Cold weather issue
Logistics Pro
Joined: May 2011
Posts: 4,832
Likes: 668
From: Maine
Kerosene contains less energy (measured in British Thermal Units or BTUs) than diesel fuel which results in decreased engine power and fuel economy. Kerosene has an average BTU content of approximately 133,500 per gallon and diesel fuel has an average BTU content of approximately 139,500 per gallon.
When using a 50/50 kerosene blend, BTU content is approximately 136,500 or two percent less than diesel fuel. The resulting fuel economy and power loss is also about two percent.
Kerosene provides only a small amount of increased cold flow operability. Kerosene will decrease the CFPP by 2ºF for every 10% kerosene used. Diesel fuel additives, on the other hand, will reduce the CFPP by as much as 35°F- 45°F.
Kerosene contains less lubricity than diesel fuel. Diesel fuel lubricity is a major concern because of Ultra Low Sulfur Diesel (ULSD). ULSD contains significantly less lubricity than Low Sulfur Diesel (LSD). As a result, metal components in the fuel system, including fuel pumps and injectors, are susceptible to premature failure. Many diesel fuel additives will actually increase overall fuel system lubricity.
Kerosene contains less cetane than diesel fuel. Cetane is the most universally accepted measure of diesel fuel ignition quality. Proper ignition during the combustion cycle is essential for optimum operation, economics, and durability. Insufficient cetane levels lead to hard starting, longer warm-ups, and heavy white smoke.
When using a 50/50 kerosene blend, BTU content is approximately 136,500 or two percent less than diesel fuel. The resulting fuel economy and power loss is also about two percent.
Kerosene provides only a small amount of increased cold flow operability. Kerosene will decrease the CFPP by 2ºF for every 10% kerosene used. Diesel fuel additives, on the other hand, will reduce the CFPP by as much as 35°F- 45°F.
Kerosene contains less lubricity than diesel fuel. Diesel fuel lubricity is a major concern because of Ultra Low Sulfur Diesel (ULSD). ULSD contains significantly less lubricity than Low Sulfur Diesel (LSD). As a result, metal components in the fuel system, including fuel pumps and injectors, are susceptible to premature failure. Many diesel fuel additives will actually increase overall fuel system lubricity.
Kerosene contains less cetane than diesel fuel. Cetane is the most universally accepted measure of diesel fuel ignition quality. Proper ignition during the combustion cycle is essential for optimum operation, economics, and durability. Insufficient cetane levels lead to hard starting, longer warm-ups, and heavy white smoke.
Hotshot
Joined: Oct 2015
Posts: 19,687
Likes: 12,812
From: Wyoming
50/50 of #1 and #2.
I ran a tank of #1 a couple years ago when the station didn't have their winter blend yet and I knew it was going to get cold. Probably 35 gallons of #1 in a 48 gallon tank. Had I thought about it, I would have tried for more of a 50/50 ratio.
I ran a tank of #1 a couple years ago when the station didn't have their winter blend yet and I knew it was going to get cold. Probably 35 gallons of #1 in a 48 gallon tank. Had I thought about it, I would have tried for more of a 50/50 ratio.
Cargo Master
Joined: May 2001
Posts: 3,208
Likes: 13
Refiners here in the plain states shoot for a gel point 14 degree's and they get pretty close to that. So it only got to 2 degrees here yesterday. Some distributors will treat there fuel to zero but not all so you don’t know. There are a number of good additives to help get the gel point down. I always treat all my diesel with the amount listed for extreme cold.
Hotshot
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 10,137
Likes: 7,948
From: Texas
Back in my trucking days, running in ND, MT, and Sask. I would blend at least 70% #1 fuel when the temps were going to be sub-zero for extended times and I was not going to be shutting the engine off.
Or buy fuel from stations that I knew were importing fuel from Canada. If I was getting close to time to go home for a couple day where I was shutting the truck off I would run my tank as low as possible, then top off with straight #1.
Of course, what I mainly was hauling was transport loads of gasoline and diesel fuel to distributors and truckstops so I had a pretty good idea of who was selling what products, and where to find the good stuff!
EDIT: PS. fuel does not need to actuall “gel” to stop things up. The fuel can still be liquid and pour, but the parrafin in the fuel will crystalize and this is what plugs your filters and stops things up. Running in the north land it is always wise to carry an extra set of filter with you just for these situations.
Or buy fuel from stations that I knew were importing fuel from Canada. If I was getting close to time to go home for a couple day where I was shutting the truck off I would run my tank as low as possible, then top off with straight #1.
Of course, what I mainly was hauling was transport loads of gasoline and diesel fuel to distributors and truckstops so I had a pretty good idea of who was selling what products, and where to find the good stuff!
EDIT: PS. fuel does not need to actuall “gel” to stop things up. The fuel can still be liquid and pour, but the parrafin in the fuel will crystalize and this is what plugs your filters and stops things up. Running in the north land it is always wise to carry an extra set of filter with you just for these situations.
Lead Driver
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 5,217
Likes: 4,223
From: Kaysville Utah
For my own clarity, the heating of the diesel fuel is passive, only because the lines and upper fuel filter are next to the engine, right? There's no active heating?
If the above is true, It seems like it could take a good while for the engine to get hot enough to warm the fuel.
If the above is true, It seems like it could take a good while for the engine to get hot enough to warm the fuel.
Hotshot
Joined: Jul 2013
Posts: 14,241
Likes: 2,179
so just to be clear...warming diesel that already is gelled will not "ungel" it.
gelling is the attraction and binding of wax which increases when diesel reaches its clouding point. this will vary temp wise depending on the composition of the fuel.
as the fuel gets colder the wax particles attract and bind forming a wax concentration which looks like a white vasoline .
I did a test involving putting 1 gallon of deisel out over night on a cold night ( 10 - 15 degrees) . this was pump diesel untreated but bought during the winter so ssumed to be winterized in some way.
I used a set of stacked pail strainers . 200, 100, 75, 50, 25 micron.
surrpsingly...the wax passed thru all the filters excepted for the 25 micron one...clogged it right up. I didnt have a screen lower than 25 microns so I dont know if a 20, 15, 10 micron screen would get clogged once the 25 micron screen captures what it captured.
so back to our trucks...I would imagine that the pick up tube will get a good doese of the wax before the filters. so its possible that the tube is clogged even though the filters were changed.
gelling is the attraction and binding of wax which increases when diesel reaches its clouding point. this will vary temp wise depending on the composition of the fuel.
as the fuel gets colder the wax particles attract and bind forming a wax concentration which looks like a white vasoline .
I did a test involving putting 1 gallon of deisel out over night on a cold night ( 10 - 15 degrees) . this was pump diesel untreated but bought during the winter so ssumed to be winterized in some way.
I used a set of stacked pail strainers . 200, 100, 75, 50, 25 micron.
surrpsingly...the wax passed thru all the filters excepted for the 25 micron one...clogged it right up. I didnt have a screen lower than 25 microns so I dont know if a 20, 15, 10 micron screen would get clogged once the 25 micron screen captures what it captured.
so back to our trucks...I would imagine that the pick up tube will get a good doese of the wax before the filters. so its possible that the tube is clogged even though the filters were changed.
FTE Legend
Joined: Mar 2017
Posts: 31,792
Likes: 9,121
From: Western NY
so just to be clear...warming diesel that already is gelled will not "ungel" it.
gelling is the attraction and binding of wax which increases when diesel reaches its clouding point. this will vary temp wise depending on the composition of the fuel.
as the fuel gets colder the wax particles attract and bind forming a wax concentration which looks like a white vasoline .
I did a test involving putting 1 gallon of deisel out over night on a cold night ( 10 - 15 degrees) . this was pump diesel untreated but bought during the winter so ssumed to be winterized in some way.
I used a set of stacked pail strainers . 200, 100, 75, 50, 25 micron.
surrpsingly...the wax passed thru all the filters excepted for the 25 micron one...clogged it right up. I didnt have a screen lower than 25 microns so I dont know if a 20, 15, 10 micron screen would get clogged once the 25 micron screen captures what it captured.
so back to our trucks...I would imagine that the pick up tube will get a good doese of the wax before the filters. so its possible that the tube is clogged even though the filters were changed.
gelling is the attraction and binding of wax which increases when diesel reaches its clouding point. this will vary temp wise depending on the composition of the fuel.
as the fuel gets colder the wax particles attract and bind forming a wax concentration which looks like a white vasoline .
I did a test involving putting 1 gallon of deisel out over night on a cold night ( 10 - 15 degrees) . this was pump diesel untreated but bought during the winter so ssumed to be winterized in some way.
I used a set of stacked pail strainers . 200, 100, 75, 50, 25 micron.
surrpsingly...the wax passed thru all the filters excepted for the 25 micron one...clogged it right up. I didnt have a screen lower than 25 microns so I dont know if a 20, 15, 10 micron screen would get clogged once the 25 micron screen captures what it captured.
so back to our trucks...I would imagine that the pick up tube will get a good doese of the wax before the filters. so its possible that the tube is clogged even though the filters were changed.
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Hotshot
Joined: Jul 2013
Posts: 14,241
Likes: 2,179
thats correct.
basic diesel bought in winter assumed to be "winterized " by many.
More Turbo
Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 538
Likes: 45
From: Lansing, MI
Fun fact! While reading through this thread I noticed mentions of both -40F and -40C for gel points. I suspected maybe a typo so off to the conversion website I went. Turns out -40F equals -40C. Who knew 
Coincidence or not??
Coincidence or not??
Hotshot
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 10,137
Likes: 7,948
From: Texas
That was how we determined if it was colder in North Dakota at -40*F or Saskatchewan at -40*C!!!!!! LOL
5th Wheeling
Joined: Apr 2021
Posts: 41
Likes: 36
From: Free State
Does Ford allow #1 mixes? I would think not due to lack of lubricity in #1 and damage to the fuel system from using it. Adding some gas is supposed to drop the cold filter plug point as well but can damage fuel pump as well. Doesn't Ford specify only #2? Is there any way to know if the fuel a station is selling has additives added for cold weather? I've never seen anything on a pump about this. They should be required to post the CFPP temperature the fuel is blended for.
Hotshot
Joined: Oct 2015
Posts: 19,687
Likes: 12,812
From: Wyoming
Does Ford allow #1 mixes? I would think not due to lack of lubricity in #1 and damage to the fuel system from using it. Adding some gas is supposed to drop the cold filter plug point as well but can damage fuel pump as well. Doesn't Ford specify only #2? Is there any way to know if the fuel a station is selling has additives added for cold weather? I've never seen anything on a pump about this. They should be required to post the CFPP temperature the fuel is blended for.
You should use Ultra-Low Sulfur Diesel
fuel (also known as ULSD) designated as
number 1-D or 2-D with a maximum of
15-ppm sulfur in your diesel vehicle. You
may operate your vehicle on diesel fuels
containing up to 20% biodiesel, also
known as B20. These fuels should meet
the ASTM D975 diesel or the ASTM D7467
B6-B20 biodiesel industry specifications.
fuel (also known as ULSD) designated as
number 1-D or 2-D with a maximum of
15-ppm sulfur in your diesel vehicle. You
may operate your vehicle on diesel fuels
containing up to 20% biodiesel, also
known as B20. These fuels should meet
the ASTM D975 diesel or the ASTM D7467
B6-B20 biodiesel industry specifications.
Winter blend diesel is #1 and #2.