Just passing along some information that might help someone under sub-zero fueling conditions.
Spent one night in Iowa last week east of Des Moines. Overnight temps were well below zero for at least three nights. I ran the motor to prevent any problems, and had 40 gallons still unboard when I added 80 gallons of the WINTERIZED blend. The pump hoses were so frozen, they were brittle and leaking. I DID NOT add anti-gel at that point. Truck ran about one hour and then died- and nothing would re-start it.
After two days, a hotel visit, and much anxiety, the truck was finally running after new filters, some fuel treatment, and six hours inside a shop. My total repairs alone came to a whopping $700. Highway robbery is one subject, but Kwik Trip looks as though they will warrantee their fuel and the repair bill...
Here is the advice straight from the mechanic:
1) When temps fall to sub-zero conditions, do not think your APU will bail you out. Your engine oil is still like 90W lube...
2) Never add cold diesel fuel to a lesser quantity of warm fuel without anti-gel or a product that can UN-GEL already gelled fuel in filters. Think of something called "911" by Power Serve or "Meltdown", perhaps even a gallon of gasoline in each tank...or a mix of #1 & #2.
3) Wrap your external frame-mounted fuel-water separator filter with a DIAPER or equivalent. Anything to keep the cold air from striking the metal sides...
Once those filters get plugged- they need to be tossed away. I actually had to have two different ones put on to be safe...replacing the f-w filter alone, outside, did not get the truck going. P.S. Guys from Montana and farther north say the fuel up there is protected to at least -40F. The Kwik Trip rated theirs at -25F. Good Luck
Spent one night in Iowa last week east of Des Moines. Overnight temps were well below zero for at least three nights. I ran the motor to prevent any problems, and had 40 gallons still unboard when I added 80 gallons of the WINTERIZED blend. The pump hoses were so frozen, they were brittle and leaking. I DID NOT add anti-gel at that point. Truck ran about one hour and then died- and nothing would re-start it.
After two days, a hotel visit, and much anxiety, the truck was finally running after new filters, some fuel treatment, and six hours inside a shop. My total repairs alone came to a whopping $700. Highway robbery is one subject, but Kwik Trip looks as though they will warrantee their fuel and the repair bill...
Here is the advice straight from the mechanic:
1) When temps fall to sub-zero conditions, do not think your APU will bail you out. Your engine oil is still like 90W lube...
2) Never add cold diesel fuel to a lesser quantity of warm fuel without anti-gel or a product that can UN-GEL already gelled fuel in filters. Think of something called "911" by Power Serve or "Meltdown", perhaps even a gallon of gasoline in each tank...or a mix of #1 & #2.
3) Wrap your external frame-mounted fuel-water separator filter with a DIAPER or equivalent. Anything to keep the cold air from striking the metal sides...
Once those filters get plugged- they need to be tossed away. I actually had to have two different ones put on to be safe...replacing the f-w filter alone, outside, did not get the truck going. P.S. Guys from Montana and farther north say the fuel up there is protected to at least -40F. The Kwik Trip rated theirs at -25F. Good Luck
