Fuel gel

Sir Fuel is winter blend these days., Keep that engine running, some fuel is returned to the tanks to keep it all warm.

Gelling happens at around 5 below if allowed to sit cold long enough. Ive had gelled fuel before when one tank was accidently shut off by the mechanic the previous weekend. Engine quit when the other tank drained dry and left us with jello in the other tank needing to be dumped and refilled all around. A task that took many hours.

I would not add anything to fuel without speaking with your shop supervisor who answers to the owners or board that decides what you can and cannot do with the truck assigned to you. You could be held liable for ruined engines or other issues too number to count.

 

It is not called "Fuel Gel".
'Jelling' is what happens to your fuel in extreme cold temperatures if your fuel does not have an additive or is not blended.
And yes...if it's cold enough, your fuel can jell in as little as 10 or 34 hours.

 

Depending on where you run it may get cold enough to to gel blended winter fuel. I use #1 50/50 with blended fuel to make my own blend when im near 0 degrees and colder. Im not really sure additives do much but i use them anyway. Its cheap compared to gelling.
Yeah i know. Here come the dont use #1 people. They can do as they wish. This has worked for me for with trucks and construction equipment and my pu

 

I had fuel jello happen in Saskatoon at the Hook, on the fuel island. Usually, it starts right at the fuel filter. I had a bowl type filter and could see it. Kerosene saved the day. If youre just taking 10, leave the truck running. If youre taking a 34, better use the block heater to keep that crankcase oil warm.

 

Best way I know of to stop an APU in winter is don't use a fuel additive. I always every other fueling got a bottle and poured half in one tank half in the other. People sometimes forget how small those APU fuel straws are.

 

Here's what I have found to work here in WY:

Running: just use blended fuel, no additive down to 10 degrees. 1/2 bottle per tank under 10 degrees

Engine off: 1/2 bottle per tank under 25 degrees. 1 bottle per tank under 0 degrees. This will be good down to at least -20. If it's colder than that it's best to let it run, although with 1 bottle per tank it's usually no trouble to start up down to -35.

I don't know if brand makes a difference. I was buying Power Service by the pallet for about $10 a bottle.

Some say you don't need it at all but I found that it's cheap insurance compared to wasting half a day trying to get it started if you forget to put it in.

 

I'm so surprised I've never gelled up. I always hear stories about it. I don't idle AT ALL, no matter how cold it gets. I've parked in deadly North Dakota colds overnight and never had an issue. My malfunctioning bunk heater didn't even run continuously.

 

Our company banned us from using Howes anti gel as they have supposedly had too many gel up issues with it.

My buddy in a Peterbilt 384 had his fuel filter gel up tight twice even though he would dump two large bottles of the Howes into the tank religiously.

We use a large Power service white bottle on fuelup for all 3 tanks + a bit of red bottle mixed in colder areas & apart from the odd -20+ night where bunk heater gels up due to uninsulated small fuel line, never have any problems with truck, reefer, & APU.

 

You drive for Prime Inc?