what temp will diesel start to gel?
 

Hello I will be going to Lake Tahoe for New Years and wanted to know at what temp do I need to start to worry about the diesel gelling.

I can only speak for my VA weather, but I think it got down to 8* at the lowest here last year. I didn't have a problem and I don't use any fuel additives. The winter blend most companies start using around winter time have some of the additives that help prevent gelling, but nothing is perfect. Some of the other folks will be along to tell you what they use exactly, because my 8* is nothing compared to what other members see on a daily basis in the winter.

It really depends on the winter blend.

ULSD gels easier than LSD. Some stations sell a better winter blend than others that gels at lower temps. Last winter I found two local stations here with fuel that would consistently gel when temps fell into the teens. If I didn't run some anti-gel additive, my truck wouldn't start.

Before ULSD, I never had a problem... even at -25 degrees. Now, I have to keep a bottle on hand in the winter.

Diesel will start to change, depending on blend and variety, as high as around 40 degrees. At that temp, it can start to cloud as the wax particulates start to solidify... not a major problem, but still leaves you with tiny particulates that are going to be there even after you warm up the system. This isn't likely to cause any issue in your fuel system, as at this temperature as it is more likely to dissolve from engine heat if you properly warm up your engine and glow plugs. Gelling is the next stage beyond Clouding, where the next level of solidifying begins. At this point the actual fuel is starting to change and create heavier crystalline particles. This can happen as warm as 35 degrees without winterized fuel if the the particulate content is high enough. Suck enough of this stuff into your fuel lines and filter, and you are going to have problems. Think "clogged arteries" and "truck angioplasty". (It's a bigger problem with biodiesel, and since I try to run about 80% biodiesel I am getting a quick and dirty education on this right now as it has been about 38 here at night as of late and I've been dealing with some rough starts even at 44 degrees.)

I have had mine gel only once. 12-31-08 in Roseau, mn. It was -30 out and I had filled up from a station that doesn't sell much diesel the day before. I was using and additive but the fuel I got was horrible (sat way to long). That was the only time I had it gel up in 3 1/2 years.

I don't take any chances. I run the white bottle of PowerService in the winter. I know they don't sell D1 here, so just in case I put in the PS winter stuff.

If I were you, I'd put white PS in your tank for the trip there, and bring a jug of the red PS Diesel 911 just in case. I KNOW it gets cold in Reno. I was there last year in 3' of snow. x(

Also if u have prepump filters or a air dog type of pump it will gel faster.
The reason is cold wind at sriving speed we have had this happen to our Mack RD

I've always followed the advice/recommendations here and use the white DK. I keep a bottle of the red under the seat just in case. Wally world has it pretty cheap and it is as easy as it gets. Last winter at -18 in Steamboat I had no problems.

I agree with both Izzy and Rat. I run 1005 Bio in my truck 11 months out of the year. I run abt B80 in the dec-Jan time frame. Yes I am in PHX AZ. But it does get cold here around 30* some nights in that time frame. Never had a gelling issue till I installed a prepump filter. and it bucked and stumbled like it was out of fuel. I now run the b80 along with the white PS. Haven't had an issue since. In either of my trucks. I run the white PS just in case from thanksgiving to Presidents day. Just to be safe. cause I go back to B100. etc.

So that being said. Get the PS and run it in the truck b4 and during your trip to tahoe. Cheap insurance., Good for the truck anyway