Cold Weather and Fuel
- Thread starter babs3361
- Start date
This morning the evil gel thing struck my truck. Despite putting the strongest mix of Power Service in the tanks.
During the ordeal of dealing with this I broke out a fresh jug to put some in the fuel filter. I was amazed to find the PS itself in a gelled state. A call to PS in Houston revealed I had been sold old stock (1 Year old) at Tractor supply in Oct 06. They assured me that if it was brought inside,allowed to thin out,it could then be put into the tanks and it would not gell.
This is hard to swallow. PS has never gelled before. Especially while still in the jug. I think PS is trying to give me BS.
Another thing I learned while cranking the engine. When I tried to stop the cranking by turning the key off,the starter just kept cranking until the batteries were dead. A call to the repair shop found this is quite common. The battery is to weak to tell the starter to stop. Am I the only one in the world who didn`t know this?
Still trying to get the darn thing charged up,filters changed,addition of 911,etc. Impossible to get road service. They say they are backed up for days. Fort Wayne Schools have about 200 School buses gelled up.
This new fuel and the additives ARE A DISASTER.
During the ordeal of dealing with this I broke out a fresh jug to put some in the fuel filter. I was amazed to find the PS itself in a gelled state. A call to PS in Houston revealed I had been sold old stock (1 Year old) at Tractor supply in Oct 06. They assured me that if it was brought inside,allowed to thin out,it could then be put into the tanks and it would not gell.
This is hard to swallow. PS has never gelled before. Especially while still in the jug. I think PS is trying to give me BS.
Another thing I learned while cranking the engine. When I tried to stop the cranking by turning the key off,the starter just kept cranking until the batteries were dead. A call to the repair shop found this is quite common. The battery is to weak to tell the starter to stop. Am I the only one in the world who didn`t know this?
Still trying to get the darn thing charged up,filters changed,addition of 911,etc. Impossible to get road service. They say they are backed up for days. Fort Wayne Schools have about 200 School buses gelled up.
This new fuel and the additives ARE A DISASTER.
I use the Howe's Diesel Treat that I buy by the case from a distributor for about $5.50 for the large bottle compared to $11.99 at the truckstop for the same bottle. I also keep a bottle of Diesel 911 in the box just in case.
Leo Bricker, 73's K5LDB, OOIDA Life Member 677319
Owner, Panther trucks 5508, 5509, 5641
Highway Watch Participant, Truckerbuddy
EO Forum Moderator
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Support the entire Constitution, not just the parts you like.
Leo Bricker, 73's K5LDB, OOIDA Life Member 677319
Owner, Panther trucks 5508, 5509, 5641
Highway Watch Participant, Truckerbuddy
EO Forum Moderator
----------
Support the entire Constitution, not just the parts you like.
rollnthunder
Expert Expediter
Well i hate to say it but it got me today too.I buy my fuel from a local place and he does treat it and plus i put a bottle of the white power service and it still gelled today.I think its only my filters because i looked down in the tanks and it looks fine and my generator is running ok...But im not too happy with PS so for now on im going to use howes i have heard nothing but good about it.And as for the TSC thats where i got my last batch of PS from and if thats the case then i PS or TSC should do something for us.ITs not my fault they have old stock.Also i did read on the PS site that the PS white bottle should be stored about 10 degrees so it cant be that good.Here is a link its at the bottom of the page.
http://www.powerservice.com/dieselfuel_supplement_cetaneboost.asp
http://www.powerservice.com/dieselfuel_supplement_cetaneboost.asp
romoore245
Expert Expediter
We get our PS at Attwoods always cheaper than walmart when in stock.
I heard some old timers talking a while back, saying they just keep a bottle of rubbing alcohol in the truck incase of a gel up, to be poured in the tank and it instantly fixes the fuel. Has anyone ever heard of this or tried it?
I heard some old timers talking a while back, saying they just keep a bottle of rubbing alcohol in the truck incase of a gel up, to be poured in the tank and it instantly fixes the fuel. Has anyone ever heard of this or tried it?
We have in-tank fuel warmers, additives (already mentioned), and when running in cold weather leave the truck running.
We are leaving after lunch for this place:
http://www.theweathernetwork.com/weather/cities/can/Pages/CAQC0443.htm
...a run we do on a regular basis.
We prepare for the worst, i.e. truck and all onboard equipment being inoperative, such that we are able to keep warm. The heat one can cope with, but the cold will knock you down very quickly if unprepared.
We are leaving after lunch for this place:
http://www.theweathernetwork.com/weather/cities/can/Pages/CAQC0443.htm
...a run we do on a regular basis.
We prepare for the worst, i.e. truck and all onboard equipment being inoperative, such that we are able to keep warm. The heat one can cope with, but the cold will knock you down very quickly if unprepared.
rollnthunder
Expert Expediter
As for how far north.Adrian,mi just across the ohio line.
greg334
Veteran Expediter
For the people who have reefers, especally with seperate tanks, the system is exposed to colder temps than the main engine and fuel tanks. Being up on the top for most of our units, the temps are colder due to a direct exposure to the wind.
I would suggest extra fuel filters and maybe a dipstick/coolant heater to help out the reefer engine. Anything that will get some heat to ease the glow plugs and starter is important.
When you have the coolant checked, make sure it is good for the coldest temp that the antifreeze is rated for. I also use synthtic oil in the unit, which has helped.
I had the coolant checked when I got the new injection pump and it was supposed to be good down to -30 but I have a frozen reefer unit. I am hoping I can thaw it out and don't have a cracke block, that would suck. I ran the thing as much as I could to make sure that there was some heat in the unit when the temps started to drop but the other day I started it up and the engine temp went to 200 degrees and I shut it down. I had this happen to me with other engines and only had one where I cracked the block. The bad thing is already got a few load offers I had to turn down (seeing I am out of service sitting at home right now watching movies), there must not be a lot of trucks wih reefers avalible.
Paul56, are your intank fuel heaters factory or after market?
I would suggest extra fuel filters and maybe a dipstick/coolant heater to help out the reefer engine. Anything that will get some heat to ease the glow plugs and starter is important.
When you have the coolant checked, make sure it is good for the coldest temp that the antifreeze is rated for. I also use synthtic oil in the unit, which has helped.
I had the coolant checked when I got the new injection pump and it was supposed to be good down to -30 but I have a frozen reefer unit. I am hoping I can thaw it out and don't have a cracke block, that would suck. I ran the thing as much as I could to make sure that there was some heat in the unit when the temps started to drop but the other day I started it up and the engine temp went to 200 degrees and I shut it down. I had this happen to me with other engines and only had one where I cracked the block. The bad thing is already got a few load offers I had to turn down (seeing I am out of service sitting at home right now watching movies), there must not be a lot of trucks wih reefers avalible.
Paul56, are your intank fuel heaters factory or after market?
We drive a Western Star with set back fuel tanks....froze the crossover valve and fuel is returning to passenger side tank only so fuel is pumping overboard. Without fuel warmers we are dead in the water til deep freeze ends. Even if we thaw out the frozen lines, they will freeze again as soon as we move outside....We are using Howes and PS in large quantities, but they do not help with this problem.....any suggestions?
Hi
Yes I have used rubbing alcohol in my tanks (it works)I also but some in my washer fluid tank yesterday as I knew the fuild was only good for -0 hopeing it keeps the tank from splitting.
My buddy just called me.He just blew his engine in his FL80.He is sitting on hwy 35 between i69 and Kokomo IN.He was told the same thing "Its going to be hours before we can get to you because all our trucks are out on calls".
If you are near a John Deere dealership they have the best anti-gell.Its expensive but in this weather it might be worth it.We used it in all the farm equipment that has to sit outside over the winter.
Another thing that will help is to block atleast half of the radiator.Either with a weather front or put a piece of cardboard between the radiator and the grill.
As for the batteries.If you have to start the truck after it has been sitting for awhile be sure to turn on the clearance lights before turning the key.This allows the batteries to warm up slowly instead of getting hit with a major draw from the QC, heater and glow plug all at once.Just turn them on for a couple of seconds and then shut them off.It also helps to pull the fuse for the QC before even trying to start the truck.Also make sure all electrical stuff is unplugged or shut off so that the starter gets all that the battery has.
PS if your sitting at home waiting out thisstorm and you have a QC you might want to cover it with a blanket.Started my truck this morning and had no screen.Tried the contrast but that didn't work either.It didn't come on untill the temp got up to 5 farenhiet.
Good luck. Stay safe and warm
Yes I have used rubbing alcohol in my tanks (it works)I also but some in my washer fluid tank yesterday as I knew the fuild was only good for -0 hopeing it keeps the tank from splitting.
My buddy just called me.He just blew his engine in his FL80.He is sitting on hwy 35 between i69 and Kokomo IN.He was told the same thing "Its going to be hours before we can get to you because all our trucks are out on calls".
If you are near a John Deere dealership they have the best anti-gell.Its expensive but in this weather it might be worth it.We used it in all the farm equipment that has to sit outside over the winter.
Another thing that will help is to block atleast half of the radiator.Either with a weather front or put a piece of cardboard between the radiator and the grill.
As for the batteries.If you have to start the truck after it has been sitting for awhile be sure to turn on the clearance lights before turning the key.This allows the batteries to warm up slowly instead of getting hit with a major draw from the QC, heater and glow plug all at once.Just turn them on for a couple of seconds and then shut them off.It also helps to pull the fuse for the QC before even trying to start the truck.Also make sure all electrical stuff is unplugged or shut off so that the starter gets all that the battery has.
PS if your sitting at home waiting out thisstorm and you have a QC you might want to cover it with a blanket.Started my truck this morning and had no screen.Tried the contrast but that didn't work either.It didn't come on untill the temp got up to 5 farenhiet.
Good luck. Stay safe and warm
We use polar seal which we get from our mechanic buy the case. We live in Michigan and before My hubby and I started running team in expediting. He ran from Grand Rapids to Chiciago every day and have never had our fuel gel yet... knock on wood!!!!! We start using fuel treat when the temps get at freezing and below. We also use it once a month during the summer to keep things cleared out. I have heard that with the new fuel that you should not use alchol. So you may want to check with the engine manufacture.
silverdollar
Expert Expediter
All I have ever used is about 1 gal of kerosene in each tank, never had a problem.
>Paul56, are your intank fuel heaters factory or after
>market?
Our heaters are from these folks:
http://www.arctic-fox.com/
>market?
Our heaters are from these folks:
http://www.arctic-fox.com/
We where wondering what kind of fuel the people that jelled had in their tanks.
nightcreacher
Veteran Expediter
I've used howes and been towed,they did pay the towing bill,ive used power service,been towed,all it takes is 1 drop of water in a fuel line to put you on the side of the road at these temps.
the fuel in the newer tractors will stay heated as it is circulated thru the system,but a little condensation in the filter and its call a wrecker
by the way,I've also opened a brand new bottle of power service,and had to thaw it out,and it wasnt a year old either
if you either put #1 fuel or mix pure kerosene in your #2 fuel,be less chance of freeze up,in these extreme temps
the fuel in the newer tractors will stay heated as it is circulated thru the system,but a little condensation in the filter and its call a wrecker
by the way,I've also opened a brand new bottle of power service,and had to thaw it out,and it wasnt a year old either
if you either put #1 fuel or mix pure kerosene in your #2 fuel,be less chance of freeze up,in these extreme temps