Engine/Transmission (1998.5 - 2002) Darn cold, hopefully just plugged fuel filter.

[Batphreak]

Well, woke up to -10 here in Central IL. Had the block heater plugged in, truck started up just fine. Idle it ran just fine but when I'd run the revs up at about 1200 it'd start missing. Load or no load didn't matter, I drove around the block and parked, luckily a co-worker lives real close and I could ride to work with him. I changed the fuel filter back in late August. I just filled the truck on Monday, dumped in 16 oz. of the white Power Service with that fill. I'll change the filter tomorrow, I'll also check for codes, kinda doubting there are any since the engine light didn't come on. Anyone have any other suggestions? The VP is just about 2 years old, it hasn't missed a beat so far. Lift pump is that in-tank one, could be that it can't push the fuel but from what I've heard there hasn't been that kind of problem with these.

 

[DFerverda]

Yep we have -14 here now. I filled the truck yesterday and put in 32 ozs of power service, this a. m. truck will start(plugged in) and run but my fuel pressure has dropped to 0. The new ULSD sucks, it jells up around 0. I added some more but shut off the truck and hope for a warm afternoon.

 

[Batphreak]

Man, just when I thought I had learned enough about this ULSD. I hadn't thought of the cold weather problems. And I was up in WI for the last 14 years.

ULSD Cold Weather Information

Has anyone found recommended additives other than these guys to keep the fuel from plugging everything? I guess I should really wait until Nov-Dec to change the fuel filter, too.

 

[Joe Mc]

That link was good reading, friggin ULSD #@$%! - gimmie good ol` #2 home heating oil Oo. Ahhh those were the days . . . .



A bright idea (after a while it would literally be bright) - if the water in the ULSD fuel freezes creating crystals that clog everything up, just thaw it out - what's the big deal?



You know, take a torch with a rosebud tip and heat up the lines, the filter and the tank too - that'll melt those nasty ol` ice crystals DOGT!!! :--):-laf:-laf:-laf

 

[EDankievitch]

That would be a great idea except for the fact that there is a hhole lot of plastic in the fuel system... I went through this last year when I got some Biodiesel that was made from anamal fat not soybean oil every time the temp went below 35 things locked up... even at only a 10% mix it would lock up... . Caught a lot of hell from my friends about french frys stuck in my filter..... This year with the Soy oil at 50/50 mix things have been good down to 5 degrees.....

 

[Batphreak]

Yeah... Here's the waxed up filter:



#ad




I think Power Service kinda failed me. Found a Diesel shop here in town, they recommended Stanadyne and Iso-Heet in every tank. Also sold me some Winter Thaw to get it running for now. I just changed the filter back in August, thought I could bring it inside and let it thaw, I'm not so sure now, I may just put a new filter in.



ps: Sorry about the size of the picture.

 

[jkalchik]

Personally, I wouldn't bother trying to reclaim a waxed filter.

I've been running Stanadyne here in MN. Even with the -20 for a couple of days, I've never had a problem with Stanadyne treated fuel gelling, or waxing a filter. And that's even after buying fuel known to only be treated for +10 F.

 

[JCyrbok]

Personally, I wouldn't bother trying to reclaim a waxed filter.



I've been running Stanadyne here in MN. Even with the -20 for a couple of days, I've never had a problem with Stanadyne treated fuel gelling, or waxing a filter. And that's even after buying fuel known to only be treated for +10 F.

I run stanadyne too and have never had a problem. Been down to -20 unplugged etc and never had a problem.



My truck just sat for 3 days (night time lows in the -15 range and daytime highs in the +10 range) unplugged outside, jumped in waited till the WTS light went out and fired up. Let high idle for 5 minutes and then was on my way. I have no fuel heater as I ran my FASS right to the VP and had 16psi FP (measured at the VP), which is about normal for me even in the summer.



Half a bottle of Stanadyne Performance in the tank each fill up and have not had a weather related problem since I drove my truck off the dealer lot back in 7/01. Also credit Stanadnye for letting my VP last through 4 total LP failures before it finally gave up.



I had been thinking about switching to PS or Howe's as I can get it local but I have decided to stick what I know works.



Just for the record I do NOT work for Stanadyne etc I'm just a happy user.



ETA: I wouldnt try to save the filter either, they are cheap enough.



J-

 

[Batphreak]

Yeah. I went ahead and put a new filter in, after 2. 5hrs it still didn't have all the wax off it. So, yeah Stanadyne for me from now on, I don't think I'll even look at another bottle of power service.

 

[jcwehking]

Nice filter! Did you fill up with straight #2 or was it a winter blended fuel? I've had fuel pressure drop to 0 for approx 10 minutes at cold start up when the temp drops below 0 F here in SD. Filter gets waxy but nothing like the goop on yours. I assume the filter heater is warming the filter media to get things flowing again. No issue once pressure resumes. I'm using a winter blend diesel fuel which is supposedly good to -30 F and have added the PS with no notable change with/without. I have the intank pump as well. Other than the recent cold weather problem, the pump has held up well with over 40K on it now. I'm going to see if anyone local carries the Stanadyne and give that a try before the next cold spell.

 

[icman95]

I wonder if you just got a bad load of fuel. Sometimes they just don't get the mixture right when putting in the anti gel at the plant. We had it happen to us at work a number of years ago. My boss put a pail of anti gel into the bulk diesel tank in the yard and all was well. I wouldn't blame power service without knowing if the fuel was bad. I've been using it with no problem, including while on vacation in northern Maine where the truck sits in sub zero weather for a week before starting. On the other hand, all the other brands mentioned are good, too.



BTW, nice pic of the filter. Can't say I've seen one like that before.

 

[Batphreak]

I always fill up at the same big station, they seem to have quite a bit of big truck and farm traffic. It was supposed to be winterized fuel. It may not be entirely the fault of Power Service, but when I told the guy at the diesel shop what I normally run he smirked and said, yeah this is what you really need to keep out of problems. From what I've read and heard the old winter blending and additives that worked very well with LSD aren't working the same with ULSD.

 

[georgej]

Wow. . I thought the fuel filter heater did something to prevent that!???

 

[DFerverda]

The NEW plastic cans of power service have a round stamp that says for ULSD. The old cans don't say that and they don't seem to work on ulsd. Be sure when you buy your next can, it says for ULSD. It also feels and smells different... ...

 

[Joe Mc]

Sweet looking filter, eek man that's friggin scary

 

[BeefDoc]

I had my truck gelled up like this 2 years ago in Feb. Temp was 5 F should not have been a problem. I had put fuel in the night before at a local station (I had filled there many times before) and had also added Powerservice. It took 4 or 5 filters to make the truck run, each filter I took out looked just like the pic you posted. I called the station to let him know about the trouble, and he would not even acknowledge that I had bought the fuel there. I didn't expect him to do anything but I just wanted him to know I had 30gal of sludge in my tank and he should check his tanks (it was his loss, I now by my 400gal of fuel a month elsewhere). I have used powerservice religiously for the past 300k on my truck and have had zero trouble except for this incident. I replaced orginal vp @ 270K, I attribute that to the PS and FASS. I called PS about this issue, they treated me right, he felt the fuel was full of water and probably some animal fat.

I use PS in all my vehicles and tractors, and have had no other trouble. I treat probably 8000 gallons per year and feel the product has treated me very well.



I have used a fair bit of Stanadyne as well and have had no trouble with it either, but local availability has been a problem.



FWIW



Matt