I hate jelly

I run reefer and I try very hard to follow the above point regarding reefers and fuel. Sometimes when you get another trailer, you're not sure of it's fuel history. So, in winter and I'm heading towards colder region I will postpone adding reefer fuel anywhere below I-70 if possible and before the really cold air, until I can get to a locale with better winterized fuel.

But if in doubt about fuel source, and it's full, I'll treat [and run] if heading into very cold temps, for good measure.

 

You see some in the south and mid portion of the country and I doubt many of the truck stops in the south treat fuel, even during excessive cold spells. But I was careful to top off before I got further south than Iowa on the way to Memphis.

Major chain truck stops up north I would not worry about but along or below I-40, I would never trust that fuel below about +10 F

 

To answer your questions....

I don't think anyone knows how long it takes. Just one night parked with the low reported to be below ten degrees. I would say you're risking gel up.

I think the anti gel will only slow it down. Won't absolutely prevent it. Also depends on the temperature. I can't say that even #1 will not gel up without heaters for the system if it's cold enough.
From what I've seen. It doesn't take much gelling for the filters to plug up.

I don't think anyone knows but the fuel stations, how much they treat the fuel. Either way, I don't trust them. Treat it yourself.

You can tell the filters are getting plugged by: Loss of power. Also hesitation when pushing the engine hard. Get those filters changed before you're stuck somewhere.

 

and now i'm hungry.

 

I think Mason Dixon line is used for deciding factor?

 

Ok so i live way north by wisconsin. And my local krist station, old citgo franchise said fuel tankers bring fuel with treatment mixed from Green Bay. This is where most fuel in my region is stored. And its all Marathon fuel no matter where i buy it in my area.
I need to ask a fuel tanker driver from my area.

 

I know for a fact that straight #1 is good to at least -32F... Used to run it in all the farm equipment, and I can remember a couple winters that the highs were around -5F and the lows were around -30F for almost a week straight. We never idled that equipment, it all had block heaters to keep engine coolant warm but that was it. Even the older hard starting equipment would fire off pretty quickly with straight #1. Of course this was all 20 plus years ago, who knows how the fuel has changed since then.

 

Surprised no one mentioned frozen def? I was very very low a few days ago, because every truck stop I hit in OK and AR had frozen def at the pumps. Had to spend $18 for a box of def from some mom and pops store just to hold me over. I guess they arent used to the cold we just had because none of the stations had the insulated covers.. Made me question if their fuel was winterized..