OK, It's been hovering about -45* for the last couple days here. Not a real big problem but this morning I gelled. The truck fired up just fine (better than the wife's '06 town & country ) but only ran for a minute or so then quit. I whipped out the master heater and started to thaw out the engine. When I started to bleed the fuel system, I could feel the lift pump diaphram working and got some fuel to flow from the bleed screw near the filter,but now it dosen't feel like it is pumping at all. I bumped the engine over a few times thinking that the engine stopped with the fuel ecentric on the cam in the wrong spot but that didn't help either. Anyone ever broken/cracked a diaphram in the cold?

Also anyone have a good check for the fuel heaters just un case they might not be working?

 

You may have ice or gelled fuel in the line or on the screen in the tank.

The fuel heater should have continuity below 50 degrees or so.

 

Thanks for the info wannadiesel. I got her running and a friend is gonna get me into a shop tonight to change fuel filters (I dont have a FP gauge but she starts running a little rough after about -30 or so like the filter is starting to plug. Probly wouldn't be an issue in the summer when fuel isn't the consistancy of molassas ). I'll check out the heaters then as well.

 

Man, I can only imagine what minus 43 degrees could even feel like. What keeps your tires from shattering?

 

No double strength fuel additive in your tank??

 

Our crew up in Alaska has lots of interesting "cold" stories. Apparently the deal with the tires is once they get below a certain temperature they flat spot while sitting parked and run kinda bumpy. Shatter no, but still...

 

Fuel additives- I always run a winter additive and I usually run a little extra when it gets really cold but there is only so much anti-gel that can happen. remember that straight anti-freeze will freeze. Same with anti-gel fuel additive. I'm thinking that I may have been getting some less than stellar fuel so I'll be switching fuel stations.

Tires- Depending on what kind of materials are used to make the bands in the tires they can really flat spot on you in the cold. Not too much of a problem if you have 4x4 just a little rough riding for a mile or so. That doesen't really matter either because the springs don't flex in the cold. I had an '80 D-100 that always had a slow leak in the RF tire. I would be a mile or so down the road be for it would even roll.

Not only those things but gear oils are nearly concrete at this temp as are clutch and break fluids. Some Cheapo import cars/ trucks have blown clutch slave cyls. when owners jump in at -40* and stompped on the clutch.

It all makes life that much more fun in the arctic.

 

Fuel will produce a wax in the filter and eventually clog it up in temperatures a lot warmer than you are experiencing.

I would probably change fuel filters every couple of weeks in conditions like you state.

Cut the old filter apart and it will look like candle wax in the pleats.

 

Bearkiller- Thanks, for the tip. I know about the wax and filters thing. That's why the call it gelled up.

I changed the filter last night and cut the old one apart. The pleats weren't clogged but about 20-25% of the pleats had this brown gunk in them. Not a lot but considering that I just changed the filter about 6 weeks ago, I am dissapointed (there is no Bio here in AK AFAIK so I doubt that it's 15 years worth of junk coming out of the line all of a sudden). I suspect maybe some bad fuel coupled with lots of cold just dosen't mix well. I've changed fuel stations so we'll see what happens...

Back to my first post, Anyone ever busted/ cracked a LP diaphram in the cold? When I was trying to bleed/ prime the system the lever on the LP didn't feel like it was doing much. I got her running but I was just wondering because the LP appears to be the original and that makes it 14-15 years old.

In other news, Temp outside now is a balmy -25*. I may get out the bermuda shorts and tank top. Weather guesser says a low front is coming in and we'll be seeing temps. of 5-10* above and lots of snow. Snow is my friend! Keeps things from freezing.

 

Don't worry about the manual pump lever feeling lame. The fuel pump lever is driven by camshaft and if engine stops on high point of cam the manual lever does nothing. Just bump engine to get lower portion of cam lobe next time and you will see the difference. I have had my 91 for 16 years and have gotten to know her pretty good and have never had a better vehicle and is a good friend now.

I doubt if you have a diaphram problem. I have -29 DegC here tonight. Do you run 0W40 synthetic or just plug her in with the 15W40 at -45 DegF? I mix in 4 quarts of synthetic 0W40 with 7 quarts 15W40 and plug in anything below 0 DegC.

By the way, I have doubts about the fuel heater effectiveness when you think it is only 150watts and over a quart/minute goes via return fuel line back to tank. I can not see heater raising temperature that much. I guess if it does gell there is no flow but you would have to leave key on to keep heater powered.

 

Sootblower- I run straight 15w40 and I don't forget to pay the electric co every month. Even if the fuel heater dosent do much, something is better than nothing. Everylittle bit helps when it is really cold.

+5*F this morning. May have to repair the floorpan under the clutch pedal. The fluid was actually flowing this morning (instead of the more recent molassas-concrete viscosity) and I seem to have found superhuman strength in my left leg.

 

Just a couple of quick fixes in an emergency situation. I always carry a couple of bottles of rubbing alcohol (drug store $.89 varitey) in the truck just in case I get ice in the line or tank pickup. 1 bottle in the tank usually works great and fast too. 1 gallon of unleaded gasoline (max 3% of fuel in tank) will also keep filter flowing just fine in super cold temps. Been in temps to -50 and these kept me going.

 

Be careful of the rubbing alcohol; as, most brands state 70% alcohol and the rest is WATER, so barely enough alcohol content to disperse the water that is already in the bottle.

I have seen people pour rubbing alcohol in air brake systems to have them mysteriously freeze up a few miles later, once the alcohol evaporated and left the water.

A lot of old time big truck operators use the gasoline in the diesel trick.

 

I also have a problem with fuel storage, whats the best way to store in cold weather???
thanks for the future help

 

Buy your anti-gell in bulk.
Also, plan ahead. If you know it's going to be getting cold, buy winter blend fuel for your bulk tank ahead of time.