I think it is time for those in the know to state the facts here ,see how everyone is blaming fuel freeze for no start!
This is what I think I know partly on what I have read and partly on exp. ......Fuel dose not freez!!!!!!!!! fuel dose get clowdy when cold and you can start to see the parifins or waxes or what ever it is...but this alone dose not stop the eng. from running.
It is the accumulation of this stuff that gets stoped by the fuel filter that plugs up the fuel delivery.
In fact in my semis trks the only time a problem happend with this (in fact everytime!!!!!) the filters were on there for almost 10,000 miles (1 month) and due to be changed.
SO to go out there and have a no start??? Nope probly not the fuel filters unless they have been neg. for a while.
This ought to be good for acouple of rounds
well this is my opion and I can proove it

 

I like your lil RANT on ad of FACE thing.

 

You're right-- I've never seen a fuel filter plug while an engine was not running.

Explanation: If an engine was running when shut off (obviously!), but later will not start, don't expect the problem to be a plugged fuel filter. It should still run at that level of performance it had when it was shut off.

Typically what happens when a fuel filter plugs due to cold weather, the truck will start fine. But in a few minutes, it dies and can't be restarted.

 

That's why our Dodges have a fuel heater either before the filter or in it. The gelled fuel will make it though the lines to the filter just fine. The return from the injectors, which is very hot, also dumps into the filter inlet further heating it. PSDs don't have a fuel heater so gel plugged filters are more of a problem.

 

thanks, thats what my experiance tells me too!!
I just wanted to save all these guys (and gals?) from all this hart ache

 

the other day my truck ran fine for 15 miles then started acting strange. i made it to gas station put 2 gals of kerosene in tank and got two more miles. i took filter off put a torch to it and eventually got it running again for 500 feet. bled injectors again and it finally roared to life and ran fine. i reccomend power service or other anti gel stuff when it gets below 20 degrees

 

Like I say ..its the shock to the sys that plugs it up...an other words the plug is there but not noticed till a cold one.....(not beer)

 

Having a non-functioning fuel heater, no additive or winter blend fuel can be life threatening. Usually gelling lets you get far enough away from home where a long walk to some heat at -20°could be the last one.

 

Diesel fuel most certainly can freeze. 'Freeze' simply means to turn from liquid to solid, and virtually all substances will be solid at some tempurature. I think #2 freezes at like -20 deg F, kerosene at -50 deg F, roughly.

People's problems may be caused by frozen fuel or clogged filters caused by clouded fuel.

 

sir,
have drove trucks all my life and 40 below I have never seen anyones diesel fuel actualy freeze as in water type freeze,so I do not know if your right or not but for me .....from here to Shinoah it has allways been liquid
least t.m.o.

 

Diesel will most definately freeze, but I doubt it would turn into a true solid, and it would be at a temp. that you would never see in real world conditions

 

I got$10.00 and a botlle of liquid nitrogen that says I can make it freeze. -350*F will freeze about most anything you want it to. I use it to shink and install sleeves, and occasionally pour it into plastic coke bottles that go BOOM. , but like above, it's the waxes and stuff that gel

 

*Below 15 degrees F, wax crystals begin to form in diesel fuel. These crystals form a gell that will clog the fuel filter or fuel lines and stop the engine as the temperature drops toward 0 F. Any good "winter fuel conditioner" for diesel fuel will keep the fuel moving to at least -20 degrees. Follow the instructions on the bottle!

* The first hint is often an unstable idle. The idle speed may increase to 1000 rpm or more and fluctuate slowly. Next the engine will begin to lose power. Within a few minutes the engine will quit and not restart or will only restart briefly

*The time proven remedy is to add a gallon of kerosene for each 10 to 20 gallons of fuel to the tank, then allow it to sit long enough for the kerosene to diffuse into the fuel. In weather below -20 degrees F, one gallon of kerosene for 10 gallons of fuel will keep things moving, but fuel economy will be reduced. Kerosene now has red dye which a DOT inspector will assume is off-road diesel. Be prepared for a hassle if you are checked

*Apply heat to the fuel filter to break up the wax

 

I am happy to see all I think are in agreement with this poll...... the reason for this is -so the newer diesel jockies can get a grip on things and be ahead of the game here.
I was surprised to see how many thought diesel would really 'freez'e (unless were on mars)
So happy trails or smoke to you all

 

What are your suggestions for fuel additive? I've experienced this type of problem for the second winter in a row and am suspecting a fuel gel problem. When I change the filter it will run for the rest of the winter without another episode. This just happened last saturday when it was 5 degrees.