Fuel Freeze?
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Senior User
Joined: Oct 2007
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From: Oklahoma
Fuel Freeze?
Well I just had a first. the ambient temp was -15 in N.E. Oklahoma this morning and the truck fired right up (had it plugged in) and ran great for about the first 3o miles, then it became very sluggish and died. It would act like it wanted to start but wouldn't. Had it towed and the shop a heater under the truck near the fuel filter and after about 30 minutes it fired right up. I then put some Diesel Kleen in with a top off of diesel and no more problems. At what temp does diesel need to be treated so as not to freeze/gel? Granted this is the coldest climate my truck has ever been in, but even last winter this never happened and we were down around 0deg. a few times.
New User
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 16
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From: Nowata
It was -31 deg. this morning in NE Oklahoma when I started to work. Ran fine for about ten miles then sputtered and died. Got it started, but 35mph was top speed. Pulled the filter and replaced it. This is what it looked like.
Post Fiend
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 9,293
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From: Parker, CO
I have fuel gelling issues when temps get down in the single digits. Depending on where you live, and where you fuel up, the additives and the winter blend may be slightly different. Some fuels at certain stations might gel quicker than others.
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Senior User
Joined: Oct 2007
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From: Oklahoma
I've read aout the wax falling out of the fuel when it gets cold. Is the HFCM supposed to help avoid this issue? I've read that it is supposed to heat the fuel, although with the fuel lines exposed under the truck and temps like we had this morning, not sure it would even help.
Lead Driver
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 8,180
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From: Scio, OR
HFCM's up through 2004 had fuel heaters in them. But, like you said, I doubt they will heat the fuel enough to do much good at -15 or -30 degree's.
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Junior User
Joined: Jan 2011
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From: Alberta, Canada
You must have very crappy fuel where you are at. Never ever added antigel to my fuel, and the coldest it has gotten is 49 C, Truck runs fine.
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Junior User
Joined: Mar 2005
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I know that the local "Holiday" fuel stations here in MN have different "Winter" blends dependant on which month it is. Currently, it is for the coldest temp of -30 degrees Farenheight from December through February. I believe that it is "Winterized" based on your regional area "Winter" norm temps.
New User
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 16
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From: Nowata
-31 was the coldest recorded temp ever in the state. The day before it was around -18 and mine ran fine. I don't think, short of driving up north, that I'm gonna find fuel in the area that is ready for those temps. Doesn't mean it's crappy fuel. No one thought it would get that cold. It would be cost prohibitive to sell winterized fuel this far south for a once in a decade cold spell.
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