Yesterday the truck ran fine. Last night about 9PM I saw the outside temp drop to about -6. Then later to about -12. Twice I started it, let it run for about 15 minutes then shut it down. Both times no issue. (And yes, it does have the high idle feature to prevent fuel stacking)

So this morning, I start it up...let it run for about 10 minutes then head out. About 2 miles down the road, I start losing power and the engine starts chugging. The damn thing couldn't even get out of its own way. Complete loss of power. Barely even make it up a hill. HAd to pull it down to 2nd gear just to get to the top.
So I crippled through a U-turn and about 1 mile back towards the house before I pulled over and called for a tow.

I was going to put fuel additive in last night when I topped off the tank but forgot so I figured I would do it in the morning. Too late!

No CEL, No smoke. If I let it sit for about 30 minutes, it will start just fine and idle fine and even start to move like normal but then a few seconds later, it starts with a slight chugging. If I give it any throttle, the chugging is more noticeable. Under load even worse.

I am thinking fuel gelling since I haven't used any additive at all yet and last night was the first time it got below 25 all year... and a fast drop too.

Thoughts?

 

Well, -12F will definitely cloud up your diesel! Get some DK911 and pour some in your fuel filter and tank. It may take a while to work through. You should consider a new filter.

 

Unfortunately this all happened at 4:30 this morning and I had to get to work so I stole my wife's car. The truck is at the shop.... I just kinda wanted to get an idea if I am looking at a couple of hundred to have them replace the filter and warm up the fuel system or if it going to cost me more than I have. The truck does have 284K on the clock... but it ran fine yesterday.

I had a half tank of fuel in it so while I was waiting for the tow truck I put in some the Diesel Kleen additive but that was just too little too late.

 

When fuel gels, water demulsifies out of the fuel and will accumulate in your filter. Diesel Kleen's 911 product will emulsify relatively large amounts of water back into your fuel so it will pass through your system.

If the shop charges you for the time the truck sits in the garage warming, the bill could be steep. It will take a while to get everything warm.

 

All they will HAVE to do is park it in the warm shop for a couple hours, change the filter and pour some additive in the tank so it won't gel again. If they charge a couple hundred I would ask for extra lubrication, some spooning time and a box of chocolate for the road...

The reason it ran for a few minutes is because there was fuel in the filter. The gelled go-juice was most likely in the 3/8" steel fuel line between the tank and pump or pump and engine. This smaller volume of fuel combined with thermal conductivity of the steel lines is more likely to thicken up. The added mass of the engine, larger quantity of fuel and slightly less exposed location of the filter can keep it from gelling there for longer.

I'd be tempted to remove the suction line from the pump and push a little air back to the tank and up to the open filter to expedite or eliminate the 'warming time'...

Good luck and keep us posted!

 

OK...I MAY have exaggerated a bit. This shop is actually the only one i will take my truck to around here. They are very honest and do great work. My wife's car had a slight oil leak she wanted them to fix. Instead, they recommended she switch oil brands and if it didn't work, then they would look at her car. Hasn't leaked since. They could have easily hosed her for something that wasn't needed. So I trust they will be honest about this and only charge when they actually have hands on.

 

Well as it turns out... Nasty air filter, (I had forgotten that I needed to change that), fuel filter ... Add a wick and call it a candle.
They topped off my tank, added some addititive that they use for the fuel gelling and fed clean warm fuel through the lines to make sure nothing was clogged in there. Total bill is $158. Not bad. Could of been worse.
Truck is running fine so I am picking it up on my way home.
AND... they got to it right away. It was dropped off this morning at opening time and it is already done.

 

That's not bad at all. Diesel is $3.80/gal here so just 10gals is almost $40, a $35 fuel filter, $15 air filter and a couple hours labor and they got to it right away - I think that is very fair. Glad ya got it workin' again!!!!!!

 

Service like that is why I always send people to them. I have never been dissastified with their work.

 

Check my post "loss of power" i hope the liner in fuel tank did not disntergrate like mine. Take oof tank and do the hutch mod also.
Hope that is not your problem.

 

I didn't see your thread yet, but the SD's have poly/plastic tanks. My cab-chassis F350 and your F450 have steel tanks... Yes, I have replaced the failed lining in my tank - and think the replacement liner needs to be replaced now... I blamed it on B100.

 

Whats the B100? I had an expoxy lining put back in my tank, they suggested i do that. I was a little skeptical. Did it anyway, they said thats the lining they put in all their gas tanks. Hopefully the low sulphur diesel fuel will not gel up the new liner. Let me know if yours goes bad again. That way i will know what to check if the same problem shows up again.
Thanks for your input.
Steve
PS I found out about the problem from Bob at Guzzle's Orings. Told him my symptons and he told me exactly what the problem was. And he was right. Yes I did have a metal tank.