Anti-Gel

parts of the Midwest and mountains can still get below zero into the middle of April. And this is the time when most truck stop start getting lazy with winterizing their fuel, or just plain stop on a certain date.

southern Minnesota got over a foot of snow on May 5th, 2013.

we have a long way to go before winter is truly over and done.

 

I take it week by week and this next week is looking fantastic. Coldest temps I will see will be in the mid 20's Wednesday night in Watertown South Dakota which means I can run the APU instead of idling. The guy I deliver to Thursday mornings is a lifelong resident of Fargo and this was the mildest winter he's ever seen. It was brutally cold but instead of the usual 3 months of several feet of snow, one week there would be a dusting of snow and the next week bare ground.

 

I live in northern Ohio, never put anti-gel in my diesel pickup and it's never gelled (I never leave the area in that truck, so fuel is bought locally). The coldest it gets is prolly -20, but quite a few days of neg temps. That's my personal vehicle so it doesn't matter if it gels. If it doesnt run when I get back in town, I'll just bobtail home lol.

As for the big truck, I only add the additive on my way home when I fuel in southern states,, if temps are going to be zero or less when I get home. Im guessing it's treated in WV and KY as it can get pretty cold there, but I add it anyway. Not sure if it's a waste of money or not, but I've never gelled up.

 

Wouldn't you think the truck stops HAVE to winterize at sub zero to avoid the fuel gelling within the pumps overnight? Wouldn't that shut them down?

 

the temperature below ground is always warmer in the winter time than on the surface. even up north, the ground only freezes about five or six feet down at the most I think.

the only time they would really have a problem, is if you see temperatures 20, 30, or 40 below zero with no snow cover. Snow cover actually keeps the ground insulated and warmer believe it or not.

some places may heat the fuel to 40 degrees, just to keep it flowing. But most high volume truck stops will usually keep enough circulation to wear it won't freeze