Anti-gel over kill?

Lepton mentioned that the bottle suggested storing it at room temp because it gets hard to pour below freezing, I just joked you needed anti-gel for your anti-gel. No one is seriously suggesting that Howe's gels.

 

Is there any way to tell if a you are pumping winter treated fuel? Maybe a label on the pump?

 

Just bought fuel in Jacksonville, Fla when I hit the VA line on Monday it was -2. No problems. Just left the truck running at all times. As a matter of fact the only thing that sludged up was my washer fluid. If I could figure out how to market washer fluid anti gel I would be worth millions. Not saying it doesn't happen but even southern fuel is good down to zero as long as there is no water present.

 

By leaving the truck running, the fuel is being heated and returned to the tank. I'm sure the fuel was not winterized. If you had shut it down, it probably would have gelled up.
I was wondering how to tell if the fuel being pumped is winterized for when I shut down in cold weather.

 

To be honest in over twenty years I have never seen fuel gel above 0 but I live in VA and spend most of my time in the south. Many will disagree, but I have never seen it. Last year I asked a PFJ fuel hauler in NC if they treated the fuel and he pulled out a bottle of Howes from behind his seat and showed it to me. Lol. My problem has always been CCA from the batteries. Anything under 15 degrees I let the truck run and let the return fuel do the work.This is just my experience in the south. I know it's a entirely different animal to the north.

 

Having recently changed any/all fuel filters helps a lot, too. Having 25k + miles on your filters, you're asking for more potential problems when you go engine off for extended time in very cold temperatures.

Also, regularly buying sub-standard fuel from questions sources will accumulate more crap in the filters that will gum up when it gets real cold.

 

Generally the more yellow/gold the fuel is the more you should treat it. The clear stuff we use up here in winter is good for colder than it ever gets. In summer they sell us the gold stuff. I imagine places like Florida and Texas will still sell you the gold stuff all year.

 

Round here it's kinda light green

 

Yeah I was thinking most of what I see is blue or green. Sometimes looks a lot like gasoline.

 

Doesn't smell it or feel it tho: change a fuel filter n get all that hot nasty greazy diesel on ya, good way to make your skin itch