Archived Cold WX, won't keep running

[D_Brown]

I have a 2003 model. Live in NY. Was quite cold here last night. Recently got fuel at a station I don't normally use. And I have started the engine prior to getting refueled in very cold weather without a problem. I had the block heater hooked up last night. Started up ok this morning. Kept it running to warm up. It stopped running in about 4 minutes. Tried every few minutes to start, only runs for a minute or so. Thought I might have a gel problem. Got some of the CRC Emergency Diesel fuel additive. I drained the filter bowl, and replaced the filter, put some of the CRC Emergency additive in the filter bowl. Poured the rest of the additive in the tank (just about full). When I replaced the fuel filter, it did not look gelled or iced up. Tried again... ran for about 15 seconds.



Should I try keeping the fuel filter water drain open and run the pump to purge the system? Or just try starting again in an hour or so?



Thank you for your advice!

 

[Alan Reagan]

The fuel is probably gelled between the filter and the injector pump. A hair dryer will help with that problem. The filter has a fuel heater in it but if you can't get it to the pump it doesn't help.

 

[JFinke]

It won't help now, but always add antigel at every fill up when there is any chance of the temps dropping below freezing. I never trust any stations listing of how cold there fuel is treated to. Last year the local Texaco distributors trucks and about 50 other rigs all gelled up on the same day. Depending on how much fuel they added at the cardlock they made it anywhere from a 1/2 mile to 10 miles down the road. I don't know how much money they paid out in repairs that day, but they no longer list what there fuel is treated to.



If the fuel jelled very bad about the only solution is going to be to put it in a heated garage and let the fuel "thaw" out. Once it's not jelled you can change the filter and add plenty of antigel and you should be good to go. If you can get it running and circulate the antigel you added you may get by just changing the filter.



15 years ago we had a truckers truck gell up at the haystack while loading it. Ended up putting bales all around it and a heater underneath for about 5 hours (while sitting there to make sure nothing caught fire. The fuel warmed up and we added antigel for about 1000 gallons to his 200 gallons of fuel. We changed the filters and filled them with 50/50 diesel and antigel and got it running, but not good. After about 45 minutes we changed the filters again and everything was good to go. We were cold and tired but he made it home. Good luck. Jake

 

[ShannonHarris]

You may have air in the system?

 

[CDenton]

put in about 2 gls. unleaded gas in 30 gls. of fuel that will stop your problem.

 

[dcamilleri]

Gas in the diesel is very old school and can do major damage in a matter of minutes! Just say no to gas.



When in doubt, first line of defense is to replace fuel filter or remove it and warm it up. Fuel icing causes more problems than fuel gelling. Small particles of water in the filter can freeze and stop the flow of fuel. Warm filter or change it, add additive to filter housing (not 100%) add more additive to fuel tank and cross your fingers. If fuel is flowing to fill up the filter then you don't have to worry about it being gelled enough in the tank to plug the pickup screen. Most diesel trucks have a bypass valve in the fuel tank in case the inlet filter waxes up. This requires more than 1/4 tank to suck fuel. Good luck.



P. S. Thanks for taking our cold weather, it was +60 F today when it should be about +10 for a high.

 

[DDiMarco]

-8 deg F, no probs with Howes additive

1/22 it was minus 8 here in southern CT, my 04. 5/325/600 started in a heartbeat with no block heater. I use Howes diesel additive and haven't had any probs with starting since I've owned the truck (9/04). I use only 8 oz per tankful and have had good results. At the local truckstop, they sell Howes by the case and the truckers I have talked to swear by it. See product at http://www.howeslube.com/products/index.php/category/10

 

[ToolManTimTaylor]

put in about 2 gls. unleaded gas in 30 gls. of fuel that will stop your problem.

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In many other diesel applications sure you COULD possibly get away with a 15% mixture and under and in my ol man's ford 3000 tractor we could get away with that for anti-gel.



In our trucks (24V) that is quite possibly one of THE WORST things you could do! Gasoline has NO lubricative properties whatsoever and WILL wipe your VP44 Clean (Galling , and seizures are most common) being it is a solvent. The fuel systems on theese rigs are frail enough and the VP44 depends on the lubrication from the fuel.

 

[BHiggins]

Howes Anti-Gel

I agree with DDiMarco, Howes is the best I've found. I've been using it for ten years and NEVER had a problem. This stuff is so good, they guarantee no gelling or they pay the tow. www.howeslube.com