gelling diesel tonight

[SidecarFlip]

With the temps going down the tubes, that diesel sitting in your fuel tank (if you don't have your Kubby in a heated garage) will be a waxing without additive.

Going to be some 'heartache' tomorrow or the next day when she won't run.

I filed mine from the bulk tank this afternoon and added an additional 1/2 bottle of Power Service prior to topping off. No point in taking any chances. My units are in an unheated barn with no electricity for a block heater, not that a block heater would warm the fuel anyways.

 

[SRG]

I'm in an unheated barn, with electricity. I won't be starting mine up again until Friday. But always add Power Service in the winter months, even if the station you get it from claims their diesel is good down to a certain temp, add your own anyway.

I have a few options if i really need it and it was gel'd. Heat gun, torpedo heater, Power service 911. Bag of charcoal like the old days.

 

[lordulrich]

YES treat your fuel. Mine gelled up yesterday. It was not fun.

 

[William1]

If... fuel gels and the tractor just sits in the cold, then temps get warm, will it simply 'ungel' and be fine? Or does the act of gelling mess up the fuel?

Mine is treated, I will not even try and start it for a few days (kept out side in the three walled building just to keep the rain, sun and snow off of it). I'll wait until Monday and 50+ temps to run my little guy for a little while.

 

[Lycomech96]

Mine is in a heated workshop at 60 degrees. The proper amount of treatment has been added for protection down to zero degrees. I don't see taking it out any time soon but my question is, would the fuel gel if the tractor was in use, running at temps lower than that? Or would there not be enough heat from the engine to keep the fuel tank warm enough?

 

[SidecarFlip]

If... fuel gels and the tractor just sits in the cold, then temps get warm, will it simply 'ungel' and be fine? Or does the act of gelling mess up the fuel?

Mine is treated, I will not even try and start it for a few days (kept out side in the three walled building just to keep the rain, sun and snow off of it). I'll wait until Monday and 50+ temps to run my little guy for a little while.

Once the fuel exceeds the cloud point (around 30 degrees untreated) it will return to it's normal state.

Monday here is above freezing by a tad according to the weatherman. Rain with the warmup. That will be fun I'm sure.

 

[GeoHorn]

When I read these kinds of posts it makes me so happy to be living down South where we can go to the beach and see....

 

[Michigankubota]

I buy a winter blend that***8217;s available here in the U.P. -21 here with wind chills tonight -35/-45 below. No issues with gelling, I just came in from blowing snow.

They blend there own fuel. Can you get number 1 to blend your own?

 

[chim]

From experience - parking where it's warm doesn't help if the fuel isn't treated.

Many years ago I borrowed one of the in-law's tractors when my Ford was getting repaired. Can't recall the temps but it was very cold. They kept it in a shop the bottom of one of their buildings that was below grade on two sides. The shop didn't get nearly as cold as the outside world.

I brought the tractor to my place about a mile away and cleared the snow from my driveway and a neighbor's place. While doing some final touch-up on my driveway it decided to die. Their mechanic stopped over the next day and got it running while I was at work. Apparently the temps were low enough that the fuel gelled in the lines. When my one BIL heard about it he said, "oh, we don't bother with additives on that Case because we usually just use it in the summer".

 

[SidecarFlip]

-15 here presently. I'll be happy if the car starts. Need to go north today....

 

[rentthis]

-15 here presently. I'll be happy if the car starts. Need to go north today....

Come south. We will go to the beach, get sunburned and turn $100.00 into a headache

 

[procraftmike]

-23F here this morning. Won't be any tractor work going on here today. I can't remember it ever being this cold. I did treat my fuel. I just hope all is well the next time I use it. It is stored in my shed.

 

[SRG]

Mine is in a heated workshop at 60 degrees. The proper amount of treatment has been added for protection down to zero degrees. I don't see taking it out any time soon but my question is, would the fuel gel if the tractor was in use, running at temps lower than that? Or would there not be enough heat from the engine to keep the fuel tank warm enough?

There is certainly a possibility of it gelling while in use. Its hard to say if it would or wouldn't happen. I'm sure the tank being under the hood and absorbing some heat from the motor, helps to some degree, but to what degree(no pun intended), is the question.

 

[Lycomech96]

There is certainly a possibility of it gelling while in use. Its hard to say if it would or wouldn't happen. I'm sure the tank being under the hood and absorbing some heat from the motor, helps to some degree, but to what degree(no pun intended), is the question.

Nicely played.

 

[SidecarFlip]

It's down to -18 here right now. I just went north to Ann Arbor with my wife in the car to get some items we needed. Car started ok but the heat was a ways off...lol

Lots of froze up big trucks on the highway. I have to presume from gelled diesel.

House furnace running non stop, eating up the propane.

Wish my fuel tank was under the hood. It's not. I have saddle tanks on both tractors, underneath.