Fuel Gelling.

[DieselSlug]

Hello everyone. I have owned my truck for going on 5 years now and have never had an issue with fuel gelling. I think this morning might have been it. Truck was plugged in, on a timer from 3:30AM till 5:20 when i fired it up. Temps outside ranging just below 0. Started rough and hard, but ran and cleared up. Let run for a good 10 minutes. Took off. Made it about 4 miles from my apartment. Took off from a stop sign and the truck wouldnt accelerate. Then eventually died on the side of the road. Cranks but wont start.

Went to a local farm i work at and got a jug of P/S 911. Poured it in. Tank is a little over 1/2 full of diesel. Let the mix sit for a while and then tried starting. Truck now cranks for a while then will start, however only run for 15 seconds then die.

Got the truck towed to my dads house where it will sit till i get out of work tonight and can play with it.

The fuel in the truck was not treated, so this is why im leaning toward gelling. I ran out of P/S in the white bottle, and NAPA was closed Sunday so i couldnt get any somewhat locally. I can hear my Carter L/P running while cranking the engine over.

My batts are getting low on charge now due to cranking, so my plan is to have my brother plug the truck in about mid day so the engine will be warm by the time i get there. The temp is supposed to be low 30's and sunny today so hopefully it will be enough with the truck sitting outside. Will also plug in the battery jumper/charger box to aid.

Is there anything else i should do to aid in starting? IE: change filter (will gelled fuel ruin it?)

Thanks! Need this thing running tonight! May need to plow tomorrow!

 

[iamdave0887]

It wasn't 0* where i was yesterday, but it wasn't far off. Maybe 10*. Anyways i think i may have had the same issue, and my fuel was treated.

Started the K5 at work to let it run a bit so it wouldnt' be a dead cold start come time to go home. It cranked right over and started up, but ran rough, smoked, and the RPM jumped a few times then it quit. Cranked over again and did the same thing. Then it ran fine. Never had that happen before. *shrugs* No idea why, but it makes me wonder if the heater in my filter isn't working and i'm just noticing it now.

Sounds similar to my issue, except yours was worse because it was both colder and your fuel is un-treated.

Certainly sounds like gelled fuel to me. I've noticed the 6.2/6.5s, or any lower pressure(compared to common rail) isn't as sensitive to gelled fuel like newer trucks. Couldn't tell you how many 6.0 PSDs, and even a few dmaxes i saw stuck on the side of the road last year on the days where it was close to 15 below 0* in the early morning hours. That was a freak cold snap, and i wouldn't mind not dealing with one this year.

 

[DieselSlug]

I am usually good with keeping my tank at least above the half line an adding some treatment into it every fill up. With the snow the past few days i have burned through a few tanks over a few days and ran out of P/S.

Of course my turbo power cover is on the truck so i couldnt play with the filter housing easily on the side of the road. I also got to thinking my element wasnt working either, but the truck ran good yesturday with temps hovering just above 0.

The truck started very wierd this AM, so i guess i should have known something was up.

I guess im kinda confused when fuel gells. Will the L/P pump it up to the engine? Or can the L/P even pump gelled fuel?

 

[NVW]

Fuel will often gel in a fuel filter where wind or a blast of the rad fan can hit it. My guess is it is gelled there or in the line to the IP.

 

[DieselSlug]

I think im gonna pick up a filter from NAPA this afternoon. Be interesting to see what in the housing fuel wise when i pull it. Will fill with 1/2 P/S along with diesel.

 

[Guster]

Usually you put the 911 in the tank, then fill a fuel filter with it also. Wait a while then start it up. The 911 will cleat the gel. If it doesn't, you have to put the truck in a heated garage to knock it out. Once warm it will start. If it's THAT cold, let it idle if you are having gel problems.

 

[WarWagon]

Kerosene will also help with untreated diesel. You will have to look up the ratio.
The start of gelling is when Wax crystals plug filters. So your pump will run and make noise, but, can't flow anything. Socks etc are filters that plug. It only gets worse from there.

Loose the turbo cover. Your FFM top should be hot to the touch after 5-10 min with the key on or at least my 1993 is. My FFM is new surplus from that marine builder.

 

[DieselSlug]

Usually you put the 911 in the tank, then fill a fuel filter with it also. Wait a while then start it up. The 911 will cleat the gel. If it doesn't, you have to put the truck in a heated garage to knock it out. Once warm it will start. If it's THAT cold, let it idle if you are having gel problems.

I would have pulled the filter right there, but i would have to remove the cover first. Of course didnt have the propor tools to remove the cover.

 

[DieselSlug]

New filter and bottle of 911 to replace the one at the farm i used. 43 bucks in total, ouch.

 

[RI Chevy Silveradoman]

It could also be fuel icing, or a combination of both. The small amount of water droplets in the fuel ices up, and causes the same symptoms as gelling. That is why we have to have a good quality fuel filter that separates the water in the fuel and isolates it from going into the pumps and injectors.

 

[JMJNet]

Why do you still have the decorative "Turbo" cover???

 

[DieselSlug]

Why do you still have the decorative "Turbo" cover???

I like the looks of it. THe cover hasnt come off since i replaced the fuel filter last, so it was never a big deal to take it off with only 4 bolts. Brings together a nice cat yellow engine paint job well. Its going to stay off till i get this issue sorted out, thats for sure.

Does anyone remember what two ports you connect with a paperclip on the lift pump relat pigtail to jump the L/P when the truck is off? I cant find the pic i use to remind me each time. Thanks!

 

[bshull]

I had the same problem in Minnesota a year or so ago. The temps were the same if not a little lower. I knew I had a fuel issue since I could hear the lift pump hammering due to lack of fuel and after bypassing the fuel pump relay I opened the top of the fuel filter no fuel came out. I tried Diesel 911 with no luck, since I was 600 plus miles from home I had it towed to a shop and they put it in the shop for the night to warm it up. That was met with limited success since the shop was not that warm.

We wound up disconnecting the fuel line prelift pump, removing the fuel cap (do not forget this!) and back blowing the fuel line with 120 psi air. We then disconnected the fuel line from the FFM and back blew to the lift pump. With this we knew the lines were now clear to the filter. We changed the filter, primed the fuel system and she started. Without delay we pulled up to the kerosene pump and topped it off (tank was 1/2 full). I let her idle for 30 minuets to get really warmed up and off I went. I did not shut off the engine until I was in my driveway. I have no idea if the extreme kerosene mix or added diesel 911 caused any problems with my IP lubrication, it was scheduled to be changed in the spring anyway as part of my repower.

A post inspection revealed that the fuel sock in the tank was the problem, it was a sock for a gasser As the fuel reached cloud point the sock could not flow the fuel. I removed the sock and added a racor fuel filter with heater prelift pump, so far no problems but it has not been that cold, yet.

You mentioned the fuel was not treated, by this you mean you did not add your usual power service or do you mean you were pumping straight #2 diesel? If you were using straight #2 (from a farm tank or other storage tank) at those temp you will have problems. Most if not all fuel stations will have a mix of some type for winter driving.

Anyway that is what happened to me,

Good luck

Brian

 

[DieselSlug]

Ok all, breaking news. Went home last night and the truck started right up and ran perfect. The 911 worked along with warmer temps sitting all day. So i went to my local gas station to fill up on diesel. The attendant wouldnt turn the pump on for me (im a usual local so they do that for us, everything now is pre-pay). I went in and he said that he only has un-treated diesel fuel.

He said the truck came at about 1AM saturday morning when the station was closed, and unloaded a batch of un-treated diesel, instead of treated. I fueled up about 11am Saturday morning after plowing.

So, i was running pure untreated diesel fuel at temps below 0!! My problem has been solved. My fault was part in there for not running my own additive at those temps, but still pre-treated diesel should be good to just above zero. Thinking about writing the owner a letter. I grew up with his son who has since passed in a freak accident 7 years ago, so i kind of know him. Im out 1.5 hours of work, and a tow. I know it isnt the station owners fault but i believe he should go after his fuel company.

 

[btfarm]

If nothing else, the owner should know about this from a loyal customer's perspective Mike. Not directly his fault though, as you pointed out.

 

[WarWagon]

Sounds like the station knew it and warned you before you pumped it? Glad you are running now.

 

[DieselSlug]

Sounds like the station knew it and warned you before you pumped it? Glad you are running now.

The station didnt know about the mess up till Saturday night. I purchased the fuel Saturday morning. I got the warning on Sunday night when i went to fill up again.

 

[L98TPI]

And you said "thanks a @#$% load for the belated heads up" be sure to relate your story far and wide locally, usually a financial hit is the only way to make these guys more diligent.

I think we need another color for diesel fuel. Off road = red, on road = none and on road winter = PURPLE or something loud like that. So at least the end users have a chance to catch a screw up. :???:

 

[L98TPI]

It just occurred to me a solution to this issue. The states could mandate a pump side filter (used to be fairly common) that was fine enough (30 micron?) so if the fuel was gelling you couldn't pump it. Plus the added benefit of not getting crap and water at fill up. Levy a huge fine if it is tampered with.

 

[RI Chevy Silveradoman]

That is a great idea, except that it means one thing..........money. The stations just about change the filters that they have now, never mind making them use a new filter setup. But it is a good idea. Or better yet, make it mandatory that diesel fuel from distributors be treated with antigel additives prior to going into the tanker truck, thus the stations will not be selling untreated fuel to their customers. :thumbsup: