Fuel

[Missouribound]

I'm new to diesel equipment so bear with any stupid questions I may ask.
I keep my B2320 in the garage with my vehicles. Here in Missouri we really do not have harsh winters but nevertheless the garage is not kept heated.
It will rarely go below 45 deg. so I am not worried about that issue.
I expect that I will be using it a few times when it is cold to move the little bit of snow we get or move some dirt for the shooting range. That being said.....at what temperature should I be concerned about fuel gelling?
I would hate to be outside on a sunny but cold day and have the tractor just quit. Does the operating heat of the machine take care of any gelling issues?
Do I need to just avoid the cold temperatures? Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

 

[skeets]

At temps your talking about never, though a diesel treatment put in the tank to help with moisture wouldnt be a bad idea, and a stabilizer. You can find this at Wally world K mart or your local auto/truck parts store or any farm supply store.

 

[bywaterdustin2]

What if the temps get to say -30 to -40 Celsius with the wind. Is there anything I should be adding to the fuel?

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[rjcorazza]

As far as gelling is concerned, Summer diesel should be ok down to around freezing or slightly below (20-32 f). Winter diesel in my area is fine to around -10 f. If freezing temps are not a possibility I would consider the water / algae issue mentioned in the previous post and not worry about gelling.
For the record, the actual temperature matters... Wind influence is strictly a human thing.

 

[bywaterdustin2]

Ok so the temp without the wind can and do get to -40C is there anything additives I should be adding to the fuel?

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[Tx Jim]

At temps your talking about never, though a diesel treatment put in the tank to help with moisture wouldnt be a bad idea, and a stabilizer. You can find this at Wally world K mart or your local auto/truck parts store or any farm supply store.

Back when I owned a diesel powered pickup the fuel gelled in the fuel filter one snowy Winter's day even down here in Tx. I'd also suggest adding fuel conditioner to fuel tank.

 

[BAP]

The thing to do is to buy some Power Service brand Diesel Fuel Supplement+Cetane Boost and add it to your tank. http://powerservice.com/psp_product/diesel-fuel-supplement-cetane-boost/
This works great at preventing any gelling. You should be able to find it at most auto parts stores or places like Tractor Supply or Wally World.

 

[rjcorazza]

Ok so the temp without the wind can and do get to -40C is there anything additives I should be adding to the fuel?

Here's an informative additive thread :
http://www.orangetractortalks.com/forums/showthread.php?t=27897

 

[Tooljunkie]

Dustin, any anti-gel addive will work, most products treat a large volume of fuel so read the label. I suggest you add it sooner then later. Its tough to un-gel gelled fuel.
Saw four trucks in the hotel parking lot a couple winters back, they were from way south where gelling fuel is non existent,and massive tanks full of the untreated fuel. -40 was not kind to the trucks. They found a shop to thaw each truck and get them running.

 

[Daren Todd]

We occasionally get gelled fuel here in arkansas as well. Doesn't last long, but occasionally temps get down low enough. Had a customer have 4 or 5 pieces gel up since they were using the bulk supplier who doesn't treat there fuel. Plus they weren't treating fuel either. After the bill for me to pick up the equipment, taking it back to the shop and thawing the fuel, plus treating, they saw the light and switched to the mid grade supplier who treated there fuel.

In winter, I treat my five gallon can with power service in the white bottle. But I've noticed that a couple of gas stations in town are advertising winter fuel already treated with power service.

 

[D2Cat]

Missouribound, based on your temperatures you don't need to worry about diesel jelling. The dealers around here have the winter fuel beginning in Oct.

I'm West of Harrisonville, on the Kansas side by 15 miles. I've never added anything to diesel to prevent jelling. I do use an additive now and then to help clean injectors, or to just spend some money....to make me feel good!

 

[TripleR]

Another Missourian here and never have had jelling issues in any of our tractors or bulk tanks.

I use additive about like D2Cat, a friend recently gave me a case of it and it will probably last through kids and grand kids.

We buy in bulk and fill the tanks when we run out and don't pay any attention to winter/summer blend with our temperatures.

 

[pendoreille]

I think I spent $11.00us for winter Power Service, treats like 250 gals so what can it hurt? Summer I switch to summer bottle...another 11.00

 

[SDMauler]

Yep, around November, our diesel starts coming as a 50/50 mix of #1 and #2 to prevent gelling. Remember, the wind won't have any affect on the fuel gelling, since it's only the air temperature that has an affect, just as wind chill only affects us warm-blooded critters.

 

[armylifer]

I would never think of doing it now but back in the late 60's and early 70's we used to put up to 10% gasoline in our diesel tanks in the winter. That would keep the fuel from gelling during the sub zero temperatures we had in Wisconsin. That was back when gasoline did not have any alcohol in it. For lubricity we added some transmission fluid.

 

[Missouribound]

Thanks for all the answers. Right now I have about 5 gal in the B2320 and 5 gal in a can. Both are in the garage and I don't expect to use the machine until we get some snow and I know I would not use up the tank for that...maybe a gallon or two. The fuel was bought probably in Sept when I cut for the last time with the tractor. My concern was about the tractor stalling due to gelling buy your answers have pretty much convinced me there won't be an issue. I doubt I will take the machine out below freezing. I am retired and when the weather is bad I really don't have to leave the house so I can decide when to move snow rather than HAVE to move it.