Treating diesel in north Texas winters

[ElSueno Farms]

I keep 15—20 gallons of diesel on hand, servicing 2 tractors and 1RTV. Seems there is no typical winters in north Texas, I always treat my stored gasoline, but in the past have not treated diesel. But until this year usually only kept 5 gal on—hand for by b kubota. All equipment today is stored under a 23x40 metal drive—in shed, so nothing gets wet or is exposed at all. Diesel is up off ground at all times in a 15 gal plastic container with a hand pump and put it through a filter funnel.

would you treat or not, and if so, what works best in north Texas, zone 8A.

 

[ovrszd]

I only treat diesel to prevent gelling. That doesn't happen until temps drop below 20F. Diesel fuel stores much better than gasoline. Some of my tractors will sit all Winter and the fuel still works fine next Spring. I try to store them with the tanks full to minimize condensation.

For treatment I use Power Service White Bottle. An ounce will treat 3 gallons. It's cheap security. Gelled fuel is not fun.

 

[JCoastie]

I live in lower Alabama and we get about 5 days per year where it just hits freezing or slightly below. Just in case, I treat diesel on hand with Power Service in the white bottle before the first freeze is expected.

 

[oosik]

I treat my diesel with Power Service White Bottle.

 

[Jchonline]

I keep 15—20 gallons of diesel on hand, servicing 2 tractors and 1RTV. Seems there is no typical winters in north Texas, I always treat my stored gasoline, but in the past have not treated diesel. But until this year usually only kept 5 gal on—hand for by b kubota. All equipment today is stored under a 23x40 metal drive—in shed, so nothing gets wet or is exposed at all. Diesel is up off ground at all times in a 15 gal plastic container with a hand pump and put it through a filter funnel.

would you treat or not, and if so, what works best in north Texas, zone 8A.

Stanadyne Winter 1000. Works in the CO mountains flawlessly.

 

[TerryR]

We live in the mountains of western North Carolina, where it generally gets into the lower teens a time or two each year, and has gotten to zero a time or two in the 25 years we've lived here. I've never treated either the diesel in the tank or what may be in the two five-gallon plastic containers, both of which are stored in a small un-heated barn.

I've never seen an issue with the fuel, though I've seldom if ever tried to start the tractor until it's gotten back up above freezing, especially in the barn, which is somewhat heated by the sun once the weather clears.

 

[rScotty]

I use Opti-Lube XPD summer and winter. Directions say to use double the dose for winter.
rScotty

 

[ruffdog]

It is easy to test your fuel at a cold temperature. I put a sample in a small clear bottle and toss it in the freezer. After a day or two, see how clear it is. I'm not happy with the latest sample I tested of fuel I just bought. grrr

 

[ruffdog]

A good sample will be crystal clear like koolaid. Then, the next stage is just a cloudiness, then you will get settling of the paraffin on the bottom with stringy slime looking things when stirred. It will keep getting thicker until it starts solidifying from the bottom up.

The freezer I test in is set at -4F.

 

[Slowpoke Slim]

A good sample will be crystal clear like koolaid. Then, the next stage is just a cloudiness, then you will get settling of the paraffin on the bottom with stringy slime looking things when stirred. It will keep getting thicker until it starts solidifying from the bottom up.

The freezer I test in is set at -4F.

Heck, that's not even winter yet.

 

[dodge man]

I’ve had my diesel gel on me 3 times. Twice was a Kubota BX with cold wet slushy snow splashing up on the little fuel filter. The other time it stayed cold, around zero several days in a unheated garage. Every time the fuel was treated, either power service or Howes. I now treat with Lucas and dump in about 20% kerosene if it gets really cold. There is a good video showing how the different additives work.

 

[Hay Dude]

Heck, that's not even winter yet.

Thats t-shirt weather

 

[Boss 302]

X2 for Opti-Lube

 

[Kschwennsen]

I had to laugh, Texas winter! In the frozen tundra (WI), we see neg temps all of the time during the winter (over 100 days a couple years ago) and last year was the first time I actually decided to treat my fuel. Usually they change the blend at the pump depending on the time of the year and I would think they do the same in Texas if it's warranted.

Stay warm!

 

[rScotty]

Heck, that's not even winter yet.

Crazy weather here in the Rocky Mountains. Still high 50s and 60s during the day and not freezing at night. But that may change......

On treating diesel for winter, I used to just trust my diesel dealer to be treating their diesel appropriately for the season. Not sure if anything has changed or not, but I feel better when treating the fuel myself as if it was standard summer fuel. So that's what I do.

 

[manzer7]

I keep 15—20 gallons of diesel on hand, servicing 2 tractors and 1RTV. Seems there is no typical winters in north Texas, I always treat my stored gasoline, but in the past have not treated diesel. But until this year usually only kept 5 gal on—hand for by b kubota. All equipment today is stored under a 23x40 metal drive—in shed, so nothing gets wet or is exposed at all. Diesel is up off ground at all times in a 15 gal plastic container with a hand pump and put it through a filter funnel.

would you treat or not, and if so, what works best in north Texas, zone 8A.

I store mine in 5 gal plastic Diesel containers from Tractor Supply.
I treat the diesel only when it is slow-starting around -15 or -20 below 0 F.
I use the white bottle POWER SERVICE DIESEL fuel supplement as recommended by my JD dealer.
That bottle will last me years !!! The first 2 years, I did not need any treatment. Last year, it took longer turning for it to start.
I store the tractor in my outside unheated garage and turn the pre-herater on 3 or 4 times before turning to start when it is below -10.
Once it kicks in it turns fine. It gets -20 below and sometimes -30 here in Northern Maine where we can see Canada from my house.
I have never filtered the diesel - but I do add TRC DZL-PEP With AAT to every container as I get my Diesel home. 1 quart treats 250 gallons. I have used TRC since I bought it new. I also use TRC 880 grease on all the zerks - that stuff stays on !!!

 

[LouNY]

And here we go again on winter fuel!!!!

Personally I use the white bottle Power Serve at the winter rate of double the standard amount.
Diesel fuel can start to precipitate paraffin out as warm as 45F, although normally it will stay
good down to the low 30'sF untreated, treated it supposedly will go down to sub zero temps.
I don't trust it when we start to get to zero and sub zero I switch to my winter fuel tank,
it is a blend of #2 and #1 fuel, approximately 40% #1with Power Serve's high dose and also a biocide
as it just sits all summer till needed in the winter. It is pumped through a good filter when filling the tractors.
If a surprise cold snap jumps out I will add #1 right to the tractor fuel tank with it running to blend it in good.
I have been fortunate in not gelling for 10 years or so, I also drain and or change my fuel filters in the fall
and keep two spare sets on hand for fuel issues in the winter.

As far as service stations changing the fuel blend, not hardly they will vary the additive package for the projected
weather but it will have to get very cold before they start to blend fuel.

 

[priberc]

Stanadyne makes good products....take your pick. Make sure you have the right grade of fuel on hand and in the tanks for the temps outside. There is a difference between "summer" and "winter" fuel

 

[rScotty]

Most of the diesel additives claim to enhance the lubricity, raise the cetane, clean the injectors, and prevent gelling. Apparently they do. That's a lot of benefits

Opti-Lube and Power Service seems to be the most popular on the market, but dosing only adds 10 cents a gallon to the price of diesel fuel

So where's the downside? I treat year round - and am thinking of adding a biocide to the mix.
rScotty

 

[RoyJackson]

I had to laugh, Texas winter! In the frozen tundra (WI), we see neg temps all of the time during the winter (over 100 days a couple years ago) and last year was the first time I actually decided to treat my fuel. Usually they change the blend at the pump depending on the time of the year and I would think they do the same in Texas if it's warranted.

Stay warm!

That's the big question...
In the northern tier of the country, winterizing diesel is commonplace.
But Texas...what then average low in the winter?

Like others, I use Power Service White Bottle...all year as it replaces some of the lubricity that low sulfur diesel removes....
Even with the cold winters in Vermont, never had any gelling problems and the tractors have always been left outside