Anti gel questions

I've never worked for Prime and don't know their policies but I've always used Howe's and never had any problems. As a general rule, if the temps are supposed to be in the 0-32 range, I use half of a large bottle in each tank and if its going to be below 0, use a full large bottle in each tank. A half bottle should be good for the reefer at any temp. You can't do any damage by adding too much, so better safe than sorry. I've never had my fuel gel by following the above treatment. Just make sure that you know the weather ahead because if you wait until its already freezing to add it, it may be too late.

 

Our fuel manager showed us a scientific study and Power Service out performs them all as far as temperature and lubricity. I liked them too because they always offer rebates like $5 a jug. You can cabbage up on a few extra bucks over the course of the winter. Just get two receipts and keep one for the rebate forms. I think drivers like Howe's for the pretty clear jug.

 

Prime prefers that you use Howes. Eyeball it... you'll get a better sense of how much to use as you get some experience. 1/2 a bottle at 32 is serious overkill. 1/4 in each tank with a fill-up at 20 is fine, perhaps about 1/8th in the reefer tank. Double that below 0. Make sure you stay ahead of your useage since you can only get 2 additive items with each fuel stop... you'll be getting washer fluid, etc as well. I always want a full bottle of anti-gel plus the one I'm using, a full washer fluid, and one of the small bottles of Power Service Diesel 911 in case I do start getting paraffin gelled in the fuel on hand during winter.

Your engine will have it's own likes and dislikes as to when and how much anti-gel to use. I will say this... the exposed fuel lines for your APU and reefer engines will have more problems sooner than your truck's engine. The heat from your engine, the warm return fuel into your main tanks will usually keep it from having problems longer than the APU and reefer.

You'll have more trouble with fuel from southern states when you travel north. They don't do as much with winterized fuels in the far south, and as you get further north there is more anti-gelling additives in the fuel. This time of year everything in the northern tier is already selling fuel that has enough No. 1 diesel (kerosene) in it to keep the fuel from gelling in their storage tanks and your truck's tanks... so you can usually delay until later in the day to put some Howes in with that kind of fuel. That doesn't mean you shouldn't throw some in! Use more Howes with fuel from states like Florida and California (especially) right away if you'll be moving into colder weather later in the day. If your engine starts running a little rough as you go down the road later in the day, that's usually a good sign to stop and add some more anti-gel. Make sure you get your fuel filters changed often this time of year. I usually make sure that I get it done half-way between PMs just to make sure. Also, pay more attention to keeping your tanks full as it gets colder. You don't want to get stuck in a snow drift with not much fuel (deadly) and emptier tanks promote more internal condensation which ends up as water in your fuel filter. That will freeze and cause you no end of trouble in very cold weather.

 

also dont want the water from condensation to cause a colony of bacteria to start growing in your tank.

 

My preference is FPPF. Each to his own. I have used Power Service and had zero problems with either one. Biggest thing I like about FPPF is the small bottle. Space saver! As far as measuring, I went to Walmart and bought a measuring cup. As pricey as that stuff is why waste it.

 

They can use them for other purposes and nobody can tell the difference.

 

Basically in the last couple of days, and last nite before I got stuck here, I put almost 1/2 a bottle in each tank, then and 8 oz or so in the reefer, then last nite I filled up which was about 1/2 tank, then used another bottle. Plus the reefer tanks one the "eco49" trailers are smaller, so watch the fuel level, and if you have to add more reefer fuel message your fm to open your card up. Sometime you may have to argue the reason why, but it's better to keep it full then Have the reefer run out of fuel. I've never had one run out in the years that I have run reefer, but it will save the risk of having a huge freight claim against you.

 

The ECO49 trailers shouldn't run dry... at least in theory. They have a low fuel sensor that shuts the engine down below 1/8 tankful... the older trailers 29xxx and below will run dry, and require you to prime the system. That would extremely suck in this weather because it sucks beyond belief when it's nice out! LOL!!!

BTW... the newer software loads keep the reefers from using a lot of fuel... except for ice cream in the summer.

 

I wouldn't mind if they kept the trailers up a little better though, and made sure the drivers filled the reefer tanks before going into the shipper.. I already had a guy at a meat plant chew me out because some bonehead dropped one in there with out filling it, and I had to fight with dispatch to get my card opened up to get fuel. That's one of the primary reasons I had so much hatred at the optistop garbage. By the time they handed the loaded trailer to me it was almost at shutdown level , luckily the shipper went ahead and filled it themselves.

I remember a story some years ago, a guy working for a big grocery store chain pulled a set of 2 48' tandems (based near buffalo ny) out of the warehouse and forgot to top off the reefers tanks and both trailers had full loads of ice cream... Imagine what THAT would've cost...