What if it Snows?

I think it will go unreported until either spring or the parking lot crew wants to know why the driver hasnt moved yet. We are fodder for the mega fleet

 

yesterday was like something out of a reality TV show. Rt20 was horrible. Complete white outs, trucks jack knifed, tractor trailers and cars in the ditches, trucks spinning out. I was in a lane that was stopped.... And with no one directing traffic the other lane continued to move. I sat there almost 2 hours. I ended up being stopped at the bottom of a fairly steep hill. I waited until I had some distance between me and the truck ahead.... Lock both diffs and the power divider and start grabbing gears. I never shifted and drove so perfectly in my life lol. I had no intention of spinning out. It probably also helped I was loaded with 57k lbs of milk. I got the truck and trailer back to the yard without damage or calling a wrecker. It was a difficult day but in the end I was proud of my performance yesterday. I did well. Got back to the yard topped off the fuel, def, and fluids for the next day. Got in my car went home and sat in front of my anthracite coal stove. What a day lol

 

All those broken down trucks with gelled up fuel tanks are an eyesore

 

It's rarely gelled fuel that's the problem. The problem is usually water icing on the primary fuel filter. If you start losing power, can't get above 1500 rpm, then find a safe place to stop and change out the primary fuel filter. I have had to do this a handful of times in the last few years. Any time I get much more than 10,000 miles from my last PM (oil change, lube, and changing filters) I am prone to having to spin off and replace the primary fuel filter.

Get a GOOD filter wrench, not the aluminum Road Pro brand, but something with stainless steel. Road Pro aluminum will bend the first time you apply force, then it's useless.

Also carry a gallon blend of 70% deisel, 20% Antigel, and 10% 9-1-1. That blended gets poured into the new filter. After changing out the primary filter you should be good to go, with full power.

If you open up the used filter I would bet my next settlement check that you WON'T see the paper filter covered in what looks like strawberry sherbert (gelling). What you WILL see is a blackened paper filter coated in ice. The ice is what prevents fuel from flowing through the filter, starving the engine for fuel, and throwing out codes for "fuel rail pressure" or some such thing.

Always carry a set of fuel filters, a GOOD filter wrench, a garbage bag (I duct tape in position to catch deisel), and a gallon blend of "get me out of this ####!"

 

I’m at a wallyworld DC right now. Talk about the tow trucks. Guys having problems with trucks. Prime had frozen brakes next to me.
I’m so glad my company provided this Pete with its winter heat system.
Last two nights brutally cold into -30’s. I’m doing fine.
EDIT: Oops...There goes another Prime truck being towed out the gate. Must be fun for those tow truck drivers pulling a tractor and trailer.

 

i have been told that the fuel supplied at the company yard is treated, i would have to believe it because so far even on the coldest days the truck has started up easily. i plug the truck in of course, i have another 6,000 miles to go before my next PM is scheduled. i also think the older trucks start easier, i think that's part of the reason for common rail fuel injection?