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cold and gelling

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Old Jan 9, 2010 | 12:41 PM
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From: Fort Riley, kansas
cold and gelling

these last few days have been the coldest days my truck has ever see, and i was driving home last night and the old cummins started to spit and spudder like it was running out of fuel. When it started i pulled over and it idled ruff for a little bit then smoothed out. I think my full was starting gell up and when i pulled over the heat i think, from my cut off tail pipe warmed everything back up. I had to do this like 4 time to get home. I dont have a lot of exp. with very cold weather and diesels so i turn to you guys and the mass amount of info on this fourm.

Thanks again for any help!!
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Old Jan 9, 2010 | 12:46 PM
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From: Maine
how cold was it? Some guys from Louisianna sometimes tell me it's cold when it's 40*F. So if it's 40*, it's probably not it However, if its -20 it might be.

My diesels instructor from school once described a similar problem with gelling. It will gel across your filter before anywhere else. It was gelling there and clogging up the filter until it completely died. He'd pull over, but it would start no problem after 30 seconds or 1 minute. Heat from the engine warmed up the filter enough(now there was no air flow or high flow of fuel through the filter) to melt the waxes that clogged it.

So how cold is it? Usually cold places pre blend with kero, but if fuel is from a mom and pop store that fill their tanks 3 times a year, it could be left over summer diesel! Either way, some anti gel additive is always a good idea in winter.
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Old Jan 9, 2010 | 01:01 PM
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Well it got down to -14 last night will a -30 wind cill. I am going to wally-world to day to get some diesel 911. It never got over 2* yesterday. and i am in Kansas. And 40* would be great, only getting up to 13* to day.
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Old Jan 9, 2010 | 01:15 PM
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that diesel 911 is used when your fuel filter gells up, it works good, I've used it this winter... but the regular Powerservice that is in the white bottle that is supposed to prevent gell up, doesn't work when it gets below zero. I put half of a bottle of that in my truck and it still gelled up. Go get some #1 diesel and you won't have any problems, I mix my tank 50/50 with #1 and haven't had any more problems with gellin up.
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Old Jan 9, 2010 | 01:18 PM
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Where can i get #1 diesel?
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Old Jan 9, 2010 | 01:59 PM
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From: Brighton CO and Cheyenne WY
A truckstop.
Almost all fuel delivered in states that have cold winters will already be blended or have some amount of anti-gelling. It will still gel up around -10 or colder so additional help is needed.
Since cold stretches like this are so short I just use the white bottle and have zero problems.
A 80 oz jug from Wal-mart will last me all winter.
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Old Jan 9, 2010 | 02:08 PM
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Put a couple of gallons of unleaded gas to a full tank of diesel.

I done that for years in my mercedes diesels. Works for me.

I also use power sevice some times.


Tom
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Old Jan 9, 2010 | 02:23 PM
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how much is a 80 oz jug from wal-mart? but the gas thing, I know that this old motor will burn up to 50/50 gas diesel. Dum kid at a gas station at safeway in tillamook OR was not paying attention and put about 8 gallons in before caught it but the loacal mechanic said it was ok.
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Old Jan 9, 2010 | 02:31 PM
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I don't remember.........maybe $15.
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Old Jan 9, 2010 | 02:33 PM
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thanks i will look to day
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Old Jan 9, 2010 | 03:49 PM
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I havn't had any good luck with PS white bottle, I've gelled up numerous times with a double shot PS.

I now run Howes lubricator and have had zero problems gelling, I also run straight #2 summer fuel with a 1/3 of a bottle of Howes

http://www.howeslube.com/
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Old Jan 9, 2010 | 04:30 PM
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I would NEVER put GAS in intentionally Put kerosene in .... I was born and raised in the yukon and worked for the department of Highways i have seen minus 69 C without wind chill and we Never put Gas in our fuel . I don't want to stat a addictive thread but we used ATF in everything . Then we got high tech and used some additive which worked just as well ... I cant remember what it was
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Old Jan 9, 2010 | 06:48 PM
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I agree with ROXX, no gas. We don't get #1 down here so if the mercury drops below zero F I add one part Kero to four parts diesel. It has only done that once that I can remember in 36 years.
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Old Jan 9, 2010 | 06:54 PM
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From: Fort Riley, kansas
[QUOTE=pulltilbroke;2673698]I havn't had any good luck with PS white bottle, I've gelled up numerous times with a double shot PS.

I now run Howes lubricator and have had zero problems gelling, I also run straight #2 summer fuel with a 1/3 of a bottle of Howes

http://www.howeslube.com/[/QUOTE

Thanks i have used this stuff before i found it and a gas station and used it when i was out of 2stroke oil. and it got very cold while i was using it and never even thought about it thanks for the help. now i need to go find some more.
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Old Jan 9, 2010 | 07:02 PM
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I haven't tried howes, but I don't like the Powerservice crap anymore, i lost my trust with that stuff this winter. I'll have to try howes
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