Fuel Additives

[roosterdiesel]

With the cold that has been sent to us by I figured it might be a good idea to discuss what everyone uses to fight gelling. The truck stops I use blend fuel starting back in October according to store manager. I still don't always trust that.

I use FUEL POWER about every other fill. I have MELT DOWN for emergency use, I had to order it. The Fuel Power is available locally. I may start using POLAR POWER during colder temps since I now plan on using B20 for fuel. With my heated Dahl it may not be needed what do you guys think?

BTW, my 99 cent pre-filter, last time it got to single digits, gelled with "supposed" #2 blend and Fuel Power additive. I don't recommend those filters in the winter. No problem with the Dahl though.

What does everyone else use?-popcorn -popcorn

 

[hheynow]

I've been using Stanadyne Performance Formula for years with every fill up. I'm very happy with this product.

 

[rgdillon]

Question - does it really get that cold in Texas? Personally I don't worry about it until it's down in the teens - and even then I don't really do anything about it.
Here it can get cold into the lower teens and with wind chill below zero - but not for sustained amounts of time - like a month or so.
With the winter blends - mileage sucks enough for me not to add more to it.

Just curious -

Ron

 

[Tail_Gunner]

Most of the places that sell diesel up in this part of the country, sell fuel that is already blended with anti-gelling stuff during the winter. One chain of convenience stores gradually phases in the level of additives going into winter and likewise phases it out coming into spring. I've actually seen signs listing dates and the temp the fuel is good for.

I've never had a problem with gelling in the winter.

 

[roosterdiesel]

Question - does it really get that cold in Texas?

Where I live we have low 20 nights with 50's during the day regularly. This morning it was 4 F when I got up. Haven't heard the official low.

Like I said, with the cold spell I think there are going to be several fuel stations that aren't prepared.

 

[rgdillon]

Where I live we have low 20 nights with 50's during the day regularly. This morning it was 4 F when I got up. Haven't heard the official low.

Like I said, with the cold spell I think there are going to be several fuel stations that aren't prepared.

Okay - so it does get a little chilly there So the biggest problem then is that the station are not blending for the cold weather. In that case I guess I may add something. Up here they start around November or so with the blended and keep it through about April or so.

It's been cold enough that everything on the truck creaked it was so cold - but have never had a problem with blended fuel. When I first got my 01 - I of course used it not knowing any better - and I was lucky to get 300 miles to a tank - so nope - don't use any additives on a regular basis.

Ron

 

[DaveBen]

The stations do not blend for winter. That is done at the fuel distrubitors when the truck leaves the fuel depot.

Dave

 

[roosterdiesel]

Dave,

I know the distributors do the blending. I would almost bet a paycheck there are some in TX that didn't do anything in time this weekend.


Ron,

If you look at my first post I stated that according to my fuel stops manager, they get blended fuel starting back in October. Several trucks going to CO come through here. Even with blended fuel treated with a "general" fuel treatment, I gelled a cheap pre-filter when it didn't get out of the teens for a day about a month ago. Stock fuel systems don't have as much of a problem, the mixing valve helps quite a bit for cold temps.

Like I said in another post, Bob has been told by customers, that they gelled @ 20 degrees stopped in traffic with high wind chills.


I don't see any drop in fuel economy with the Fuel Power, maybe I would if I used the Polar Power. I've never had to use the Melt Down, ordered it after gelling a month ago. Never know when I'll be on the road and go to an ill-prepared fuel distributor.-popcorn

 

[f100cleveland]

Around here some stations have blended and others have no. 1 and no. 2 pumps and you blend your own. I use Howes and run staight no. 2 all the time. Never had any gelling. Where I work we have 4 E-450 psd vans and every one of them gelled up running a 70-30 mix on Friday. It was -10 with -40 wind chills.

 

[Rex-a-FORD]

Here's what I use: