Today I had my first experience with gelling up on my Cummins ('05). She ran fine on the way in to work when it was -15, didn't miss a beat at all, thought I had this cold snap licked. It sat outside for about nine hours until I went to go home, temp about 3F at this time. Started her up and let her idle for a few minutes as I always do, then took off. About two miles down the road I got a flutter in the engine revs, thought her we go, she's gelling. She caught herself and started running as normal again. About two miles further on down the road engine got to fluttering again and this time she died on me. Got some anti-gel into the filter and after some cranking she fired up only to die again after about 1-2 minutes of idling. At this point, seeing as I'm on the side of the interstate, I decide its time for a trailer to get myself off this road and back in the heated shop at work. Got the truck running with the additive in the filter again, drove it on the trailer, and shut her down. About twenty minutes later back in the shop I jump in, fires right up and backs down the trailer with not a moments hesitation, right up til I park it and shut it down. She's in there overnight, will see how it behaves in the morning.

Main question here, after the second time it died the check engine light on the cluster came on. It did not go away and was still there when I parked the truck in the shop. Suspecting it is throwing a fault code of low rail pressure or likewise. Is this something that will reset itself or do I need to plan on visiting my friendly Dodge dealer to have it erased? I work with Cummins engines in offroad applications and have seen this light come on with this sort of situation/fault, however once it becomes inactive the light will go off, same setup with Dodge I hope???

I'm thinking I was the recipient of having a tank of fuel with not a good enough blend for this cold snap we're having. I filled up before this was even in the forecast. Fairly new fuel filter installed in there as well.

 

was the fuel cloudy looking when you filled the filter housing??
I am not totally convinced that it is gelling
where you at??
key on key off 3x for codes???
kinda sounds like a lift pump to me???

 

I agree...does sort of sound like a lift pump...but I thought to 05 had the in tank pump?..I guess that could be going?

 

not sure if you're having gelling or lift pump problems?? as far as the check engine light coming on, the same thing happened to me the 1st yr. I bought my truck. Temps were -30F.. truck would start, shut off, check engine light would come on. Finally got her started, and the light stayed on all the way from work to home. Check engine light went out later after pluggin' her in and starting back up. No codes thrown after that (checked w/key) .. almost made a trip to the dealer, but never had the problem again and everything seemed fine

 

Same thing happened on my 2003, twice this weekend. I have the in-tank pump retro fit, so the same as the 2005+. I had to change the filter out for a new one and all is fine now. I was going to take pictures of the filter I took out but forgot to. It is clearly gelling up the filter in my case. The filter is covered with "snot".

Andy

 

Do you run any additives in your fuel I would and do year round the anti gel in the winter never had any gelin yet

 

My truck geled up this morning. It probally was around zero F last night. Truck started right up, then died after a minute. It would not start. Went out and bought Power Service 9-1-1 put about a third of the jug in. Let it sit for 9 or so hours. Then when I got home from work, I turned her over a few times and it finally started. Let her warm up and its been great since. Cost me $20 for the 9-1-1 and a bunch of hours. Could have cost less if I would have just put white PS in it to begin with. Good luck to you, I guess I got lucky my filter was not geled to hell.

 

Before I wrote this post last night I had done a little research on the forums here and had a bit of a scare that maybe I was having lift pump issues, though I really hadn't heard of many issues with the in tank ones. Turns out it was gelled up bad, first thing this morning after sitting in heat for about eight hours she fired right up, went and filled it up in about -3 weather, no problems. Drove it home the 35 miles, again no problems. Filter has been changed out.

As for the check engine light, didn't know the key on-off trick. Had two:

0514 - battery temp deal, seems as though its no big deal from what I've read
0088 - high rail pressure, never have put a box of any sort on this truck, been stock since new (and going to stay that way), not sure where it came from

Light went off this afternoon, so I'm just going to let those codes sit there and pass on visiting mr. dealer.

 

good to hear your back on the road

 

Thats why I suggest runnin white ps in the winter. I also run the grey in the warmer months. Its a little piece of mind well worth the little extra cost not to be on the side of the road somewhere plus I think it helps lube the parts.