Ok so most everyone who owns a Diesel knows that they have a bit of trouble starting when it is cold (Especially older models). The reason for this is Diesel fuel begins to gel at about 35 °F, but sometimes is still hard to get started at cool temperatures like 50 °F. The Diesel gel clogs the fuel lines and the filter making it very difficult to start, and leaving the operator very frustrated!
Although many diesels have plugs to warm the cylinders it is still inconvenient, and if you happen to be somewhere with out an outlet to plug your vehicle up then you could be stuck freezing your butt off while trying to get the engine to turn on. Besides glow plugs and newer arrangement of fuel lines there are always additives that you can mix with Diesel to lower the temperature that it gels at but still who wants to pay for them? I know i wouldn't want to.

So what else can be done. Well I'm wondering if insulating the fuel lines/fuel tank will keep the Diesel warm so it won't gel. My personal idea was using either spray on insulation foam or some type of material to wrap the lines in and then use aluminum tape to wrap it up. For the tank it would probably be more likely to use spray on foam though and not use the tape. I would like to hear what yall think, any advise or other ideas would be greatly appreciated! Thanks

 

You have a problem with the truck not a fuel problem. It has to get way below 35 for fuel to gell. If your truck has trouble starting at 50 you probably have a glow plug or relay problem. I don't even plug mine in until it gets below zero. My guess is your gpr is shot. Turn the key and run out and lay a screwdriver across it for about 30 seconds go back in and crank it. I bet she fires right up.
Welcome to fte by the way!

 

First off, Welcome to FTE!

Secondly, Fuel gel's well below 35... Water doesn't even freeze at 35.

You have a cold start issue that needs addressing...

Here is a good thread to do some testing. https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/4...ke-thread.html

 

well just my fast thoughts, I live in the cold area and the additive is fairly cheap. they used to make little anti gelling sticks you could drop into the tank in bad weather. as for a spray on foam thing im not sure how well that can help. with mine i really found plugging it in was a benefit, i had little problems starting my 96 PS in 17 deg weather. but for me i only have 3 or 4 months of problem weather.

 

X2 on that GPR the stock ones go out like crazy. try a stancor one they supposedly last alot longer. just installed mine a few weeks ago. so far so good.

 

Well does anyone think you could prevent gelling by insulation?

 

Well I would say no. because insulation doesnt warm anything up. it merely inhibits the loss of heat. so that means the fuel would have to be warm in the first place. i have heard of people using those magnetic oil pan heaters to keep things warm. this requires a 110 outlet though. (preferrably one that doesnt already have your block heater plugged into it.)

 

For a very short period of time, yes. R-value is the resistance of heat flow. Your fuel lines don't exactly have a lot of heat to lose, so a well insulated fuel line will lose the little bit of heat it has over an 8 hour period or so.

I think insulating the lines would be a waste of time.

 

Thanks guys ill have to check out my glow plug

 

mine still starts pretty good at 10 below. If I keep up on batteries and anti gel. And a new starter once and a while. last one lasted 240,000. Never changed my glow plugs or relay. i wouldn't spray foam unless you are going to coat it with something or you might soak up all that road salt from that frozen waste land you're living in. But ya, most of the times I've gelled up is when I was going down the road. Wind chill I guess. Always put anti gel in when it gets below 0. They blend diesel alot more then in the past. Other wise mix it with some #1. or straight #1 should never gel up. or start your truck every several hours if it's really cold. That won't stop the fuel from gelling though. Better yet just leave it run all night Ha ha.Or move to where it doesn't get insanely cold.

 

Your GPR will stay activated for 2 minutes or so even though your WTS goes off in 20 seconds or so. I would wait 2 minutes with the ignition "ON" before trying to start it.