Got a question for my fellow strokers...can anyone recommend a "good", as in "does what it says it will do" fuel supplement? I'm in Colorado and the last two days have been -7 (-32 w/wind chill), and -17 (-40 w/wind chill). Knowing that the weather was about to kick our butts I fueled up and gave the fuel a double dose(16oz) of supplement. Even at -17 degrees this morning with the truck plugged in all night, she fired right up! So what's the complaint? Well, after letting her warm up for 15mins I got in and drove away...only to end up stopping 1.1miles down the road! Then I added a full 32oz of the Diesel 911 additive(tank and filter), waited approximate 20mins and voila, she fired right up and I drove her away...only to die again .5miles down the road. Arrrrgh!
I know it was cold but with as much additive that was fully mixed w/the fuel and the 911 stuff as well, there is no way the fuel should have jelled up! Is it the location of the filter (under cab-drivers side on my 2008)? Is there any sort of weather protection/insulators that can be put around the filter? Any suggestions appreciated...

 

Power Service Diesel Kleen. White bottle in the winter, grey bottle in the summer. I've run it ever since I bought the truck at Courtesy Ford at Broadway and C470 in Littleton, CO.

Waxing can happen in some of the lines sometimes, windchill can freeze fuel lines and not affect the tank or even the filters at all. Just run a full 16oz bottle (treats 40 gallons) in each 36/36 gallon tank, and you should be fine.

 

Bryan: I hear ya...and thats what I used, PSD Kleen-white bottle. I even had 1/2 tank of fuel when I added the supplement at 2x recommended (16oz). After it died 1mile down the road, I added 32oz of the 911...and that didn't help much either. Might be the waxing thing, might be a bad EGR too. All I know is that I use the additive and it still failed. Thanks for the feedback.

 

my guess is a waxing thing. When was the last time you drained the fuel/water separator? How did the fuel come out? fast or slow? Might be an indication that it needs a cleaning.

 

With temps that cold you just have to be prepared. How 'bout your fuel filters...when was your last change? If you've loaded them up without de-icer (yup, I use the Diesel Kleen too), you may have wax or excess water in the filters.

Joe

 

Pouring ANY additive in, AFTER the fact, won't do much of anything. Not only do you have to add fuel on top of it to mix it properly, you have to get the additive COMPLETELY through ALL the lines before it does any good. The tank could be liquid; the primary filter clean and properly passing fuel, but you've still got slushy/frozen fuel halfway between the primary and the secondary. At that point, all you can do is drag the truck to a warm shop and let it thaw for a couple of days.

Use the white bottle PowerService as many as 2 days before you know the cold weather is going to hit. Double treat if necessary.

-blaine

 

what was your fuel pressure? did it drop before your truck died?

 

When the primary fuel filter gets filled with wax, you really need to replace it with a new filter. The 911 and anti-gel does not clean the filter out.

I had the identical problem that you reported. When I pulled the filter after treating the fuel, it was covered with a thick wax. This stuff did not melt even when warmed up to room temperature.

Time to change that filter.

Lou Braun

 

i live in upstate new york it gets to -25 at times,my recipe for fuel is with every fillup(37gal tank)i add 5 gallons of hess clear kero,4 oz's of silver power service cetane booster(6.0s love high cetane ratings and 4 oz's of wally world ashless 2 stroke oil.new fuel filters early dec. runs like a top and starts unplugged @ -20.early 03 ,193,000 and running great.

 

Thanks one and all. Just to clear things up a bit here's how it went. I had 1/2 tank of fuel, added 16oz of the diesel kleen anti-gel supplement (which is 2x more than manufacturer says was needed), and then filled the tank with #2 diesel. After filling up, I then drove 45minutes before I was home. More than long enough for the mix to pass through lines and filters. By the way, I drained the water from my filters 2 weeks ago and the filters were new 2mos ago. When I broke down I removed the filter resevoirs/filter and added 50% 911 and 50% non-gelled diesel to them...as directed. The remainder of the 32oz 911 bottle went into the tank. I then allowed the truck to sit 30mins (2x more than diesel kleen said) so the tank fuel could re-liquefy...per the diesel kleen directions. After 30mins the truck started right up! I sat and let it idle for another 10mins and proceeded to take her home...when I broke down .5miles down the road again...fuel had gelled again. Had it towed to Ford Dealer and not only was the fuel in the filter gelled again, but the tank was as well. After adding approx 48oz of supplement to a 24gal tank there is no way it should have gelled! Long story I know. The truck is home, running smooth and all Ford did was let her warm up AND add Ford brand anti-gel to the tank...Total cost for repairs: $9.47. My dealer took care of me, thats all I can say! As for Diesel Kleen...I'll be looking for/trying some other product after this experience. By the way, I used Diesel Kleen last winter with no problems down to 0 degrees as that is as cold as it got here last winter...but I wont trust it below that anymore.