New trucks & antigel
- Thread starter jhead64
- Start date
Does it have a fuel heater installed?
Do you have an apu that runs when the main engine is off?
The problem with additives in new engines is that these additives will emulsify water into the fuel, which defeats the fuel/water separator. When water, even a tiny bit, hits the injector tip it explosively turns to steam. Microscopic bits of metal are removed in the process.
If there's water already in the fuel system, drain everything and get it out. No engine ever complained about fresh fuel filters either. Some #1 diesel mixed with #2 helps, along with avoiding biodiesel in extreme cold. If you know you will hit extreme temps, antigel is ok to use, just treat the fuel at the minimum amout needed. Keeping the apu running will also keep the tank from gelling up.
Do you have an apu that runs when the main engine is off?
The problem with additives in new engines is that these additives will emulsify water into the fuel, which defeats the fuel/water separator. When water, even a tiny bit, hits the injector tip it explosively turns to steam. Microscopic bits of metal are removed in the process.
If there's water already in the fuel system, drain everything and get it out. No engine ever complained about fresh fuel filters either. Some #1 diesel mixed with #2 helps, along with avoiding biodiesel in extreme cold. If you know you will hit extreme temps, antigel is ok to use, just treat the fuel at the minimum amout needed. Keeping the apu running will also keep the tank from gelling up.
TruckingSurv
Seasoned Expediter
I think it may depend on what you add, Howes Lubricator seems to address the concerns of our resident mechanic and should be safe.
The issue is fueling south and running north in the winter, if you only purchased fuel up north wouldn't be an issue as it is winterized at the point of sale.
TS
The issue is fueling south and running north in the winter, if you only purchased fuel up north wouldn't be an issue as it is winterized at the point of sale.
TS
I might want to argue a bit about that last sentence. I live up North--- I'm a suburbanite near Chicago-- and more than once I bought "winterized" diesel fuel that gelled so the Sprinter wouldn't start next morning. Better put some anti-gel in there unless you have a way to keep the fuel-tank heated.
TruckingSurv
Seasoned Expediter
Point taken, I think some distributors probably do a better job than others AND there are different winter blends. One regional CFN distributor has three blends as follows depending on how much D1 and/or or additive is in the blend:
Blend #1: +0 cloud point, -10 cold filter plug point, -20 pour point
Blend #2: -5 cloud point, -15 cold filter plug point, and -25 pour point
Blend #3: -10 cloud point, -20 cold filter plug point, and -30 pour point
These different blends generally are offered from 1->3 as the latitude increases all the way to the Canadian border.
I always add anti gel in cold weather, better safe than sorry, BUT if the bulk plant is getting blended correctly AND the temperature doesn't suddenly go lower, usually you would be OK and may be wasting your $$$.
TS
Blend #1: +0 cloud point, -10 cold filter plug point, -20 pour point
Blend #2: -5 cloud point, -15 cold filter plug point, and -25 pour point
Blend #3: -10 cloud point, -20 cold filter plug point, and -30 pour point
These different blends generally are offered from 1->3 as the latitude increases all the way to the Canadian border.
I always add anti gel in cold weather, better safe than sorry, BUT if the bulk plant is getting blended correctly AND the temperature doesn't suddenly go lower, usually you would be OK and may be wasting your $$$.
TS
Running an additive will not harm anything it could save you a lot of problems on a cold day. I would stay away from Howes additive. There are much better products out there
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TruckingSurv
Seasoned Expediter
What do you recommend?
I find this one is the best and it's available everywhere. We have a card lock in our yard and buy the 45 gallon drums and mix it directly in the tanks so anything that fills up gets it. Check out the link.
Power Service
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We use both and carry a bottle of 911 just in case a truck starts losing power when it is extreme. I agree, water already in the tank or buying fuel in the south and traveling north are the biggest culprits. A cap full of alcohol in each tank will keep some of it at bay. States like IN, IL, MN are some of the worst because of the high bio content. That is usually marked on the pump. I have a friend in WI that invested 1M in tow trucks just to get frozen trucks coming out of IL. With the majority coming from Hampshire, IL. Made a killing last year on frozen trucks.
Often times you can take the fuel cap off and look inside the cap. If it is all frosty, you are living on the edge.
Often times you can take the fuel cap off and look inside the cap. If it is all frosty, you are living on the edge.
tknight
Veteran Expediter
That good to know as I use power service and am having the new Espar installed next week!
We use nothing but PS and never had any problems plus the cam stores sell it cheap !!!
Anti-gel = Cheapest insurance you can buy Pretty simple math really. We switched from Howes to Power Service last winter at the recommendation of the service manager at our local KW shop To the earlier poster who referred adding anti-gel to DEF ... Bad idea ... Corrupting the urea concentration level could damage the system. You should have a heating element in the DEF tank.
Who put anti gel in DEF fluid?
Agree, bad idea.
You need to change the def filter, if it has one. Nothing but def should ever be put in there.
The Def tank, injector, and lines are heated or insulated. Don't worry about that system.
A little misunderstanding, I used anti gel in the diesel fuel tanks, not DEF tank. I just stated that I was more concerned with DEF freezing in winter than diesel fuel gelling.
DEF freezing seemed like a concern when the truck engine is not running for the DEF heater to do its job.