs will all help. And although probably nothing will happen, try to stay away from directly heating diesel fuel.

At -25 degF ambient the hair dryer might output enough heat to get up slightly above freezing. It is not going to get hot by any means. They only gain about 60 degF.

 

[GManBart]

That sounds like a real good way to blow something up. I know diesel isn't as inflammable as gasoline, but I would never take a hair dryer near diesel vapor. Then again, not sure what else I would do if I had a tank of frozen diesel.

There is no reasonable way a hair dryer will ignite diesel.

 

[BlackOps]

I decided to wait until it warms up here and see what happens - a couple of dealers are closed due to storms so i cannot ask them.

Thanks everyone.

 

[square1]

After two days of single digit highs and two nights of teens below zero (record lows the 2nd night) lows it took 3 hours with jumper cables hooked up and a 50,000 BTU salamander heater pointed at my tractor with a tarp over it to get it to spin up enough to fire and keep running. I gave up the first day, but had to get it running yesterday, there was work to be done

 

[TJP89]

After two days of single digit highs and two nights of teens below zero (record lows the 2nd night) lows it took 3 hours with jumper cables hooked up and a 50,000 BTU salamander heater pointed at my tractor with a tarp over it to get it to spin up enough to fire and keep running. I gave up the first day, but had to get it running yesterday, there was work to be done

Was the tractor outside? I had to start mine in -13 and it went no problem. Took forever to warm up though.

 

[BlackOps]

Thanks square1.

 

[CobyRupert]

That sounds like a real good way to blow something up. I know diesel isn't as inflammable as gasoline, but I would never take a hair dryer near diesel vapor. Then again, not sure what else I would do if I had a tank of frozen diesel.

To the OP, the hydrocarbon mix called diesel ain't gonna freeze solid anywhere on this planet. Parts of it will thicken so you can't use it, but its not going to turn into diesel ice. Fuel additives, heaters, glow plugs will all help. And although probably nothing will happen, try to stay away from directly heating diesel fuel.

FYI: Auto-ignition temperature of diesel is about 410 degrees F. Probably a little higher if it's mixed with kerosene or No. 1.
Technically it's not even considered a flammable liquid. It's a (Class II or IIIA) combustible liquid.
Gasoline auto-ignition temp is even higher at 475 F. Keeping liquid away from contacting the high temps source is usually the easy part, vapors and sparks are usually the greater hazard. (See Flash Point).
Diesel has be 149F before it gives off enough vapors to form an ignitable mixture (using a ignition source), whereas gasoline above -40F does.

 

[square1]

Was the tractor outside?

Yeah. Last year I kept it in the garage, but a couple more vehicles in the coral this year forced the tractor outside

I had to start mine in -13 and it went no problem. Took forever to warm up though.

What doesn't at those temps

 

[Capricious]

After two days of single digit highs and two nights of teens below zero (record lows the 2nd night) lows it took 3 hours with jumper cables hooked up and a 50,000 BTU salamander heater pointed at my tractor with a tarp over it to get it to spin up enough to fire and keep running. I gave up the first day, but had to get it running yesterday, there was work to be done

Many years ago I worked at a place that sold lube oil in drums, and often we would have to pump it. In the winter the only way we could do that was to arrange the drums in a "V" shape, aim a salamander at the opening of the "V" and cover the drums with the heaviest canvas tarps I have ever dealt with. We could get those drums too hot to touch with bare hands, and the lube oil flowed like water. Occasionally set a tarp on fire.

You might tray letting the oil drain (will take awhile) and re-filling with oil that you have heated up. Won't do anything to help jelled fuel, though.

 

[GManBart]

You might tray letting the oil drain (will take awhile) and re-filling with oil that you have heated up. Won't do anything to help jelled fuel, though.

In some extremely cold locations they sort of do this with airplanes. After they land, they drain the oil from the engine(s) while it's still warm enough to flow properly, and put it in a barrel for inside storage over night. Right before they start them they refill with the oil they drained the day before. They also frequently use tarps, covers, plugs, etc and heaters to keep the engines as warm as possible over night.