Your last generator Maintenance Run

[LouNY]

#2 fuel oil will "gel" in cold weather unless it has had additives added to lower the cloud point.
The ‘cloud point’ is the temperature when waxes (paraffins) start to form cloudy bits in the diesel.
This is normally thought to be in the teens (F) it has been observed as warm as upper 20's (F).
Fuel can have additives added to prevent or at least slow this from happening, these will often be called winter fuels or blended fuels.
True blended fuel are a blend of #2 and #1(kerosene) which will be much more resistant to allowing the wax crystals to form and additives can also be added to blended or mixed fuel.
This will often build up in fuel filters and stop the fuel flow, if a person is lucky and notices the power decline before the engine quits getting the engine to some warmth will often fix the situation, torches, heat guns or even hot water will all help. Some people will even have heaters on the fuel filters to help with this problem.

 

[WinterDeere]

Just about all fuel oil is ULS these days, at least it has been here for years. I've been using it for 40 years in my Kubota tractors with no issues. I store them in an unheated barn but have had no problems with gelling.

Wow. Good to know! It would be a heck of a lot more convenient to just put another drain cock on my heating oil drum in the basement, than be running out to the gas station for diesel fuel. Cheaper, too!

 

[WinterDeere]

#2 fuel oil will "gel" in cold weather unless it has had additives added to lower the cloud point.
The ‘cloud point’ is the temperature when waxes (paraffins) start to form cloudy bits in the diesel.
This is normally thought to be in the teens (F) it has been observed as warm as upper 20's (F).
Fuel can have additives added to prevent or at least slow this from happening, these will often be called winter fuels or blended fuels.
True blended fuel are a blend of #2 and #1(kerosene) which will be much more resistant to allowing the wax crystals to form and additives can also be added to blended or mixed fuel.
This will often build up in fuel filters and stop the fuel flow, if a person is lucky and notices the power decline before the engine quits getting the engine to some warmth will often fix the situation, torches, heat guns or even hot water will all help. Some people will even have heaters on the fuel filters to help with this problem.

Yeah, this is what I always thought, as well. But bdh is local to me, and reports no such problems?

We see upper 20's pretty much every day, all winter long. We will usually see a week or two of nights near 10F, although my shed probably tempers that a bit, even if unheated and uninsulated. We very occasionally see a few nights hitting 0F, or even a few degrees below, but that's less common here.

 

[bdhsfz6]

Yeah, this is what I always thought, as well. But bdh is local to me, and reports no such problems?

We see upper 20's pretty much every day, all winter long. We will usually see a week or two of nights near 10F, although my shed probably tempers that a bit, even if unheated and uninsulated. We very occasionally see a few nights hitting 0F, or even a few degrees below, but that's less common here.

Gelling is more common around here for storage tanks located outside and above ground. Mobile homes often suffer this malady and use a blend of fuel oil and kerosene.

I've found that the temperature is buffered enough inside unheated out buildings to prevent gelling, at least around here. It could be a different story in colder climates though, or for equipment stored outside.

 

[WinterDeere]

Gelling is more common around here for storage tanks located outside and above ground. Mobile homes often suffer this malady and use a blend of fuel oil and kerosene.

I've found that the temperature is buffered enough inside unheated out buildings to prevent gelling, at least around here. It could be a different story in colder climates though, or for equipment stored outside.

Good to know. I'm guessing you're probably up near Stroudsberg? So it's probably colder where you are than here, unless you're right on the water. I'm down in the Philly/Allentown area, and not near any tempering water influence.

 

[bdhsfz6]

Good to know. I'm guessing you're probably up near Stroudsberg? So it's probably colder where you are than here, unless you're right on the water. I'm down in the Philly/Allentown area, and not near any tempering water influence.

IMO, you would be fine if you store your tractor in a closed unheated building. If not, fill a soda straw with fuel oil and crimp the ends with a couple of clothes pins. Leave it outside in the cold and see if it gels.

 

[LouNY]

I usually fill a glass jar about half full of fuel from my outside tanks and leave it out in the weather to observe when I think of it.
When I see it starting to get cloudy depending upon the forecast I may add more #1 or additive into the tractors fuel tanks and then run them for half and hour of so to mix the fuel up.
My present winter fuel tank is about 25 to 30% #1 with a heavy dose of anti -gell additive.
Which reminds me it's about time to replace the tank filter and fill a jar for this winter.

 

[WinterDeere]

My interest in using fuel oil instead of driving to the gas station for diesel, was purely out of convenience. Having to monitor the stuff, then find, buy, and add additives, sort of goes against the whole convenience factor. Sounds like I'm better off just continuing to buy diesel at the closest gas station.

 

[slckeys]

My interest in using fuel oil instead of driving to the gas station for diesel, was purely out of convenience. Having to monitor the stuff, then find, buy, and add additives, sort of goes against the whole convenience factor. Sounds like I'm better off just continuing to buy diesel at the closest gas station.

When I bought my home heating oil the first time from the company I use, I asked if it was ULSD, they said yes. And they also treat all their heating oil for gelling as well. So I have them fill my fuel storage tank with whichever is cheaper. Heating oil/off road fuel. The off road fuel goes untreated in the summer according to them. So, in a long winded post here... Doesn't hurt to ask your fuel delivery company if they treat it for gelling before delivery.

 

[bdhsfz6]

My interest in using fuel oil instead of driving to the gas station for diesel, was purely out of convenience. Having to monitor the stuff, then find, buy, and add additives, sort of goes against the whole convenience factor. Sounds like I'm better off just continuing to buy diesel at the closest gas station.

Definitely the safest way to do it.