Treatment FAQ

when should i use winter treatment on diesel

by Chyna Denesik Published 3 years ago Updated 2 years ago
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If temperatures are above 30°F, add Diesel Kleen +Cetane Boost (silver bottle) for maximum performance. This Max HP Formula is loaded with cetane, detergent and lubricity improver to provide peak diesel performance. If temperatures are below 30°F, add Diesel Fuel Supplement +Cetane Boost (white bottle) for winter operability.

Diesel Winter Anti-Gel should be used anytime temperatures drop below 32°F. We recommend using the anti-gel additive each time you fill your fuel tank to ensure proper mixing with your diesel fuel and to maximize effectiveness at preventing clogged fuel filters.

Full Answer

Why is winter additives work best to winterize diesel fuel?

Winter diesel fuel (also known as winter diesel, alpine diesel, or winterised diesel) refers to diesel fuel enhanced to prevent it from gelling in cold weather conditions. In general it is achieved by treatment with additives that change the low temperature characteristics of the fuel.

How to keep a diesel engine warm in winter?

How to Keep a Diesel Engine Warm in the Winter

  • Use Additional Heating Systems. Since it’s common for diesel engines to fall victim to the cold, many truck owners have taken the liberty of installing additional heating systems to keep ...
  • Incorporate Fuel Additives. ...
  • Store Your Vehicle in a Warmer Area. ...
  • Keep the Fuel Tank Full. ...

How to prevent diesel fuel gelling in the winter?

  • Lower the pour point to -65 Degree F
  • Prevent gelling and icing
  • Disperse moisture
  • Increase cetane up to 7 points

How to prepare a diesel engine for winter?

Some things to consider for a supply kit:

  • Snacks
  • Water
  • Blanket
  • Hazard/emergency signs
  • Flashlight
  • Batteries
  • First aid kit
  • Shovel
  • Hat
  • Gloves

More items...

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When should I winterize my diesel?

A diesel fuel's cloud point is the temperature at which wax crystals begin to appear. Generally speaking, it ranges from 4 to 14 degrees Fahrenheit. In a perfect world, switching to a winterized premium diesel should happen well before temperatures drop that low. 2.

Do you need to treat diesel fuel in winter?

When it comes to maintaining effective operations, it's not only important to supplement your fuel during the cold winter months to prevent failed starts or starved engines. It is also important to treat your diesel fuel year-round, and you can learn more about that here.

At what temperature do you need to treat diesel fuel?

32 degrees FahrenheitThis term is pretty self-explanatory, since fuel gelling occurs when the fuel in your tank thickens up enough to look and feel like gel. This only happens when the temperature outside drops below 32 degrees Fahrenheit, though it's most likely to occur at about 15 degrees or lower.

How cold does it have to get before diesel gels?

32 degrees FahrenheitDiesel fuel gelling has the potential to occur when temperatures drop below 32 degrees Fahrenheit, although the exact temperature it happens at will vary from fuel batch to fuel batch.

What temp does winter diesel gel?

Gelling occurs when the paraffin wax in diesel solidifies because of a drop in temperature, and the temperature of the fuel generally has to stay below something like minus 10 degrees F for extended periods, like 48 to 72 hours.

How often should you use diesel treatment?

Every time you fill up:If temperatures are above 30°F, add Diesel Kleen +Cetane Boost (silver bottle) for maximum performance. ... If temperatures are below 30°F, add Diesel Fuel Supplement +Cetane Boost (white bottle) for winter operability.

What temp does diesel Ungel?

Untreated diesel fuel will start to gel at just 32 degrees and be fully gelled around 15 degrees. The term “gelling” means that the diesel fuel literally turns into a hard, paste like wax. This substance obviously cannot be pumped into fuel lines, pumps or injectors, so the vehicle will not run.

Can you put too much anti-gel in diesel?

Too Much of a Good Thing Can Be Bad If you're losing lubricity, don't over-treat. Adding too much of a lubricity improver can react with other various contaminants already in your fuel to cause a different fuel problem—clogged filters.

Does a block heater keep diesel fuel from gelling?

To avoid a diesel from gelling, you can plug the vehicle in using an engine block heater. If you don't have one already fitted to your truck, these can be fitted at your local dealership.

Does wind chill affect diesel fuel gelling?

Another misconception is that wind chill will affect the cloud point of diesel. Thankfully, this is not the truth. Only static air temperature will cause your diesel to gel.

How do you winterize diesel fuel?

The most common is to add a winter fuel additive. There are additives to address the moisture content by helping to “dry” the fuel, there are additives that lower the gel point of diesel fuel and there are combination additives.

Which diesel anti-gel is best?

Diesel Extreme is the best additive in the game. This one adds seven points to diesel's cetane score (which again improves the fuel's combustion performance), and it cleans and lubricates injectors and other critical fuel system components. Diesel Extreme also helps remove excess water and contaminants from fuel.

Why is it important to treat diesel fuel year round?

When you do so, you have much more control over your fuel, such as its lubricity, cetane rating, performance, and overall stability. To maintain fuel stability and performance, you need certain additives to protect these properties. Additives help to keep the fuel stable so that it meets the legal requirements.

What to use to kill fungus in fuel?

If microbial contamination is already present in your fuel (check your filters), you’re going to want to treat it with Bio Kleen to kill the microbes (bacteria and fungi) first. Once the fuel is treated, add Clear-Diesel to remove the residual water and contaminants.

What temperature does diesel fuel crystallize?

Diesel fuel has paraffin in it. It’s in liquid form, but at 32 degrees Fahrenheit, it starts to crystallize. Between 10 and 15 degrees Fahrenheit, it turns to gel, clogging the filters and the fuel tank itself.

What is diesel fuel additive?

A diesel fuel additive is a wise investment in the short- and long-term operation of your diesel car, truck or SUV.

What happens to fuel injectors during combustion?

The combustion process still results in some residues that can turn into buildups. For example, fuel injectors are some of the most critical components in a diesel engine, delivering fuel to compressed and heated air to cause the combustion. Deposits can clog those injectors, restricting the fuel delivery and giving you reduced performance.

Is diesel good for the environment?

While today’s low-sulfur diesel may be good for the environment, the chemical process used to remove the sulfur and replace it with hydrogen also takes out much of the lubricating property of diesel fuel. To reduce premature engine wear, it needs to be put back, and a diesel fuel additive will do just that.

Is diesel fuel good for winter?

Winter Is Coming (Every Year) The right diesel fuel addit ive can help prevent all those things, as well as improve your engine’s ability to start in cold weather. Look for an anti-gel diesel fuel conditioner. Diesel fuel has paraffin in it. It’s in liquid form, but at 32 degrees Fahrenheit, it starts to crystallize.

Is anti-gel diesel additive good?

Bottom line, a good anti-gel diesel additive will save you money and get you a lot more trouble-free miles from your diesel vehicle.

How much diesel can you use in a bottle of ULSD?

A single bottle can treat up to 128 gallons of diesel. And you’ll get better efficiency right away. Once added to diesel, this liquid improves fuel economy, increases power, gets rid of deposits, cleans injectors, and knocks down harmful emissions. It prevents rust and corrosion, removing damaging ingredients in your fuel.

Why use diesel fuel additive?

Using a diesel fuel additive can help your engine run more smoothly and more efficiently, preventing — and potentially improving — imperfections and problems. An additive helps the temperature and the velocity at which diesel fuel burns, which can benefit your engine.

What is cetane boost?

These types of diesel fuel additives are responsible for improving fuel combustion and reducing the ignition delay time. The higher the cetane boost, the better the diesel engine efficiency. Apart from improving the engine performance, cetane boosters cut off smoke emissions, deposits, and slow down the fuel consumption without compromising the quality.

How much does diesel fuel additive cost?

Under $15: An average-sized bottle of diesel fuel additive won’t cost you much. Most additives are priced at $15 or less, with many falling right around the $10 price point. You may even find cheaper options if you shop at big box retailers.

What is Hot Shot's secret diesel?

Hot Shot's Secret Diesel Extreme is a reliable fuel treatment that cleans and protects the engine while also improving its overall performance. The product cleans injector tips, cylinders, fuel lines, and the tank. It boosts cetane up to 7 points. It also eliminates smoke, promotes quick starts, even in cold weather, increases mileage, and much more.

Why add additives to fuel tank?

Incorporating an additive into your fuel tank can help lubricity, improve your vehicle’s cold weather performance, and even make your fuel more stable. Additives can enhance and protect, smooth and properly fuel, all for a relatively minimal cost.

What is diesel additive?

A diesel fuel additive can help with this, as it will limit the amount of wear and tear on your engine, fuel system, and other parts. An additive increases lubrication and prevents corrosion thanks to special ingredients, which makes problems that appear as the result of wear and tear less likely.

What is diesel treat?

Loaded with performance-enhancing technology, Diesel Treat is the absolute best solution to preventing gelling in even the harshest temperatures. More than just an anti-gel, Diesel Treat is also designed to solve the inherent problems created by today's ULSD. It prevents deposits, adds lubricity, and safely removes water from fuel.

Is Howes diesel treat safe?

Howes Diesel Treat is a premium petroleum based product that demulsifies water, safely removing it from diesel fuel. It contains no alcohol or other harmful solvents, making it warranty safe for all diesel emission systems.

What happens if you run out of diesel fuel?

If you ever run out of diesel fuel, it can be difficult to restart your engine. To avoid all this, never let your tank get empty.

How to kill fungus in diesel fuel?

There are diesel fuel biocides available that are designed to kill bacterial growth in the fuel system. However, the dead bacteria can still cause blockages throughout the fuel system. If bacterial growth is found in the fuel system, the proper method of removal is to flush the fuel system using the service Manual procedures, replace the fuel filter element and refill the tank with clean diesel fuel. If a customer desires to use a biocide after flushing the fuel system, it should not contain alcohol or other water emulsifiers.

What is the cetane number of diesel fuel?

The cetane number is one indicator of a diesel fuel's ability to ignite. There are may indicators of overall fuel quality such as cleanliness, specific gravity, volatility, viscosity, detergency, corrosion inhibiting abilities, and lubricity. Increasing the cetane number alone is not a fix for poor quality fuel. Additionally, increasing the cetane number beyond the engine's requirements will not increase performance. However, the cetane number of diesel fuel is not always consistent and some customers may desire to use a cetane improver to ensure full performance of their engine. If such an additive is to be used, it must not contain alcohol or other water emulsifiers.

How do fuel additives work?

There are two common methods that fuel additives use to cope with water in the fuel. One method is through demulsification of water in the fuel. This method causes water particles to combine together to form larger particles, which drop out of suspension.

How to remove bacterial growth from fuel system?

If bacterial growth is found in the fuel system, the proper method of removal is to flush the fuel system using the service Manual procedures, replace the fuel filter element and refill the tank with clean diesel fuel.

How to deal with water in fuel?

The other method of coping with water in the fuel is through emulsification . This method, often using alcohol as the emulsifier, keeps water particles suspended in the fuel. Emulsification of water in the fuel can allow water to get past the fuel-filter/water-separator, in most cases causing damage to the fuel system.

Can you test aftermarket diesel fuel additives?

Aftermarket diesel fuel additives are not tested by General Motors. Some additives, particularly those which contain alcohol or water emulsifiers, may damage your fuel system. If you believe that unique circumstances call for a fuel additive to be used, consult your dealer for advice.

Why is it important to stabilize diesel fuel?

A good stabilizer helps prevent fuel from degrading and becoming unusable.

Why is diesel additive good?

In addition to cetane gains and lubrication, a good diesel additive also helps improve fuel economy and reduce emissions output. There are two types of additives that directly address concerns for diesels that experience severe cold, and they are only used on a limited basis:

What is the cetane number in diesel?

During the refining process, diesel fuel receives a rating called a cetane number, which is an indicator of the combustion speed for the fuel and compression that's necessary for ignition. The cetane number is similar to gasoline's octane rating with higher numbers indicating better-quality fuel.

Does diesel fuel have gel?

In extreme-cold conditions, diesel fuel tends to transform into a waxy, almost gluelike gel, which can restrict fuel flow and potentially cause severe damage. Anti-gel helps keep catastrophe at bay by preventing fuel from gelling. If your lines and filters are already affected, the additive can help clear them of built-up gel.

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