Alternative Anti-Gel Method?

I use the white and red bottle Power Service. Winter diesel is good down to 17 and the stuff in Montana and North Dakota is good down to 0 (says so on the pump). Any colder than that you need something in the tanks. Use only what is recommended on the bottle. It was -14 in Wyoming when I was there for the night. I didn't idle and with treatment in the tanks it fired right up after sitting for 12 hours. The owners manual in my truck recommends using isopropyl alcohol. Using Piwer Service is much more convenient.

 

The main issue is that now The industry uses diesel that is part Bio Diesel. Becuase of the properties in Bio Diesel the fuel will gel and waxing much sooner than the #2 diesel of days gone past. The waxing happens on the fuel filter thus causeing a fuel flow issue. Also water in the fuel will cause issues.

I don't want to get to deep into the causes of gelling and filter waxing here. Just Google it......the info is pretty straight forward.

Remmember it's the ambient temp you need to be concerned with. Not the wind chill.

As for me.....when it begins to crash into the 20s I use the power service in the white bottle. Be sure to pre treat before the cold weather hits. Have it in the system before the bad cold hits.

 

I would not do it. Not with today's fuels.

We have taken our rigs into -60 and never gelled because the engine is ALWAYS going (Team...) which circulates the fuel back to the tanks, some of it to keep warm in addition to tank warmers for winter battle.

The old stories you hear changed the day they required dyes in fuel to seperate those who pay taxes for on road and off road. You cannot have any color whatsoever inside your tractor trailer fuel (Reefer, just throw the fuel in there, make sure the fuel desk does the tax code correctly on the reciept)

I am not doing well today and would want to improve it with a touch of thought to a alternate method to defend against gelling, my favorite is running the deep south and southwest exclusively.

 

i have heard of drivers putting 5 gallons of gasoline inthe diesel tanks once a week during cold weather.

 

Gasoline Works in a pinch.
I've added up to 2 gallons of gasoline into 150 gallon tank without any problems while I was up in North Dakota when I didn't have access to the high-dollar stuff

 

I fueled at Percieval Iowa at the Pilot a few years ago. My truck stopped in it's tracks in Watertown SD at -05 degrees. Luckily got help right away and all was well. Ever since then I purchase 50 gallons of #1 diesel at the Coffee Cup in Vermillion SD if the temps dictate it. Southern fuel does fine until around 10 degrees. It varies greatly by truck make however.

Yes the old man that towed me in to his heated garage said back in the old days they used to add a few gallons of gasoline to each tank to combat gelling. Once you freeze up you likely wont ever do it again. He let me sit in his tow truck while he hooked up my truck. That heat was the most relief I think I've ever felt in my life.

 

This is true,I've been inspected by Dot with an IRS card."I'm authorized to look in your fuel tanks".Oh..Ok

 

Only have to gel once to know it aint worth taking shortcuts and risking it. Either idle your truck all the time and hope that the wind chill can't gel up the lines while you are rolling, or use #1 fuel when you can get it. We sell a lot of power service, but as a fuel carrier we just run straight #1 and then don't worry about it anymore. If the stations are selling a blend light on the #1 then the power service is great peace of mind.