Truck died???
New User
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 6
Likes: 0
Yesterday my truck also died on the way to work here in Cheyenne WY, 2010 6.4 Diesel F-250.
It was just way too cold (-24 F) and the fuel must have gelled, causin the truck to stall. I was able to pull over, but, it would not restart.
I called the dealership, and they said that due to the extreme cold weather this is happening a lot....and that even pre-heating will not stop the diesel from gelling as the diesel tank and lines are not heated.
At noon I went back to my stranded truck and it started on the 2nd try. Immediatly I headed for the gas station and added some anti-gel to the diesel.
Then got a timer from Home Depot and last night I plugged in the engine block heater set timer to come on at 5:00 am.
Also, have on order a Winter Grill Cover.
With these three things :-
Block Heater
Anti Gel
Winter Grill Cover
...and warmer weather no more problems.
It was just way too cold (-24 F) and the fuel must have gelled, causin the truck to stall. I was able to pull over, but, it would not restart.
I called the dealership, and they said that due to the extreme cold weather this is happening a lot....and that even pre-heating will not stop the diesel from gelling as the diesel tank and lines are not heated.
At noon I went back to my stranded truck and it started on the 2nd try. Immediatly I headed for the gas station and added some anti-gel to the diesel.
Then got a timer from Home Depot and last night I plugged in the engine block heater set timer to come on at 5:00 am.
Also, have on order a Winter Grill Cover.
With these three things :-
Block Heater
Anti Gel
Winter Grill Cover
...and warmer weather no more problems.
Elder User
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 617
Likes: 0
From: Washington,KS/Lincoln,NE
Here's one I just posted on another thread. https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/9...ml#post9917836
New User
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 6
Likes: 0
I bow down to your vast knowledge and experience with diesels, #1 vs #2 vs ratios and all that good stuff and I'm a newbie having had my truck now for almost 1 year.
Honestly, when I pull into a gas station I'm fortunate IF they even have a diesel pump. Some stations don't sell diesel. WTF is wrong with that !
Then, lets say there is a diesel pump, then there is no indication what ratio or mix it has and is it is #1, #2 or anything.
So how do I know what I'm getting except that it is diesel and I got to take what I get ?
Honestly, when I pull into a gas station I'm fortunate IF they even have a diesel pump. Some stations don't sell diesel. WTF is wrong with that !
Then, lets say there is a diesel pump, then there is no indication what ratio or mix it has and is it is #1, #2 or anything.
So how do I know what I'm getting except that it is diesel and I got to take what I get ?
Elder User
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 617
Likes: 0
From: Washington,KS/Lincoln,NE
Blue, if it is blended it will likely say so. It will only be blended in the cooler months in Cheyenne, say from November through March.
If I'm in doubt, I'll go in and ask the attendant. Some will know precisely and others haven't got a clue.
You cannot know the quality of the fuel itself. It's a good bet that if it's premium fuel, it'll be at least decent. #2 fuels are anybody's guess. If you have a supplier and you wish to know for sure, ask your Ford dealer to pull a sample. If they've got any dedication at all to diesel, they'll test it for you or have it tested and let you know the results. My dealer has a dedictated diesel mechanic and a dang good one at that. That's one question I asked before I bought the truck there. He pulled a sample at my request and was able to tell me what I wanted to know in short order at the dealership.
Hope this helps!
If I'm in doubt, I'll go in and ask the attendant. Some will know precisely and others haven't got a clue.
You cannot know the quality of the fuel itself. It's a good bet that if it's premium fuel, it'll be at least decent. #2 fuels are anybody's guess. If you have a supplier and you wish to know for sure, ask your Ford dealer to pull a sample. If they've got any dedication at all to diesel, they'll test it for you or have it tested and let you know the results. My dealer has a dedictated diesel mechanic and a dang good one at that. That's one question I asked before I bought the truck there. He pulled a sample at my request and was able to tell me what I wanted to know in short order at the dealership.
Hope this helps!
Thread Starter
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Junior User
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 58
Likes: 0
From: Littleton, CO
I decided not to wait for nicer weather and went out in the snow and changed the fuel filters. Not fun. The frame rail filter had what appeared to be gel in it, it looked like butter and was collected on the bottom side of the housing. The filters did not look too bad, just discolored. cycled ignition 4 times until I heard the pump shut down and she fired right up on the 5th. no leaks- good to go.
Freshman User
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 28
Likes: 0
Hey It worked out OK. Good To hear. Us Old Boys in the Tundra known as the Midwest have experienced the gel problem too many times. Every winter we see a lot of big rigs that are shut down on the side of the Interstate beacuse they headed north without the winterized #2 fuel and got caught by the below 0 temps and 30 mph winds while traveling 60 mph+. A recipe for trouble. I fill up with #2 and also add the additive with every tank come winter and plug in the block heater every night. I have the 2008 F-350 Lariat 6.4 and over 105,000 miles with little problems. It is has been a great truck.
Banned
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 1,457
Likes: 0
From: Grande Prairie, AB
Glad you got er going!
I cant believe the whole time Ive lived up here Ive never had diesel gel on me!
I cant believe the whole time Ive lived up here Ive never had diesel gel on me!
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