Who's had gelling with ULSD???

[FFutch]

I've had my fill of it! My CTD hasn't missed a lick but my fleet of 3116/3126's and D-maxs have all gelled. It was -10 (-20wc) here yesterday. It seems a good dose of P-service and new filters seems to take care of the Cats, but the D-maxes seem to be more finicky. They will derate (limp mode) and throw a low rail pressure code. I talked to the GM dealer and they said try to leave them inside overnight . Why are they so much more cold natured?They have the same fuel system as my Cummins, could it be the fuel filter?(less microns)?I have bought the last 3 cases of PS to be found and will try doping them all up extra heavy. I preached to the drivers about the use and benifits of fuel additives but we haven't really had a problem with the blended fuel til this year with the ULSD! All input appreciated... Doug

 

[Gary - K7GLD]

As much as I hate to keep harping on a theme, some of us members who were dubious as to all the grand and wonderful claims being made for the ULSD were ridiculed and shouted down by a few big oil supporters here who opined that "all the oil companies are EXTREMELY careful to fully test their products before presenting them to their customers - after all, it's just good business to watch out the best interests of the consumers!"



What a crock of bull - and all those guys are sure VERY conspicuous by their silence and absence as we've seen the prophesied increased leaking seals and accelerated pump failures, now the fuel gelling at rates NOT meeting various test standards, and the newest revelation that past suitable additives used to extend gell point are no longer effective, some users needing up to 4 time the "normal" amount. Plus, we've also seen posted statements from those close to the refiners to the effect that the ULSD is entirely likely to shed even MORE wax at clouding and gell point than the LSD it replaced...



There has NOT YET EVER been a "fuel improvement", gas or diesel, that did NOT bring with it a full ration of grief, failures and added expense to the end user - and THAT'S a FACT!

 

[DZink24]

This never happened to me when I was in school!!!

http://www.rochesterhomepage.net/content/fulltext/?cid=8993



http://www.13wham.com/news/local/story.aspx?content_id=898a674e-cd3c-44eb-8087-d32119c044d8



http://www.10nbc.com/index.asp?template=item&story_id=21451



http://www.rnews.com/Story_2004.cfm?ID=45899&rnews_story_type=18&category=10

 

[JFaulkner]

-10 here this morning, -7 yesterday. 2000+ gallons of ulsd fueling 7 semi's and a pickup truck. Not one problem the fuel is treated when delivered and treated when it's pumped into each truck. The only people that have problems around here are the ignorant schools and it's not usually fuel related. They insist on backing the busses into the parking spots and pluging them in with 100' extention cords and they wonder why they won't start. Aparently they didn't teach "voltage loss" when they were in school.

 

[JKinney]

My rig has been outside here in maine. I have been watching the fuel pressure guage very close. I have not inpected a filter, but have not lost any pressure. I have never seen a fuel filter that looked like those in the pictures.

 

[MFalkinham]

I've had my fill of it! My CTD hasn't missed a lick but my fleet of 3116/3126's and D-maxs have all gelled. It was -10 (-20wc) here yesterday. It seems a good dose of P-service and new filters seems to take care of the Cats, but the D-maxes seem to be more finicky. They will derate (limp mode) and throw a low rail pressure code. I talked to the GM dealer and they said try to leave them inside overnight . Why are they so much more cold natured?They have the same fuel system as my Cummins, could it be the fuel filter?(less microns)?

Doug, my guess is the Duramax trucks have more problems because their fuel system does not have a lift pump like the Dodge. They have a manual primer bulb to prime the system after a filter change, and the CP3 injection pump pulls the fuel once primed. Even those of us running powerful lift pumps like Walbro and FASS are seeing fuel pressure drops with this ULSD, so not having any lift pump will probably result in a no-go when you are "gellin like Magellan".

 

[steved]

I got a batch of non-winterized ULSD and it almost caused me headaches... it must have waxed the filter... it was a little above zero degree outside...



steved

 

[Cattletrkr]

Here they're just blaming it on the bio. Hell, that worked last year. It certainly can't be the perto, 'cause that stuf is held to a higher standard blah blah blah.



That said I've been -20 twice in the last few days and I have had no troubles. Lower peak FP and I can pull it down further than usual, but it has plugged yet.



New and improved, gotta love it.

 

[jtisdale]

pay attention

ULSD + copius amounts of a nation wide brandname anti-gel + FASS = truck missing, popping and banging, code throwing, filter waxing, pump kicking out and a fuse blowing good time at -19F. Two mornings in a row. #@$%!

This fuel is ****!

 

[2broke2smoke]

-10 yesterday and no problems with our trucks ...

brother in law has a construction business ... no problems in dozers, trucks ... etc

 

[steved]

-10 yesterday and no problems with our trucks ...

brother in law has a construction business ... no problems in dozers, trucks ... etc

Did you have ULSD or LSD???



I found the station I am now using is still getting LSD. It is still good in cold weather...



I'm wondering if the guys not having problems are still getting LSD, and not ULSD...



steved

 

[JasonCzerak]

My truck with intank pump is runing under 1psi. Another thread I started about this suggests my autometer setup broke at the same time the real cold snap did.



We'll see when things get back into the 30's next week.

 

[2broke2smoke]

Did you have ULSD or LSD???



I found the station I am now using is still getting LSD. It is still good in cold weather...



I'm wondering if the guys not having problems are still getting LSD, and not ULSD...



steved

all of our pumps say ulsd ...



i just wonder if different areas of the country may get different additives?

 

[GeneA]

Question: once a filter waxes up, will it unwax when the temperature warms up or is it trash and requires changing?

 

[steved]

Question: once a filter waxes up, will it unwax when the temperature warms up or is it trash and requires changing?

Once it warms up, the wax will "uncrystalize" and you'll be fine. Most guys change them out because they need to get the truck running right then... if you can wait (or have a source of heat), then you simply need to heat the filter. ]]



steved

 

[GaryOwen]

Had a couple of instances of gelling or icing, not sure which. First time used ULSD + Stanadyne (old formula) at regular dose. Second time used ULSD + Stanadyne (ULSD formula) at regular dose rate. Both were at the 0 to 5 degree range. Triple dosed with Stanadyne, but didn't help. Was able to get to a station and add some fuel from underground tank. Got me going and have been in warmer climates since.



Have since switched to Power Service and rigged up a fuel line heating system, but haven't been below 14 degrees yet. Tapped off of my heater hoses and ran a 3/8" heater hose from just before engine fuel filter to just in front of fuel tank and back. (Have Glacier Walbro pump and pre-filter at transmission mount). Put some pipe insulation over the lines and held in place with cable ties. Have valves to shut off heat when not needed.



Gary

 

[steved]

Tapped off of my heater hoses and ran a 3/8" heater hose from just before engine fuel filter to just in front of fuel tank and back.



Gary

Umm, you have a source of those 3/8" heater hoses??? I think I'm going to plumb my FASS's heating points up too...



steved

 

[GaryOwen]

Got the 3/8" heater hose from NAPA. Looked like NRH H-147 on the receipt. $19. 75 for a 25' roll.



Gary

 

[steved]

Got the 3/8" heater hose from NAPA. Looked like NRH H-147 on the receipt. $19. 75 for a 25' roll.



Gary

Awesome, thank you! Might be doing this sooner than later!



steved

 

[CWebster]

-13 degrees Mon. morning, -6 degrees Tues. morning (windchills were -30 and -13 respectively), (1) 05 Dodge Cummins, (1) 03 GMC Duramx, (1) 05 GMC Duramax... . all on ulsd operated normally. The only difference was the 2 duramaxes had a hard time firing off, but once started ran fine. I seem to be one of the rare ones that have experienced nothing but positive things since the switch from lsd to ulsd. I sure hope it continues.....