View previous topic :: View next topic |
Author |
Message |
Byrdman
Joined: 06 Nov 2003 Posts: 3320 City/Region: Cumberland River, Clarksville,
State or Province: WA
Vessel Name: " ? " After Rename Ceremony
Photos: FreeByrd and C-Byrd
|
Posted: Mon Nov 28, 2005 10:31 am Post subject: Temperature and Diesel Fuel Additives |
|
|
At what point do those of you who power their tow vehicles with diesel start using a winter additive to keep the fuel from "gelling" and performing properly.
Thanks
Byrdman
FreeByrd & C-Byrd |
|
Back to top |
|
|
wailedcentipede
Joined: 13 Dec 2003 Posts: 199 City/Region: canada
State or Province: BC
Vessel Name: Blue Jay
|
Posted: Mon Nov 28, 2005 1:31 pm Post subject: |
|
|
in my youth i have seen stove oil turn to slush but your talking - 40
(Hayriver N.W.T.) trailered in with summer oil in the tanks
were i'm at now its lots of rain and than the occasional "artic outflow" in the winter which left me with a frozen gas line .. than a dead battery before i clued in (broke the gas line just loaded with ice at the filter)
when the artic outflows hit i add (menthy hydrate) additives to the tank for fear of frozen fuel line (water in the tank) i suspect diesels could end up with the same problem .... this past couple of winters their hasn't been much for cold winters ... climate change ??? wc |
|
Back to top |
|
|
B~C
Joined: 31 Oct 2003 Posts: 2861 City/Region: Bend
State or Province: OR
C-Dory Year: 1999
C-Dory Model: 22 Cruiser
Vessel Name: Blue~C
Photos: Blue~C
|
Posted: Mon Nov 28, 2005 3:16 pm Post subject: |
|
|
Most fuel suppliers will change to a winter diesel when it starts getting cold. ...at about 5 to -10 degrees, wax crystals start forming (depending on the blend) and screwing things up. If you're truckin around in the Bite arse cold zone (say 10 and below), some additive would be good. I worked one, and only one, winter in WY where the temp was stuck at about -30ish and some of the big rigs where having troubles with fuel systems, around the P.N.W it doesn't really get cold enough for that ugly wax buildup to be much of an issue. IF you don't drive the diesel tow rig much, you might add an anti biocide to keep critters from growing in your tank (if your fuel sits for much over six months)
my $0.02 _________________ Ken
1999 22' boaterhome |
|
Back to top |
|
|
Salty Dog
Joined: 22 Sep 2004 Posts: 104 City/Region: Traverse City
State or Province: MI
Photos: Salty Dog
|
Posted: Mon Nov 28, 2005 3:21 pm Post subject: |
|
|
I usually only put additive in mine when it's going to get extreme cold (less than 10 degrees F). If you have the engine block heater, just plug the truck in at night, and I've never had a problem of it not starting. One year the truck was parked at the public marina in Grand Marais, MI (on Lake Superior) between Christmas and New Years (wasn't boating, was snowmobiling instead) for 5 days straight without getting started and temperatures around 0 and windchills of about -40, not plugged in and she still started. I do believe I had added some fuel additive in the tanks, but that was it. |
|
Back to top |
|
|
john schuler
Joined: 23 Jan 2005 Posts: 142 City/Region: Missoula, Montana
C-Dory Year: 2006
C-Dory Model: 25 Cruiser
Vessel Name: Clara (sold)
|
Posted: Mon Nov 28, 2005 4:39 pm Post subject: november to april |
|
|
I live in Montana and use additive and #1 fuel from november to april.
If I had to pick a temp it would be +10 F. I have no evidence on this but
its cheep insurance. I have had my fuel lines jelled once and its not good.
I don't think there is any downside to using it except for the extra cost.
john schuler |
|
Back to top |
|
|
tpbrady
Joined: 08 Feb 2005 Posts: 891 City/Region: Anchorage
State or Province: AK
C-Dory Year: 2005
C-Dory Model: 25 Cruiser
Vessel Name: Bidarka II
Photos: Bidarka
|
Posted: Mon Nov 28, 2005 11:46 pm Post subject: |
|
|
I've run diesels for many years in Alaska and don't normally use fuel additives since the fuel suppliers switch to a fuel known as diesel fuel arctic (DFA). My understanding that is basically the same thing going in every turbine/jet aircraft at the airport, but at a substantially greater price.
I copied this from a State of Alaska Dept of Environmental Conservation document:
"Alaska refiners rely on the jet fuel market to produce one grade of distillate diesel fuel to serve all mobile, nonroad, and stationary source fuel needs in rural Alaska. The motor fuel market in Alaska is only about 5% of the total diesel fuel market." _________________ Tom
22 Cruiser Bidarka 2004-2009
25 Cruiser Bidarka II 2010-2013
38 Trawler Mia Terra 2012-2015
42 Nordic Tug 2015-
28 KingFisher 2009-2014
14 Jetcraft 2000-
17 Scanoe 1981- |
|
Back to top |
|
|
doc
Joined: 03 Jul 2005 Posts: 269 City/Region: Auke Bay
State or Province: AK
C-Dory Year: 2017
Vessel Name: Bella Rey
Photos: C-Alaska
|
Posted: Tue Nov 29, 2005 12:38 am Post subject: |
|
|
In twenty-four odd years of living and operating in arctic and sub-arctic Alaska, I have spent very little on fuel additives. That includes virtually never for the gas car engines and equipment as well as for diesels. Switched to what we used to call number one diesel in the winter. We habitually keep the tanks full. Number two will deffinately gel when it gets cold enough. _________________ Steve and Colleen Torrence
Juneau, Alaska |
|
Back to top |
|
|
gljjr
Joined: 27 Jan 2005 Posts: 908 City/Region: Fall City
State or Province: WA
C-Dory Year: 1982
C-Dory Model: 27 Cruiser
Vessel Name: Migratory Dory
Photos: gljjr
|
Posted: Tue Nov 29, 2005 4:58 am Post subject: |
|
|
When I was in High School my dad had a diesel rabbit that we used to take skiing every weekend at Crystal. Since we weren't able to find #1 diesel at the time we would put about 3/4 of a gallon regular gas to the 9+ gallons of diesel and never had a problem starting the car even when the temps dropped to the near 0 mark. We never added any additives to the fuel.
On my F250 it doesn't like starting on the Bio Diesel I have been running when it gets below 40. But that is due to needing to replace the glow plugs. If I plug her in at night she's just fine though! Gotta love those block heaters! _________________ Gary Johnson
KB7NFG |
|
Back to top |
|
|
|