Diesel in winter

[testert]

Is there a certain temperature that filling stations start selling a winter blend of diesel? I don't know exactly what winter blend is but I've heard the term a few times. Last year the cold winter started quickly and I already had a full tank of 'summer' diesel in my tank and I think it gelled up on me by early February.

 

[seville009]

no - they do it by date. not sure of the exact date; probably by the end of October at the latest.

#2 diesel is winter blend; should say it on the pump. itç—´ just diesel blended with kerosine i think

just pour Power Service in your tank (silver bottle). that should prevent gelling

 

[jbrumberg]

When the price of diesel rises and performance drops the regional distributors have switched from #2 (Summer) to #1 (Winter). You can ask the station's clerk, but they usually do not seem to know.

I use PowerService products as well. For cold weather operation I do a mix of Diesel Kleen (Silver Bottle) + Diesel Fuel Supplement + Cetane boost (White Bottle) + Clear-Diesel. Howes is another decent common brand.

I get my diesel from high volume stations that see a lot of equipment contractor vehicles and school buses.

I also use a Mr. Funnel fuel-water separating funnel when filling the tractor.

 

[nyone]

Just put some antigel in when its getting down to 30*f. If your taking months to use your supply u should also use some kind of algee treatment

 

[RjCorazza]

In my geographical area diesel is winterized by November 1st, although I do not count on it. I exhaust my summer fuel (#2 diesel), buy #1 diesel (winter blend) and also add an anti gel additive.
For the Power Service products, the white bottle is for winter, silver bottle is for summer.

 

[jbrumberg]

Just put some antigel in when its getting down to 30*f. If your taking months to use your supply u should also use some kind of algee treatment

I agree. Unused ULSD will build up water over time and create the conditions for that algae-scum to develop. Keeping water out of one's fuel will minimize the potential for that scum to develop. My mix has worked for me at temperatures down to -23ºF ambient temperatures. Injury kept me from tractor seat time most of last Winter into Late Spring. My diesel fuel was a mess with water; luckily none of that algae-scum developed. I had to rely on PowerService 911 and change the fuel filter to get things operational again. No problems since.

FWIW from PowerService: https://powerservice.com/wp-content...5554-_Yr-Round_Maintenance_Schedule_REV_2.pdf

 

[Thomas]

Try getting diesel where heavy trucks purchase..town/city power companies etc. station tanks should have fresher winter diesel.

 

[Copperhead]

Actually, most "winter blend" diesel at the pump is a combo of 75% #2 and 25% #1. That covers most situations down to sub zero. In the really cold climates, one can get this sort of blend and even buy straight #1 and mix your own cocktail. #1 is substantially higher price than #2, if the price for diesel didn't go up by a significant margin, then it is not #1 at the pump, but a mix, that is if they actually did anything to winterize their diesel. Some outlets are better than others in this regard. But even then, to make sure icing doesn't happen, a good diesel fuel cold weather additive is a good thing. Gelling is only part of the problem. Icing will shut you down just as fast.

I go thru about 21,000 gallons of diesel a year and I hate the winter months dealing with it. I buy a case of filters and a couple 5 gallon pails of additive and deal with it.

 

[LouNY]

May be different out in Iowa but around here most of the highway diesel is winterized by additives added when the transport trucks fill with the ratio being decided by the anticipated low temperature for the area.
Years ago it was done by blending #2 with #1.
For our off road delivered diesel we have to specify what ratio we desire, usually we fill one tank with #2 and double strength dose of additive.
The other tank gets a 50/50 Blend and also a single strength dose of additive.
Tractors that seldom get used in the winter are filled with the blend at the end of use season.
The ones that get run every day get fueled by the projected low temps, we tend to also keep some straight kerosene on hand for a sudden cold snap.
We have not had a fuel related issue in several years.
One thing we do also is the fuel filters with drains get drained frequently in the winter when the tractor is warmed up and has been running a while,
also we keep fuel filters on hand.
Our main additive that we use is the white bottle power serve, it seems to work good for us.

 

[CobyRupert]

Don't trust the filling station.
Even when you've gone over the know-nothing attendants head and called the regional fuel manager who assures you that their fuel is winterized. Ask me how I know.
Treat it yourself, its just a wild Hess, I mean wild guess, what the fuel is, or what temps the fuel is good for.