Fordracer Posted January 9, 2010 Share Posted January 9, 2010 We have been having unusually cold temps around here for the last few days, below 10 degrees for 3 days in a row and now we are seeing gelling of fuel. Even our own fuel pump is frozen and it has an above ground tank. I tried to google "ULSD freeze" and the only thing I could find was that USLD freezes at higher temps than LSD. Usually when the fuel is cold soaked for 2-3 days around 5-10 degrees. People around here aren't use to running anti gelling additives. I know alot of you guys see much colder temps than we do in Kansas but your customers are probably used to running anti gelling additives. Has anyone else seen ULSD freezing sooner than previous diesel fuels? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
exmod110 Posted January 9, 2010 Share Posted January 9, 2010 Not sure what the gel point is but we have had -33 to -39 Celsius for the past week with out problems in the vehicles or the above ground tank.... But we have had the winter blend fuel since early October... ask the supplier what they are sending you!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Aaron Posted January 9, 2010 Share Posted January 9, 2010 ALL the fuel at Diavik is above ground, and it doesn't freeze at -60F Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fordracer Posted January 9, 2010 Author Share Posted January 9, 2010 My truck has been sitting outside unstarted for a week and I started it last night at 6 degrees and my fuel isn't frozen. Maybe different suppliers have different blends. I've had 3 6.4's come in this week dying while driving on highway and then restarting after sitting a couple hours and they all had no codes in memory and are running fine now. I was wondering if the fuel was gelling on them. It sure would have been nice if Ford had a sensor in the low pressure fuel system to monitor the presssure and to set codes. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jonathan302 Posted January 9, 2010 Share Posted January 9, 2010 In Canada we got the '' winter fuel blend '' ,so we rarely see fuel freezing. But sometimes it's happen,even with that blend. I think it's more about water and humidity contamination rather than fuel quality for us. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jonathan302 Posted January 9, 2010 Share Posted January 9, 2010 It sure would have been nice if Ford had a sensor in the low pressure fuel system to monitor the presssure and to set codes. Why not just hook a fuel pressure gauge on the schrader valve at the fuel cooler to see your fuel pressure on a cold start ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fordracer Posted January 9, 2010 Author Share Posted January 9, 2010 It seems like these are gelling up on the highway. I guess the cold air blowing around the fuel tank is causing it if that's possible. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jonathan302 Posted January 9, 2010 Share Posted January 9, 2010 It seems like these are gelling up on the highway. I guess the cold air blowing around the fuel tank is causing it if that's possible. If the truck ran on the ''summer fuel '' and it's cold enough outside, yes it can happen. Hook a fuel gauge and take a road test on a cold day to see what happen with the FP ... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jim Warman Posted January 10, 2010 Share Posted January 10, 2010 ALL the fuel at Diavik is above ground, and it doesn't freeze at -60F Here in Slave Lake, we are north of some imaginary line that the fuel mongers have scratched in the sand... Along about November, they (our suppliers) begin to ship P40 diesel fuel to our facilities. The P40 refers to the "cloud point" of the fuel... the temperature at which the wax in the fuel begins to condense (causing the fuel to "wax off" or "gel") at cold points in the fuel system. In the case of P40 fuel, it will remain cloud free at -40 degrees and will usually still flow easily at temps well below that. P40 fuel is not very much more than kerosene and has a comparably low cetane rating. Fuel gelling is something we very rarely see in our area - but a quill packed solid with ice is relatively common - especially in aft axle fuel tanks without an extended vent. The obvious trade off is that winter fuel delivers less power and poorer fuel mileage than "summer" fuel. FWIW and totally off topic.... at approximately -20C, the 6.4 will barely maintain a coolant temperature of 140F at low idle. Sorry about the mixed metafors.... as a child of the switch to metric, I can often be found spouting little nuggets like "it's about half a meter long - give or take an inch". Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.