Mercedes Mullins
Diesel fuel is at risk of freezing in cold weather, which can cause significant issues for vehicles and equipment. When diesel freezes, it begins to gel, which can clog fuel filters and lines, starving the engine of fuel and rendering it useless. This typically happens when the temperature drops below 32°Fahrenheit, but most often when it hits 15°Fahrenheit. This is due to the presence of paraffin wax in the fuel, which solidifies in cold temperatures. To prevent this, diesel additives or anti-gel products can be used to lower the freezing point of the fuel. Additionally, storing vehicles in a climate-controlled garage or using heaters to keep the engine warm can help prevent freezing.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Temperature at which diesel freezes | 32°F |
| Temperature at which diesel gels | 15°F |
| Temperature at which water freezes | 20° to 30°F |
| Additive to prevent gelling | Anti-Gel |
| Additive to reliquify gelled diesel | Diesel Winter Rescue |
| Additive to improve winter operability | Diesel Winter Anti-Gel |
| Additive to improve everyday performance | EDT+ Winter Defense |
| Alternative additive | MotorKote Anti-Gel + Conditioner |
| Alternative additive | Cetane Boost |
| Alternative additive | Low Sulfur Lube |
| Alternative additive | DEF Reducer |
| Alternative fuel | No. 1 fuel diesel |
| Alternative fuel | Kerosene-blended fuel |
| Storage solution | Climate-controlled garage |
| Storage solution | Light bulbs under the vehicle |
| Storage solution | Tarp and heater |
| Storage solution | Block heater |
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What You'll Learn
How to prevent diesel fuel from freezing
Diesel fuel contains paraffin wax, which is an important component that improves its viscosity and lubrication. However, in freezing temperatures, the wax solidifies and turns into a cloudy mixture, eventually leading to diesel fuel gelling. This can clog fuel filters and lines, stopping fuel from flowing and rendering your engine useless. This is also known as fuel starvation.
To prevent diesel fuel from freezing, you can try the following methods:
Keep it warm
Storing your vehicle in a climate-controlled garage or heated environment can protect it from freezing outdoor temperatures. You can also place light bulbs under your vehicle to emit heat and keep your engine warm. Alternatively, wrap your vehicle in a tarp and run a heater that blows heat to warm it overnight. A block heater is another option, as it connects to your engine and warms the engine's coolant, keeping your oil warm.
Modify the fuel mixture
Using kerosene to prevent diesel fuel from freezing is a common solution. Kerosene has a lower gelling point than diesel fuel, so mixing it with diesel fuel can lower the freezing point. This method is preferred by fleets in the northern states and Canada, and they rarely have problems with this fuel blend.
Use fuel additives
Additives provide temperature coverage to help prevent your diesel fuel’s wax from thickening. Choose an additive that improves your fuel’s water dispersion, lubricity, and cetane. Hot Shot’s Secret offers EDT+ Winter Defense and Diesel Winter Anti-Gel, which reduce fuel line freeze-ups down to -40 °F. Diesel Winter Anti-Gel also lowers your fuel’s cold filter plugging point (CFPP) to prevent your fuel lines and filters from clogging.
Monitor water content
Water is almost always present in diesel fuel to some degree, and it can accumulate in storage tanks or truck tanks if not removed periodically. While water freezing in the fuel tank is not an issue, warm fuel can melt this water, which then sloshes around and breaks up into finer droplets that can freeze as they travel through fuel lines exposed to cold outside air. Regularly removing water from diesel fuel can help prevent freezing issues.
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The impact of water in diesel fuel
Water contamination in diesel fuel can have a significant impact on the performance of diesel engines and is one of the most common types of fuel contamination. Water can enter the fuel system through condensation, leaks in the fuel tank, contaminated fuel, or improper maintenance of the fuel system. While low levels of water in diesel fuel are normal, higher concentrations can cause severe problems.
Water is denser than diesel fuel, so it settles at the bottom of the tank. When the diesel fuel is heated, it melts the water, which then mixes with the fuel and can freeze in the fuel lines, causing blockages. Water can also cause corrosion and damage to the engine's components, including the fuel injectors, and lead to the growth of bacteria and fungi, which further clog filters and injectors. This can result in reduced engine performance, erratic idling, engine misfires, stalling, and even complete engine failure.
Water in diesel fuel can also cause the fuel to break down, reducing its lubricating properties and causing premature wear and tear on the engine. Additionally, the presence of water can lead to a decrease in fuel energy and horsepower output. Water contamination is particularly harmful to modern engines due to their sensitivity and the high efficiency required of their filters.
To prevent water contamination in diesel fuel, it is essential to maintain the fuel tank and fuel system properly. This includes keeping the fuel tank full to reduce condensation, regularly inspecting the tank for leaks, replacing filters, and draining water from the system. Using fuel additives with anti-bacterial agents can also help prevent bacterial growth. Detecting water in diesel fuel can be challenging, but checking for a cloudy appearance or using water-finding paste are effective methods.
In summary, water contamination in diesel fuel can have detrimental effects on engine performance and longevity. Taking preventative measures and regularly maintaining the fuel system are crucial to avoiding costly repairs and ensuring the reliable operation of diesel engines.
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Anti-gel additives
Diesel fuel contains paraffin wax, which improves its viscosity and lubrication. However, in freezing temperatures, the wax can solidify and turn into a cloudy mixture, eventually leading to diesel fuel gelling. This can clog fuel filters and lines, causing the engine to stop working.
To prevent this, anti-gel additives can be used to lower the cold filter plugging point (CFPP) of diesel fuel. This helps to prevent clogged fuel filters and fuel lines during cold winter months. Diesel Winter Anti-Gel, for example, is an additive that improves the quality of standard diesel fuels in terms of detergency, stability, lubricity, and winter operability. It also boosts the fuel's cetane number, which can improve cold starts and provide a maximum boost in power and performance.
It is recommended to use anti-gel additives each time you fill your fuel tank to ensure proper mixing and maximize effectiveness. The amount of additive required will depend on the volume of diesel fuel being treated. For instance, a 16 oz. bottle of diesel anti-gel treats 125 gallons of diesel fuel, while a 1-quart bottle treats 250 gallons.
There are various diesel anti-gel additives available on the market, such as Hot Shot's Secret Diesel Winter Anti-Gel, Ford Powerstroke Anti-Gel, and Optilube XPD. These products can help improve cold-weather performance and protect your engine from freezing temperatures.
In addition to anti-gel additives, other methods to prevent diesel fuel from gelling include keeping the fuel warm and changing its properties to withstand colder temperatures. Storing your vehicle in a heated environment, using light bulbs or heaters, or mixing the diesel fuel with kerosene can also help prevent gelling.
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Keeping your vehicle warm
Store Your Vehicle in a Climate-Controlled Garage:
Consider storing your vehicle in a garage with a controlled climate. This will shield your vehicle from freezing outdoor temperatures and help maintain a warmer environment. This option is particularly effective for those living in regions with consistently low temperatures.
Use Light Bulbs or Heaters:
If you don't have access to a climate-controlled garage, you can use light bulbs placed under your vehicle. The light bulbs emit heat, keeping your engine warm and preventing freezing. Alternatively, you can use a heater that blows warm air towards your vehicle, ensuring it stays warm, especially overnight.
Block Heaters:
Block heaters are another effective solution. These heaters connect directly to your engine and work by warming the engine's coolant, which in turn keeps the oil warm. This prevents the diesel fuel from freezing, even in cold environments.
Tarps and Heaters:
If you don't have access to a garage, you can use a tarp to wrap your vehicle and then run a heater underneath it. This combination helps trap the heat around the vehicle, keeping it warm and preventing diesel fuel gelling.
Fuel Additives and Anti-Gelling Products:
Using fuel additives and anti-gelling products can effectively lower the freezing point of diesel fuel. These additives improve the fuel's water dispersion, lubricity, and cetane number, ensuring smooth engine operation even in colder conditions. Products like Diesel Winter Anti-Gel and EDT+ Winter Defense are designed to prevent fuel lines from freezing and clogging.
Kerosene Blended Fuel:
During winter, consider using kerosene-blended fuel. Kerosene has a lower gelling point than diesel, so mixing it with diesel fuel can lower its freezing point. This method is a common solution to prevent diesel fuel from gelling.
It's important to be proactive and take the necessary steps to keep your vehicle warm and prevent diesel fuel freezing. These measures will help ensure reliable vehicle operation during cold weather and save you from potential repairs caused by frozen diesel fuel.
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The impact of cold temperatures on diesel fuel
Diesel fuel contains paraffin wax, which improves its viscosity and lubrication. In normal temperatures, the wax is in an oily liquid form. However, in cold temperatures, the wax solidifies and turns into a cloudy mixture, eventually leading to diesel fuel gelling. This gelling can clog fuel filters and lines, stopping fuel from flowing and rendering the engine useless. This is known as fuel starvation.
The cloud point is the temperature at which paraffin creates cloudy deposits within the fuel. The majority of good quality fuels have a cloud point of around 32°F/0°C (untreated). At this temperature, the paraffin in diesel fuel begins to stiffen, serving as a warning to start using an anti-gel additive. Anti-gel additives will not damage your engine and can be added before or after you add fuel.
The cold filter plugging point (CFPP) is a measurement based on a standardized test that indicates the rate at which diesel fuel will flow through a standardized filtration device in a specified length of time when cooled. The point at which the sample fails to go through the filter within the specified time is the CFPP. At around 14-15°F, the paraffin wax completely crystallizes, clogging the filter and stopping any fuel from passing through the tank.
Water is almost always present in diesel fuel to some degree. When warm fuel melts the water, it sloshes around in the tank and breaks up into finer droplets that can freeze as it travels through fuel lines exposed to cold outside air. This can also clog fuel lines and fuel filters, starving the engine of fuel.
To prevent fuel starvation, you can keep your vehicle warm, use fuel additives, or switch to No. 1 fuel diesel, which does not contain paraffin wax and therefore does not gel at any temperature.
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Frequently asked questions
Diesel freezes at 32°F, but it begins to gel at 15°F.
Diesel gelling is when the paraffin wax in diesel solidifies and turns into a cloudy, gel-like mixture, eventually crystallizing and clogging fuel filters and lines.
To prevent diesel fuel from freezing, you can use an anti-gel fuel supplement or additive, store your vehicle in a climate-controlled garage, or mix the diesel with kerosene.
Some signs that your diesel fuel is freezing include a cloudy appearance in the fuel tank and stuttering or stalling of the engine.
If your diesel fuel freezes, you can use a product like Diesel Winter Rescue or Power Service Diesel 911 to reliquify the gelled fuel and de-ice frozen fuel filters.
