1 Quart/32oz Bottle – To prevent fuel thickening or gelling, add one bottle of Lucas Anti-Gel to every 150 gallons of pure ultra-low sulfur diesel fuel. For temperatures below 10°F/Good to 40°F, a second bottle is suggested.
To prevent fuel thickening or gelling, add one 1/2 gallon/64oz container of Lucas Anti-Gel to every 300 gallons of diesel fuel. For temperatures below 10°F/Good to 40°F, a second bottle is suggested.
Can you put too much anti-gel in your diesel?
It’s possible to have too much of a good thing. It’s easy to overdo it with a high-quality diesel fuel additive. Overdosing can result in a slew of new fuel and engine problems, ranging from clogged filters to decreased engine performance and efficiency. Don’t over-treat if you’re losing lubricity.
How much diesel treatment should I use?
A diesel fuel addition is as easy to use as putting it into your tank (1 ounce of additive for 10 gallons of diesel), and prices for a 1-quart bottle range from $8 to $25.
How often should I use anti-gel in diesel?
Anti-gels will not harm your diesel fuel or engine, so use a little more when in doubt. During the winter, use your diesel fuel anti-gel every time you fill up. Before pumping the fuel, remember to add the anti-gel. This will ensure that the anti-gel is evenly distributed throughout the gasoline.
How do you use anti-gel diesel?
You should apply an anti-gel fuel supplement to keep diesel gasoline from gelling (or crystallizing). Anti-gel additives are simple to work with. Simply pour them into your gas tank. Anti-gel additives lower diesel fuel’s freezing point, making it less prone to freeze in cold conditions. Because diesel fuel contains wax, it is necessary to add additive to it. The wax is the problem because it causes the fuel to gel, and gelled fuel can clog filters. If the temperature drops below a certain point, the engine will completely gel. Wax is present in the fuel because it contributes to its high cetane rating. In the winter, wax concentration is lower, but it is still present in diesel blends for cetane. The cetane number (cetane rating) is a measure of the speed at which diesel fuel burns and the amount of compression required for ignition. It serves the same purpose in diesel as octane does in gasoline.
It’s a good idea to start using anti-gel as soon as the temperature drops below freezing. As a general rule, the lower the temperature, the more gasoline additive is required. The best advice is to follow the directions on the anti-gel container.
If the weatherman predicts a cold front, you should prepare by increasing the anti-gel ingredient. The importance of preparation cannot be overstated. Your engine will not be harmed by anti-gel additives.
Whenever you fill up with diesel in the winter, use an anti-gel additive. Most additives can be put either before or after the fuel is added. However, if you add the ingredients ahead of time, you can ensure proper mixing.
As soon as feasible, add an anti-gel ingredient. Use an emergency additive that de-thaws the gasoline and de-ices the filters if your fuel has already gelled or your fuel lines are clogged. The emergency procedures re-liquify the fuel, allowing it to burn anew.
Anti-gel diesel fuel additive will not de-ice your gelled diesel fuel tank or assist you in starting your engine. The majority of diesel anti-gels can’t be added to the fuel tank once it’s gelled. To get the fuel flowing, you’ll need to use a de-icer additive in the tank. Anti-gel additives must be introduced to the tank no later than 10 degrees Fahrenheit before the fuel’s cloud point to ensure effective mixing. De-icers should be poured into the filters and tank to keep them from freezing. Then wait at least 30 minutes before beginning. Anti-gels must be stirred into the fuel rather than being put on top of it, otherwise they will not mix correctly. The best additive mixing conditions are warm gasoline.
Do truck stops add anti-gel to diesel fuel?
The paraffin wax in diesel fuel can gel in cold weather and block an engine’s fuel filters, which can be a tough problem to tackle.
“It takes a long time to solve the issue if the fuel in a vehicle gels up enough to block the fuel filter,” said Jon Andrus, vice president of fleet management for Doug Andrus Distributing, a truckload carrier based in Idaho Falls, Idaho. “In order to get the gel out of the system, we may have to change the gasoline filter numerous times.” We have to tow the truck to our shop and let it thaw out on occasion.”
Fortunately, companies may avoid gelled fuel by using “winterized” diesel, fuel filters with heaters, and engines that start automatically as needed.
Blending two types of diesel, utilizing fuel additives, or both can be used to make winterized diesel. According to Bill Dawson, vice president of maintenance operations and engineering at Miami-based Ryder System Inc., ultra-low-sulfur diesel, often known as No. 2 diesel, makes up the majority of diesel fuel in the United States.
No. 2 diesel begins to gel at roughly 15 degrees Fahrenheit, which is known as the cloud point of the fuel, according to Dawson. He explained that No. 1 diesel is “basically kerosene, which is lighter and has a lower cloud point.” “When No. 1 diesel is mixed with No. 2 diesel, the resulting blend has a lower cloud point than No. 2 diesel alone, making it less prone to gelling.”
Ryder offers fuel to companies that hire or lease Ryder trucks. In the winter, Ryder’s winter blend is used. Ryder employs a fuel additive to help avoid gelling in addition to combining the two types of diesel.
“We utilize a different mix depending on the place and the weather,” Dawson explained. “We use more additive the colder it becomes.”
However, not everyone in the industry supports the usage of fuel additives. Some truck manufacturers advise against it, while others consider it a viable choice.
Additives could be thought of as medicine for the fuel, according to Jeanelle Morris, a materials engineer with Navistar Inc.’s International Trucks.
“They should be prescribed by a professional who has diagnosed the condition, just like medicine,” she stated. “Using additives indiscriminately can cause more harm than good.”
Winters can be harsh in Warren, Michigan, where James Burg Trucking Co. is based.
“We start treating the fuel in the fuel storage tanks at our site with an anti-gel additive around mid-November,” Jim Burg, the company’s president, explained. “We provide quarts or gallons of the additive to some of our drivers who have to fuel on the road, so they can treat their fuel as needed.”
When the season calls for it, Love’s Travel Stops employs a special ingredient in their fuel, according to spokeswoman Kealey Dorian. “We can keep our gasoline flowing even in low-temperature, often harsh winter circumstances thanks to this additive.”
In the winter, Pilot Flying J adds “cold flow improvers” to their diesel. According to a company representative, the additive prevents paraffin wax from creating big crystals that can block fuel filters. “The diesel fuel can pass through a fuel filter because the wax crystals are smaller and separated.”
TravelCenters of America’s diesel is treated throughout the winter in the colder parts of the country and as needed in other locations.
“We splash blend additive to a specification that protects the diesel fuel from extreme winter circumstances,” TA Petro’s senior vice president of marketing and public affairs, Tom Liutkus, said.
“All winter long, we provide our drivers an anti-gel additive to put to their tanks as needed,” Andrus explained. “The fuel is treated in the northern states throughout the winter, but we give them the anti-gel addition to be safe.” Even if they have gasoline that has been handled, we encourage them to use the anti-gel ingredient if the temperature is really cold, such as below zero.”
Overtreatment of fuel can cause filter blockage due to an excessive amount of anti-gel substance, according to Kelly Gedert, manager of powertrain and components marketing for Daimler Trucks North America.
“We’ve discovered that additives create more problems than they solve,” Gedert explained. “A combination of No. 2 and No. 1 fuel is the most effective way to improve diesel fuel’s cold weather operability.”
According to Mike Conroy, director of field service for Peterbilt Motors Co., gasoline additives are not recommended. However, he admitted that it might be essential as a stopgap measure.
“Use a high-quality and EPA-approved brand, use the additive for the shortest time feasible, follow the additive manufacturer’s recommendations, and refuel with the proper grade fuel as quickly as possible,” says the industry.
Truck manufacturers also provide options for keeping the fuel warm so it doesn’t gel when the engine isn’t running.
An auto start-and-stop feature is available on various Kenworth models. The device “also monitors oil temperature, starting the engine when the temperature goes below a predetermined threshold,” according to Kevin Baney, chief engineer of Kenworth Truck Co., noting that this helps prevent gasoline gelling.
According to DTNA’s Gedert, the engines of Freightliner trucks are intended to recirculate a considerable percentage of the fuel. “Fuel returned from hot injectors is circulated back into the system, and a significant portion of the gasoline supplied to the filter module is directed back to the tanks to heat all of the fuel up.”
According to Peterbilt’s Conroy, the most critical aspect in keeping diesel fuel from gelling is the gasoline itself.
Customers who frequently operate in cold climates where gelling is a concern are encouraged to specify fuel filter, line, and tank heaters, which Peterbilt factory installs, he said.
“Our primary fuel filter is available with an electric warmup or electric heat option in cold locations,” said Jason Spence, Volvo’s longhaul product and marketing manager. A gasoline tank heater is also available as an option from the truck manufacturer.
“For 2017, Volvo cars with Volvo and Cummins engines have a new return fuel recirculation valve, which feeds gasoline back to the primary filter instead of sending it to the fuel tanks first, which would allow it to cool down,” he explained.
Mack’s technology product manager, Scott Barraclough, said the company supplies in-tank fuel heaters and heated fuel filters to cope with potential diesel fuel concerns in cold weather.
Davco Technology, the manufacturer of many of today’s gasoline filters, offers three heating options: a 12-volt fuel heater, an overnight heater, and a coolant heater. The top of its filters includes a transparent dome that allows you to see if the fuel inside the unit has gelled.
“If the operator makes a visual examination of a unit and notices that paraffin wax is forming, you can turn on the ignition and see all of the paraffin wax melt in 10 or 15 minutes,” said Rich Rhoney, Davco’s manager of sales and service support.
“You may unplug the extension cord and connect it into a wall outlet,” Rhoney said. “This will prevent the petrol from gelling while parked overnight.” A coolant heat option is also available, which utilises the heat of the operating engine to keep fuel temperatures stable while driving.”
Ultimately, according to Ryder’s Dawson, every fleet must plan for anticipated fuel shortages over the winter.
“Whether you manage your own gasoline or outsource it, you need to have a plan in place to get the correct blend of fuel or you’ll be in danger,” Dawson explained. “Make sure you have a preventive maintenance strategy in place that ensures the cars are in good working order.” You should expect a good winter if you do those things and practice a smidgeon of prevention.”
Should I put additive in my diesel?
While the country’s diesel fuel supply is generally reliable, it is not always consistent. When constructing and certifying diesel engines, manufacturers take into account quality swings. In general, they oppose or advise against the use of fuel additives.
“We do not advise Volvo truck owners to add additives to their diesel fuel.” If additives are required, they should be added at the gasoline supplier terminal, according to John Moore, Volvo Trucks North America’s powertrain product marketing manager.
Last year, Cummins became the first company to publicly support a fuel additive, endorsing two Power Service products, Diesel Kleen + Cetane Boost and Diesel Fuel Supplement + Cetane Boost.
“Cummins engines are designed, developed, graded, and built to certify and function efficiently on commercially available diesel fuel,” according to Josh Hahn, Cummins Filtration’s coolants and chemicals business leader. “However, Cummins acknowledges that there are low-quality fuels on the market that don’t always meet ASTM D975, and that these fuel concerns can cause a range of problems for customers, including poor lubricity, low cetane numbers, low-temperature operability issues, and injector deposits.” When pour-point depressants, wax-crystal modifiers, or de-icers are required in cold weather operations, fuel additives may be required.”
“In recent years, diesel fuel quality has become increasingly critical as engines evolve and the diesel fuel manufacturing processes change,” said Roger England, director of technical quality and materials engineering for Cummins, when the Power Service alliance was announced last year.
That’s easy to comprehend when emissions regulations tighten and engine technology advances, resulting in tighter mechanical and engineering tolerances. In summary, because fuel supply uncertainty is unlikely to improve, engine manufacturers such as Cummins are taking steps to level the playing field.
Meanwhile, Detroit Diesel says it has no additional requirements beyond current ASTM specifications, but recommends that customers take steps to ensure they are utilizing high-quality gasoline.
“While Detroit does not directly advise any brand or type of fuel additive, we recommend Top Tier diesel fuel since it addresses many of the flaws in ASTM regulations addressing diesel fuel quality,” says Jason Martin, HDEP thermodynamics and fuel map management manager at DTNA. “Top Tier is a voluntary retailer program that addresses fuel stability and lubricity, as well as detergency, water, and particles – factors that help sustain the fuel system’s performance over the engine’s lifespan, which is a contributing factor to ensuring top engine performance.”
In North America, Top Tier diesel is available from a variety of vendors. “Because shops may also offer non-additized diesel fuel or diesel that does not satisfy the Top Tier regulations,” the website warns, “always verify the dispenser.”
Can you use too much Redex?
Adding too much Redex to your automobile will neither harm it or cause the combustion cycle to be disrupted. Furthermore, because of the way the bottle is structured, with clear indications indicating a single dose, it’s difficult to use more than the recommended dose.
How do you keep diesel from gelling?
One of the best methods to avoid fuel gelling is to keep the fuel from becoming too cold, which you can accomplish by not leaving your car outside in the cold. This technique should work in the winter if you have a heated garage or other form of climate-controlled storage facility for your vehicle. Because the fuel won’t gel while the engine is running, you can still drive the automobile in the cold. If you have to leave it outside for several hours or days at a time, you’ll need to find another technique to keep the fuel from gelling.
Will diesel Ungel on it’s own?
A variety of things can be put to a gelled tank to aid in the recovery of the fuel to its original state. Opti-Lube Gel Melt and Diesel 911, for example, are made specifically for gelled fuel. Simply fill the tank with one of these and follow the dosing directions. There’s no need to heat or mix the tank. These can take a long time to install, depending on the size and shape of the tank. The treated fuel in the tank may not be able to reach gelled fuel that is not in the tank, such as in fuel lines and filters, which is a significant constraint.