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Do I need to winterize?

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Old Jan 14, 2007 | 02:51 PM
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Question Do I need to winterize?

Seeing as how I live about 25 miles from Houston and it never really gets cold here I haven't had to worry too much about cold starts and plugging the truck in or adding anti gel to the fuel supply. That might change tomorrow. Our forecast is for freezing temps, wintery mix, sleet and freezing rain. This is all supposed to start tomorrow, mid afternoon. Anyway, I went and dropped my block heater cord down so I can get to it and I have a heavy duty extension cord ready but my main concern is the fuel.

Do I need to go and get some of the white bottle Diesel Kleen and put it in there? Right now the tank is full to the cap and it has 16 oz of the silver bottle DK in it. I don't want to go out to the truck Tuesday morning to find an diesel slushy like bigcountry560 posted about.

Please advise.
 
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Old Jan 14, 2007 | 03:43 PM
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Last winter when i first bought my truck i did not run any additives and i was fine when i ran it. But here in michigan they also have winter blend diesel, i dont know if they have it in texas though.
 
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Old Jan 14, 2007 | 03:45 PM
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Fuel was never a problem when I lived in Houston, and the temps dropped below freezing.
 
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Old Jan 14, 2007 | 03:46 PM
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No winter blend diesel down here, at least I haven't seen it. I buy my fuel at Exxon. Would it hurt anything to add a half a bottle of gray DK to this tank along with the silver that's already in there?

Does diesel fuel freeze up right away?
 
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Old Jan 14, 2007 | 03:46 PM
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at around the freezing point the 16oz of grey DK should be enough to keep it from gelling, if it gets down into the low 20s or teens, you might want to add some more.
 
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Old Jan 14, 2007 | 03:46 PM
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I wouldn't worry about it. I've never had a problem with fuel or starting here in Dallas. I never use the block heater either.
 
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Old Jan 14, 2007 | 03:51 PM
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Thanks for the info guys. I'm just going to use the block heater a couple of hours before launch time and wing the rest.
 
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Old Jan 14, 2007 | 03:54 PM
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Heck I rarely even plug mine in until it gets down into the low teens, and have even started it at below zero temps without plugging it in, yes it rattles a little at start up but starts just fine and I haven't even switched to synthetic oil yet, still using 15w-40 rotella.
 
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Old Jan 14, 2007 | 03:57 PM
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Also my dad still lives in Houston. He's had a diesel since 1992, and not once has the fuel ever gelled.
 
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Old Jan 14, 2007 | 04:09 PM
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With my last PSD (my '99) I never had any problems at all but it never got as cold as they are saying it's going to tomorrow. I have the feeling that once again they are overstating how cold it's gonna get here. I'm not going to worry about the fuel after reading what everyone has said and with your dad's experience.
 
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Old Jan 14, 2007 | 04:22 PM
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I wouldn't sweat it.
I don't plug in till it gets below 0 but I do run DK winter anti-gell
You could plug it in and not worry at all.
Also if you can sheild the front end by pulling behind a garage , next to a thick bush etc. it all helps.
 
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