Summer & winter blend for diesel

[Rkh]

Is there a summer & winter blend for farm diesel? I live in the northeast and the diesel in the tractor was put in the summer. This is my first diesel tractor. If there is, is there an additive to prevent jelling?

 

[jhwis]

Is there a summer & winter blend for farm diesel? I live in the northeast and the diesel in the tractor was put in the summer. This is my first diesel tractor. If there is, is there an additive to prevent jelling?

Yes there is. Google PowersService winter additive. However, just mix in some #1 and you'll be fine. I do it all the time.

 

[Janicholson]

Howes and Power service Service are two very popular anti gell additives. Following their label will do the trick. Jim

 

[john in la]

Unlike gasoline the #2 diesel sold in the summer is the same as #2 diesel sold in the winter.
The only difference is they add a anti gel agent or some #1 diesel to the #2 diesel to keep it from gelling up (freezing) in cold weather.
This usually does not happen to it gets down to about 15 degrees.

Like the others have said just add some anti gel or some #1 diesel to the #2 diesel you bought in the summer time and it will be fine.

 

[caterpillar guy]

All over rated nonsense. Just go fill it up at the local fuel place you regularly use any time now . The fuel has already been blended for winter use starting in about august or September for your area. Much like most of the northern states. From 20 years or more driving truck allover the US I do believe fuel is blended for the local area it is to be sold in. The reason most things coming up from the south in winter have problems with fuel. I didn't use anything in the truck in all the years I was over the road from TX to MT just bought fuel as I went north or east to west or other way around. If in FL I would ad fuel as I came north some in GA then TN then OH and home. would mix well enough there was no problem. All those witches brews are just a scam out of your pocket.

 

[E.B. Haymakin']

Unlike gasoline the #2 diesel sold in the summer is the same as #2 diesel sold in the winter.
The only difference is they add a anti gel agent or some #1 diesel to the #2 diesel to keep it from gelling up (freezing) in cold weather.
This usually does not happen to it gets down to about 15 degrees.

Like the others have said just add some anti gel or some #1 diesel to the #2 diesel you bought in the summer time and it will be fine.

John, over here in the Mobile Alabama area I'm seeing stickers show up on pumps stating the diesel dispenser is blended with biodiesel. We generally have mild winters, but does the "bio" diesel pose a gel risk?

 

[Russ from MN]

I just change the fuel in our JD 4600 last week. It's very easy to drain, so I drain all the summer fuel out, and replace it with #1. I don't plan on using it very much, so I only buy 4 gallons, and in the spring I just pour the summer fuel back in. We will use it a little in deer season in 2 weeks, but it's not supposed to snow or be cold, so I won't be plowing snow with it, but I want it ready to go if I should need it in cold weather. One year in deer season it was -18F! As soon as we're done hunting we go to Arizona for 5 months.

 

[jhwis]

All over rated nonsense. Just go fill it up at the local fuel place you regularly use any time now . The fuel has already been blended for winter use starting in about august or September for your area. Much like most of the northern states. From 20 years or more driving truck allover the US I do believe fuel is blended for the local area it is to be sold in. The reason most things coming up from the south in winter have problems with fuel. I didn't use anything in the truck in all the years I was over the road from TX to MT just bought fuel as I went north or east to west or other way around. If in FL I would ad fuel as I came north some in GA then TN then OH and home. would mix well enough there was no problem. All those witches brews are just a scam out of your pocket.

Summer fuel isn't blended around here. I wouldn't take the chance. Easy to add some #1 or Powerservice.

 

[Mcrafty1]

Is there a summer & winter blend for farm diesel? I live in the northeast and the diesel in the tractor was put in the summer. This is my first diesel tractor. If there is, is there an additive to prevent jelling?

Power Service in the white bottle or Howes....I use Howes now around home but my fuel is cut for winter by the suppliers, I only use it during the transition for the fuel already in my equipment and tank before the 1st of November. When I was trucking cross country I always used Power Service. I drove by many a diesel sitting on the on ramps of fuel stops when the weather took a sudden dip in temps. It is cheap insurance you won't be the one sitting because of fuel issues.

 

[Brendon-KS]

John, over here in the Mobile Alabama area I'm seeing stickers show up on pumps stating the diesel dispenser is blended with biodiesel. We generally have mild winters, but does the "bio" diesel pose a gel risk?

There's actually very little diesel fuel around that is pure diesel - nearly all is a bio-blend. Up to 5% bio doesn't need to be labeled as biodiesel but above that does. A higher percentage biodiesel like B20 will gel quicker than B5 but if you have mild winters it's probably not a concern.

 

[David from Kansas]

Is there a summer & winter blend for farm diesel? I live in the northeast and the diesel in the tractor was put in the summer. This is my first diesel tractor. If there is, is there an additive to prevent jelling?

Don't take a chance. If you have ever had a diesel freeze up you will understand. Not a pleasant experience when you are out with a 40-50 MPH north wind and a wind chill of -40F and your tractor stalls out. BTDT so I put power service in the two diesel tractors I use in the winter just recently. I knew they had #2 fuel as I hadn't added any to the tanks for about 6-8 weeks.

 

[Scott 730]

Unlike gasoline the #2 diesel sold in the summer is the same as #2 diesel sold in the winter.

That is a totally false statement as far as Minnesota Diesel fuel goes. Summer fuel is 20% bio, and winter fuel is 5% bio. There may be other states with similar rules, IDK.

 

[NDIHC]

In the winter buy blended diesel. 50/50, 75/25 or straight #1 depending on anticipated temperature. Our local co-op has blender pumps so I can chose the blend of my farm fuel. I also add Howe's to it.

 

[MeanGene1]

In Kommiefornea, there is "too expensive" and "even more expensive"

 

[Mcrafty1]

In the winter buy blended diesel. 50/50, 75/25 or straight #1 depending on anticipated temperature. Our local co-op has blender pumps so I can chose the blend of my farm fuel. I also add Howe's to it.

I was a;ways told low sulfur #1 didn't have enough lubricity to it and would cause excessive wear on the fuel system if used alone.

 

[jon f mn]

Here in mn where it gets real cold and I must use my tractors weekly I put in double the recommended rate of How's Diesel Treat in the first tank, the the recommended rate after. When it's at the coldest I add a few gallons of #1 in each tractor I'm going to use.

 

[moresmoke]

How diesel fuel is handled in the winter varies by region of the country that you are in. In the OP’s Northeast, fuel is typically delivered to the retailer blended or treated to appropriate temperatures for the season. In the Midwest, you find more places where they have separate pumps for #2 and #1. I live in ND, here some retailers have plain #2 at the pump year round. On cold days it doesn’t come out of the pump. But the next pump over is #1 so you use that.

To the OP, get a bottle of diesel anti gel treatment. Power Service and Howe’s are 2 popular brands. Read the directions carefully. It takes more of the treatment than the “regular” rate for very cold temperatures. I figure 20F as the temp where I need to start worrying.

For myself, I have a 100 gal tank that I fill in town when I need fuel. Usually one tank will get me through winter. Since my local retailer only has one pump for cherry flavor diesel, they switch to #1 and its considerably in her price about this time of year. Since I am cheap, I try to fill my tank before that happens, and I treat it with the appropriate amount of anti gel. Currently I have been using Howe’s as it does a decent job of dispersing any water that may be in the fuel, and I have one tractor that has condensation problems.

 

[NDIHC]

I was a;ways told low sulfur #1 didn't have enough lubricity to it and would cause excessive wear on the fuel system if used alone.

That's why I use the Howe's. Added lubricity. Don't know what would happen without it, maybe nothing. But I don't think the Howe's is going to hurt anything.

 

[bc]

When I drove truck almost 50 years ago, I was told to pour in a few gallons of unleaded gas when it got down to 0 degrees or lower.

 

[buickanddeere]

I was a;ways told low sulfur #1 didn't have enough lubricity to it and would cause excessive wear on the fuel system if used alone.

#2 also has precious little lubrication as it is also low sulfur .
Quality diesel has had anti wear additive blended with the fuel.