I am concerned about the frame rail filter with gel issues. Older trucks had one element with a heater element - what about the newer trucks?

Have any of you had issues with gelling in 6.0 trucks? And if so, at what temperature did problems arise?

Thanks

mike

 

I always treat with Power Service diesel additive, the one for gelling when it drops down in the teens. I run several different tow trucks and haven't had a problem yet doing that. We sure tow alot of diesel vehicles for gelling if it stays down that low for very long especially if the wind is blowing hard too. It's not that expensive really since 1oz treats 3 gallons of fuel unless you live in low temp area where it stays real cold all winter and you burn alot of fuel.

 

There is no heater in the newer trucks, otherwise they are the same.

I live in a fairly warm climate and my experience with gelling has only been with Biodiesel. I carry a couple of 0.6 gallon doses of biodiesel as an additive for injector lubricity. As a test, I put a double dose of stanadyne in the bottles along with the Bio (just to have my additive package all together). I then put the bottle in the freezer and it went solid.

I then mixed it up with regular diesel at 5% with the proper Stanadyne amount and no issues. I plan on a test w/ B10 amd B20 in the future.

I have been happy with the Stanadyne, but have not had any extreme cold experience. The Power Service is well talked about, especially at "double dose" amounts.

 

Sorry quick question- we use Polar Power at work for the equiptment. I may have procured a bottle or 2 and wondered if anyone uses/used it and any +'s or -'s? Just for the record I have always used PS white and grey, but since it's free maybe switch every other tank, or mix? What'cha got for me, Mark?

 

I live in CO. and the only problems I have ever had with gelling is when I was running my own bio fuel. Yes, I made it myself. 2 Winters ago I had 1 gelling issue. I nolonger make my own fuel and no place around to buy bio blends, so I just run it straight from the pump. I only use the grey bottle of power service ( I know the white bottle is for cold climates but I really don't think there is much of a difference). Last weekend we set a record for cold temp on that peticular day of -7. My truck fired up fine (plugged in for the night) and I drove around all day. No issues whatsoever. I believe that in most cold climate areas they switch out to a winter blend at the pump anyway. You shouldn't have any worries.

 

I use PowerService in the white bottle for winter driving.

I use double-dose treatment and have never thought twice about it.

PowerService combines cetane, injector cleaners, lubricity and anti-gel additives. Many other brands do not offer all of these in one bottle... so be careful.

I double-dose year-round (grey bottle/non anti-gel for 3 seasons and white bottle/anti-gel for winter). Diesel fuel is such poor quality and I beieve that running this product and the amount I do has allowed me to run my 2003 Excurstion 6.0L for 134,000 trouble-free miles.

I still have the original EGR valve, EGR cooler, Turbo and all 8 injectors. I believe that the cleaner burn of my Powerservice treated fuel makes for a cleaner EGR valve and overall performance.

Also, use Racor made, Int'l or Motorcraft fuel filters. They have the correct filtration necessary and the micron specification of both filters is correct to allow efficient flow of the fuel... even in cold temperatures. "Will-fit" fuel filters do not filter and seperate water as well as the Racor made ones, nor is their micron rating standardized and maintained.

MAIN WEB SITE LINK:
Power Service Products, diesel fuel additives, prevent gelling, clean injectors, disperse water, boost cetane, reduce emissions, improve fuel economy

Here is the anti-gel product I use and recommend:
http://powerservice.com/dfs/default.asp?view=app

Good luck.....

 

Beachbum, question for you> whats your location?? FL?

 

FPPF additives are pretty well thought of from reading I did a long time ago - but I have not ever heard of Polar Power. The specs on the Polar Power state that it does not contain alcohol which Ford recommends. The "Spicer" study on fuel additives rated one FPPF product fairly high.

The only thing that would get me to wondering is the property of being a water dispersant. Ford recommends a water de-mulsifier (to improve the ability of the HFCM to remove the water). I am not sure how the dispersant properties would fit into that philosophy. That being said, several other commonly used additives (and highly recommended) are water emulsifiers - so it seems to be an "open" issue.

 

Kansas City... we are heading to +2F tonight and -15 windchills.

 

Be careful... I have spken to Powerserice a few times (very helpful people) about their products.

I would use the white bottle and maybe even double-dose. Why... the reason for the lower cetane amount of the white bottle versus their grey bottle product is the need for space (in the bottle) to add the "anti-gel" additve.


Grey bottle improves up to 6 numbers of cetane and the white bottle up to 4. The difference is the addition of the anti-gel.

Why risk it... there is no way if our fuel filters gel-up that any of us are going to crawl underneath the truck and try to remove, change or thaw them out. I personally will always double-dose in the winter with the white bottle anti-gel of Powerservice and will never think twice about it... even if the gas station treats their winter fuel... I trust myself, not them to do it right!!!!

 

Beachbum, I certainlyunderstand your concern. But using your rational, let me ask you another question. When you get a flu shot, do you get 2 of them? I think if you have so much faith in the product, then why not have the faith in the products recomendations as pertaining to usage. I use power service and I too have faith in the product. Just not to the extent of doubling up on it. Waste of money. In cold climates, the diesel fuel at the pump is the winter blend. Use the white bottle if you think you need to. At -7 and no problems without the white bottle, (and how often does it really get that cold in my area...not too often) Ill be fine. Beachbum, Im just trying to understand your rational. BTW, Do you live in Fl as you profile states?.....Nevermind that last ? KC isn't too far from me. Climate wise we are probable about the same as far as cold temps go. I suppose if it gives you peace of mind to double up then thats the way you should go.

 

Our 7.3s have a heating element in the bottom of the fuel filter base. Do the 6.0 trucks have an element in the secondary filter (on top of motor) and no element on frame rail filter?

If so, is the gelling issue at the first filter?

Does anyone know at what temp issues arise with untreated #2 diesel in the 6.0 truck?

 

The heating elememt on the top of the motor is..........well...the motor. In the tech manual at the top of the forum under fuel supply shows a pic of the rail unit with a heater element. Mine does not have one (06) and I don't know what year they quit using them. As far as your question about what temp #2 gels at, you might do a search online.

 

In the 2 minutes since I last posted, I found this:

Best Answer - Chosen by Voters

It depends on the grade of diesel fuel, the additives in the fuel, and water contamination.

When the temperature drops, wax crystals can form in the fuel, plugging the fuel filter and/or fuel line. This will prevent the engine from running.

Diesel fuel #2 should resist gelling down to about -10 deg. F (-23 deg. C), while winter blends of diesel fuel #2 and fuel #1 (kerosene) can typically handle temperatures down to -4 degrees F to -20 deg. F. But some "winter" blends may gel at higher temperatures if it contains too much #2 diesel and not enough #1 (say around 18 to 20 degrees F).

The pour point of the fuel (the point at which it starts to gel) can be lowered by additives, and my using heaters in the fuel filter, fuel tank and around the fuel line.


The truck doesn't run. If the fuel gels in the fuel line it stops the flow of fuel to the engine and the engine won't start or run.

• <ABBR title="2007-01-20 20:00:53">1 year ago</ABBR>

 

I am in Northern BC Canada. This morning it is -35 C, or 25 below 0 F. Plus windchill. I hardly ever add antigel, ussually in the start and end of season, when the commercial pumps are labelled - 10 C fuel and I know the forecast is for -20 or so. Other than that I would say I add Fords products or PowerService at regular dose every 2 or 3 tanks, perhaps a bit more in winter for the extra protection. Mind you, we have lots of diesels up here and lots of big trucks and equipment in the bush, forestry, mining, oil and gas. So, the fuel is generally good. I really notice the loss of fuel economy on extreme winter fuel, labelled - 30 or -35 C blend. Then I do what Beach Bum does and double dose to get the max cetane boost I can. I have never had an issue touch wood, with my 6.0. Yes I believe there is a small heater on the frame rail filter. The engine block heats the upper filter. I have experienced the fun of thawing a gelled up tractor and it wasn't fun, so I am a bit cautious and really am careful when I fuel up. If you are filling up retail and the pumps are not labelled I would be doing what Beach Bum does and dosing every tank to be safe if the forecast is showing colder temps for the time I will be using the fuel.