do i need anti gel additive?

[mtmtntop]

this is my first winter with a 2002 5.9 . I live in montana. should i be adding anti gel agents to my fuel? I know when it gets cold, like below zero, they do change the diesel fuel at the pump. I filled my tank when it was warmer, dont drive it very much and am wondering what the next step should be.

 

[BigPapa]

It won't hurt anything to add it to your fuel, but it may make you sleep better. Just make sure to drive it long enough to get it all the way to the injectors.

 

[cmills]

If you filled it when it was warmer before the stations started carrying the “winterized fuel” I would add some just to be on the safe side. And like BigPapa said, drive it a little bit after adding it. If the tank isn’t quite full, probably the best thing to do would be to go to the station, put in the additive and then fill it up. That should help mix it up a little better.

 

[BSeyler]

My parents lived in Billings and I remember the pumps having a sticker that told how they blended their fuel during winter months. It seems like starting in November, fuel was good to a pretty low temperature. Since they both passed, I haven’t bought fuel there in the winter for several years, so don’t know what they are doing now. I also don’t remember if all stations did it this way. Personally, I’d go check at a place that moves a lot of fuel to see how they blend it. Then, I’d take a road trip somewhere to burn a bunch of fuel you have and then fill with winter blend. Stopping along the highway with gelled fuel is not fun.

 

[AH64ID]

I usually add a little for my cold first tank(s) of the year when it’s not winterized yet an I’ll need it, or when I’m going somewhere colder than where I got fuel.

For your situation I’d drive to the pump, add enough additive for what’s left and top off with blended fuel. Many place in Montana sell 50:50, I’d use that since you don’t know how cold it might get for this tank.

Is it garaged or stored outside?

 

[FOXY005]

I add anti-gell formula to every tank of fuel simply because I trust what I am putting in the tank as compared to what the filling station tells me they put in their fuel. The small extra cost is worth the peace of mind to me, I had "treated" filling station fuel gell on me one time back in the 1980's when I was on the interstate (was not a fun experience at 0*F) and have always added my own anti-gell fuel treatment since then.

 

[DavidC]

I add Power Service every tank also. Not so much for gelling but the added lubrication and cleaning abilities. I add 2oz. per 5 gallons and never had a gelling problem in North Dakota or Vermont during the Winter Months.

 

[JR]

I do use an additive through the winter months but I also have a bulk tank at home and the fuel sits 8-10 weeks between top offs.

The US does not have any cold flow fuel requirements for winterized fuel. There are recommendations from ASTM but there is no enforcement. The recommendation is for the cloud point to be no more than 6*C higher than the minimum ambient temperature for the month the fuel is blended. They're playing on averages for each region, large swings in temperature are when fuel is most prone to having problems.

 

[Mikey-KE7LBB]

I do use an additive through the winter months but I also have a bulk tank at home and the fuel sits 8-10 weeks between top offs.

The US does not have any cold flow fuel requirements for winterized fuel. There are recommendations from ASTM but there is no enforcement. The recommendation is for the cloud point to be no more than 6*C higher than the minimum ambient temperature for the month the fuel is blended. They're playing on averages for each region, large swings in temperature are when fuel is most prone to having problems.

Record high of 101° and 4+ inches of snow on Labor Day... A week long of mid 70's and then -14° !!! Welcome to Wyoming!

Montana should already be on their game about which type of fuel to order ahead of time... Drive it enough to make some room for some fresh fuel and you'll be fine. Additives are just for peace of mind, and piece of wallet!

FWIW... A few gallons of #1 diesel will cure just about anything, sans dirt/water contamination... Waxed fuel, no problem!!

 

[JR]

FWIW... A few gallons of #1 diesel will cure just about anything, sans dirt/water contamination... Waxed fuel, no problem!!

Wyoming used to sell #1/#2 blend at the pump all winter long, if they still do it's probably why you don't have problems.
If it's cold enough for #1 to gel the rest of the truck probably won't want to run anyway

Most places that don't get cold and stay cold use #2 with winter additives because it is cheaper than blending #1. There's more room for human error. Of course the blenders want to get it right but when you play the averages on temps and there is no enforcement, stuff is gonna happen, and it certainly does.

Short side story for entertainment purposes
In the 8-10 years my wife has been driving a diesel it's happened to her twice. She was bad for leaving the house, realizing she needed fuel and filling up at a random station - when all she had to do was swing around to the turn around, insert key and fill up in her own driveway
The first time she almost made it home and I only had to drive about 20 miles to get her. I'm pretty sure she thought it was a fluke as her behavior patterns didn't change . The second time she was over 2 hours from home and got to sit in a cold vehicle until I got there. I don't think she's done it since

 

[NIsaacs]

Pay attention to the pumps. Some stations in Montana have multiple choices for diesel fuel. Blended, #2, red dyed, and premium blend.

 

[JR]

Pay attention to the pumps. Some stations in Montana have multiple choices for diesel fuel. Blended, #2, red dyed, and premium blend.

Moral of the story? Pick the cheapest?

 

[Mikey-KE7LBB]

If it's cold enough for #1 to gel the rest of the truck probably won't want to run anyway

Been there, done that, and I ain't gonna run anywhere !!!

 

[Joe Mc]

Get yourself a quart of Diesel 911 and keep on hand "just in case". I live in suburbs of Philly, last winter I ran tank low must have accumulated condensation and it started up and ran fine.... till I got on turnpike. I think some ice formed in one of the filters cause all of the sudden (@ 75mph) truck started slowing down? Got off at exit and it was running like crap, couldn't get over 20mph. Of course my 911 was home, 10 miles away. I babied it back, put 1/2 quart of 911 in and after idling (very poorly BTW) for a few minutes it just smoothed out and ran fine. Glad I read this, getting a quart from garage right now to put in the truck..."just in case"...

 

[Whitewolf]

In Michigans U.P. I fill at a station that tells me the protective additive throughout the season. More additive as the season progresses and less in the spring, obviously none in the summer. I've got some 911 just in case. So far haven't needed it. Hope it doesn't have a shelf life.