Winter Diesel

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Jan 21, 2004 | 03:48 PM

fordblue_ca

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From: Coquitlam, BC Canada

Winter Diesel

Should you still use an additive if the area where you are has winter diesel?. Is it a good thing to use a conditioner anyways?

Thanks

Joey

Jan 21, 2004 | 04:10 PM

Quadzilla

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From: Bonney Lake, WA

When winter fuel is all that's available, adding an additive is an excellent idea. When fuel is "winterized", the additives that keep it from gelling reduce the cetane rating. Additives boost the cetane rating to compensate.

Jan 21, 2004 | 04:56 PM

danielboone4

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From: Belton, MO

If the fuel already has anti-gelling additive do you not need to worry about your own additive having an anti-gelling substance. For example is the White Power Service bottle (w/ anti-gelling) uneccessary. Would it be better to buy the grey bottle which has the higher cetane boost even in the winter?

Jan 21, 2004 | 05:09 PM

Quadzilla

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From: Bonney Lake, WA

That depends on the geographical area the fuel was formulated for. Here in the Seattle area, the weather is relatively mild in the winter, compared to a lot of places. The truck stop that I buy fuel at, has a sign posted, that the fuel they sell is formulated for this area. If I were an OTR driver fueling up, and heading east over the Cascades, I'd probably treat the fuel with additional protection from gelling. If you typically stay fairly close to home, the fuel you buy has probably been formulated so that additional anti-gel additives aren't needed. You'd have to make that call yourself.

Jan 21, 2004 | 10:35 PM

bender97f250

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From: Northeast,PA

If you dont want to use a additive but worried about the fuel gelling, put a few gallons of kerosene in your tanks when you decide to fill them up. I usually run about three gallon per full tank. Works for me.

Jan 22, 2004 | 04:41 AM

alanscott

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From: Western Colorado USA

Quote:

Originally posted by Quadzilla
When winter fuel is all that's available, adding an additive is an excellent idea. When fuel is "winterized", the additives that keep it from gelling reduce the cetane rating. Additives boost the cetane rating to compensate.

Typically, "winterized" diesel is a blend of #1(kerosene) and #2 and the lower cetane rating is the result of the #1.

A "pour point" additive lowers the gelling point of the fuel and does nothing to the cetane rating. You'd be better off finding straight #2 with the additive than using a winterized #1/#2 blend because the cetane rating will be higher.

Jan 22, 2004 | 05:53 AM

Quadzilla

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From: Bonney Lake, WA

alanscott- you make a good point, but it's hard to tell what individual truck stops have done to winterize their fuel. The folks behind the counter don't know.