Truck died.

Glad you are ok!

 

First thing you need to get is a pair of Carhartt insulated coveralls. I know these days with cell phones, help is only a call away, but you never know how far away that help might be. And when the winds are blowing and you're trying to unfreeze a fuel filter at -25 outside, you'll last longer than a few minutes. Pay the extra to get a snap-on hood too... when your head is warm, the rest of you will stay warm.

Then get yourself a portable catalytic heater like the Mr Heater Little Buddy: http://www.mrheater.com/product.aspx?catid=41&id=338

Carry two 1lb tanks of propane--one to run the catalytic heater and one to run a torch nozzle for heating things up. It goes without saying to use extreme care with the latter. You don't want to have to call your boss and explain that you lit the truck on fire.

 

Also remember biodiesel gels at higher temps. If you fueled at a place that blends biodiesel in you have to be more cautious in those temps. When in doubt treat it anyway... $20 for antigel is waaaaaay better than working on the truck on the side of the road in negative temps.

 

That's what I've been told over the years, windchill will not affect diesel fuel, or any other fluid for that matter..... Just people. One other thing to bear in mind Minnesota has jumped on the bio diesel bandwagon. The supporters have claimed that all the original problems originally experienced have been worked out but I am still leery. If you bought fuel in Minnesota that may be your problem, or a contributing factor.

 

My Volvo, when i was having issues with 'erratic power supply', it was due to that engine cut off switch just above the batteries. once that was switched out, never had a problem.

My guess is that if you just died, you gelled up at -2.

sure glad i didnt take that run yesterday from Cedar Rapids Kenworth Dealership up to Northfield, MN then down to Huntsville, AL. =)

wish you well, driver.....

 

Glad you got going again!

Fuel filter with ice in it? Does your truck engine have a separator on it? Sounds like you may have some water in your fuel system.

 

Kinda sorta. Wind speed does cause the temperature on an inanimate object to drop more quickly, but it cannot make it fall below the true ambient temperature.

With a person, windchill is a "feels like" temperature. Your body attempts to maintain an acceptable temp range. When wind and cold combine it results in a greater (Faster) heat loss as well as a perception of it being colder. Again though, the body cannot fall below ambient temp regardless of wind speed. Probably doesn't matter though. By the time your body temp reaches a temp equal to ambient where WC can be calculated, you are likely dead.

Best regards