Change over to #1 Diesel

[dodger22]

I don't plan to use the truck much through the winter. At the moment the fuel tank is at the point when I would normally fill it up. If I fill it now it will probably last me at least a month during which time we could have some really cold weather and the diesel could gell or go cloudy.



Assuming the gas stations don't have their winter fuel in yet does anyone have a suggestion how to avoid this potential problem? Would the gas station know if they have #1 vs #2?



TIA



Richard

 

[illflem]

Just use straight #2 and add the label recommended amount of one of the several anti-gel additives available. I've avoided the #1/2 blend for eight years with no problems down to -35°. Currently using Howe's.

 

[klenger]

Don't fill it up yet. Just add a partial tank and wait till you know that the winter blend is available.

 

[RonaldLarson]

ditto Illflem

I use Power Service additive and straight #2 all year, never a problem. You might want to consider the new fast idle ECM upgrade as well, just to hurry warm-up.

Ron

 

[JJW_ND]

Skip the #1

Unless your truck sits out in temps below -30, any #1 fuel is not needed as long as a good additive is used. Driving through very cold temps are even less of an issue.



Howes, Power Service and Stanadyne to name a few are very good and will keep your running.



jjw

ND

 

[CCBrady]

A little help with the learning curve please. This will be the first winter with a diesel and I keep reading about winter bend fuels and cold weather additives. The question is how cold does it need to get for me to need these things? Here in the Northwest where I live I don't see real cold temps, just mid to low 30s with trips into the 20s sometimes, but only for a few days, usually low 40s days and 30s nights.

Thanks, Chris

 

[Champane Flight]

Temps

Chris,you shouldn't need any additives or #1 at those temps. However you do live in a wet climate and should keep your tank on the full side most of the time. Reason being:condensation.



You should only start worrying about fuels at sustained temps from 10 above to -50. And then only if you are shutting down for any period of time. With the Cummins running it circulates enough warm fuel back to the tank to keep going. If you do run into frigid temps and have to park it. Park it near a fuel stop and fill first thing in the morning. If tanks are underground,fuel temps should be around fifty degrees. I carry a can of Amzoil Cetane booster with me for such times also.



Everyone has a little different idea on how to fight the cold. The best thing for the engine is to plug it in if temps drop below ten degrees. I have had mine start at -30 without plugging in. However it is not an experience I would like to do on a regular basis. Kind of makes you grit your teeth,like scrapping fingernails on the blackboard!

 

[TMorris]

On a recent fill up of fuel i asked the manager of the gas station when they start to switch over to the winterized fuel. He told me that they don't switch over until they expect the temperature to be 32 degrees or colder for a 24 hour period or longer. The winterized fuel should come sometime in december i would think (atleast it should here near Chicago, IL).



HTH,

Tim

 

[Champane Flight]

Supplier

As a major supplier of fuel(pipeline operater)I can tell you that in colder climates winter blends start as early as October. We start our winter blended fuel on 10/10. The fuel is usually blended at refinery,we also add flow improvers at take off point. The additive packages of a premium diesel also take cloudpoints down to -15 to -20.



I am sure in the great white north the blended fuels hit even sooner than October.

 

[CCBrady]

Thanks for the info. Ya'll can keep those NEG. Temps, I like mine to start at 75 Deg. and go up from there. Enjoy the snow, and Thanks again.

Chris

 

[illflem]

Chris. now that you said that--record low temp for Seattle is -12°F...

 

[CCBrady]

illflem, when it gets that low I head for Mexico, and besides I live on Whidbey Island its about 40 miles north of Seattle, In the summer its about 10 deg. cooler than the main land and in the winter it stays warmer than the main land.

The little bit of snow that we get doesn't usually stay for more than a day or two. Chris

 

[Champane Flight]

Son

I have a son in Marysville,his inlaws live on Whidbey. It is pretty,but all together to wet for me... Had two boys stationed there.

 

[CCBrady]

Champane Flight, I'm a little NW of Marysville on the island, and yes it is wet up here, thats why I call it the Great Northwet. When I retire from the "Lazy B" the wife and I plan on moving back to Texas or Oklahoma were the rest of the family is, and were it is alot drier.

Funny how things work out, You were Army and your sons went Navy, and I was Navy and my son went to the Army.

Have a Good Day,

Chris

 

[Champane Flight]

Rebels

My Dad spent 35 years in the Navy and I went in the Army. But,there is NO excuse for my Grandaughter. She went in the Air Force!Like I told my cousin(whos spent thirty years in AF)it is a good place for a young lady!He took it the wrong way and won't speak to me... .....

 

[JohnE]

Richard (dodger22);



If your Cummins powered Dodge stands unused for long intervals, shame on you. Just kidding!



My 12 valve book recommends adding a manual switch to the fuel solenoid so you can crank the engine and get oil back into the veins before adding fuel and firing off.



My thoughts is you should have around 20% of #1 fuel blended in the tank and plenty of winter additive. Straight #2 (even with winter additive) will gel if you give it enough cold and enough time which sounds to be your situation.

If you use the truck regularly and it doesn't get very cold, then straight #2 and plenty of winter anti-gel should see you through.



You ask if the clerk at your local fuel retailer will know the blend of diesel in the tank. I really doubt it. ROFLAMO



My local fuel stop has gone to winter rules. One pump has straight #2 and the other pump has straight #1 on each island. A big sign states that you must mix your own winter blend.



My 2 reale (bits)

-John