At what temperature do I need to start adding anti-gel to fuel?

 

Depends on where you are at. In the southeast it gels around 8-10* depending on how much summer blend is mixed in the in ground tank. Up north it should be a colder temp than here.

 

Usually the area you are in prepares the diesel fuel appropriately. In Alaska we are running 100% D1 since October and without additives that reaches CFPP around -40F/C...

You should be more concerned at what temp you reach CFPP. (Cold Filter Plugging Point - or something like that) Anyhow, this is the temp diesel fuel won't pass thru your filter.

D2 (summer blend) with additives they say is good to 0F before it GELS, but I can tell you that D2 with additives can reach CFPP in the +teens Fahrenheit. And I even had a little Power Service arctic in it. Luckily, I was able to plug in and get some temp in the motor, more Power Service arctic and got it started. Then ran down to the fuel station to top off with D1 and didn't have any more issues, even down to -25F or so.

 

According to label on the bottle of PM-23, it should be added prior to the diesel cloud point which is 15°F.

 

I have the Diesel Sites fuel filter / water separator. I was worried about gelling so I went with the fuel heater. This coming winter will be the test

 

I did my monthly water separator check this last weekend while it was above freezing. I usually add PM-23 this time of year just to be extra cautious. I ran out of PM-23 and did not treat this fuel with any additives since pumping it at the station.

Placed the fuel outside overnight because I was curious to what the fuel would look like in the morning @ 5°F. Looks like they are adding enough anti-gel in my area.

 

My fuel gelled at around 10 degrees a couple weeks ago. Granted, I don't drive it much and it still has a full tank of summer blend diesel in it that I forgot to treat. I went to start it just to run it for a bit and it started and ran for about 5 seconds and then nothing. I put some Power Service anti-gel (white bottle) in it while it was around 20 degrees later that day and she started right up. First time I've ever had an issue, but it also hasn't been this cold in Ohio in many years.

 

I started mine the other morning after a few days, oil temp was 3 degrees, outside temp 5. No additives.


Fired right up and drove off as usual.


I will try to run an additive if it is going to be this cold for an extended period of time, but not here locally.

 

Maybe, but your wife is gonna kill you for hijacking that measuring cup!!

 

Oh yeah I caught hell for that years ago! I hijacked it during a painting project that required a catalyst with precise measurements and was forced to replace it or else.

I can't recall the or else but I'm still here to tell the story so I must have complied.

 

In WI, the winter blend roadmaster xl fuel at cenex stations is good to -30*f.

 

Placed 1 gal out last night, temp was 04 deg. Slight thickening but pored without issue into my bullet heater.

 

Up in northwest WI, we have had some cold mornings. Waking up to -15 F. Each morning after I start, I get a message on my screen that states, "Low Fuel Pressure". However, no issues with driving and. I hit OK and message goes away. I use Ford's PM 23 and winter blend diesel fuel that is good down to -30. Was just surprised to see this message. Never got the reduce power message. One time I even had truck plugged in for 2 hours prior.Was surprised to see the message.

 

I have had it starting to gel at +7 degrees F with PS winter in it and other times it runs fine at -13 degrees F with PS winter in it. It seems to gel in the first fuel filter (or a least get thick enough that it doesn't want to pass through easily. Multiple possible factors may be the issue, not the least of which is the quality of the diesel where I last filled up. I put in PS white once the temp drops to freezing and stay with it until spring.

 

It was 5°F this morning with the low reaching 1°F. No fuel issues in AL with a 21 hour soak. I use PM22A but have never added a specific cold weather additive (it's rarely this cold). Fuel quality is a decent factor in gel point.