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Chemical winter additives to fuel
We recently went to Minneapolis from Houston and returned within six days. I do not recommend doing that … the scenery was great but the days too long.
Can anyone please tell me the actual chemical additive added to gas and also the additive added to diesel to prevent or restrain freezing of the fuel in the lines?
Thank you,
Pres
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15 Replies
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Head to any truck stop, let your budget guide you.
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Re fuel additive: as I recall from my time in ND they used a product called HEAT to add to the fuel to prevent any water in the fuel from freezing. I think that it was used in diesel also. I have talked to the folks at Flying J and they indicated that they blend there fuel for use at lower temps. if your getting fuel in the great north land.
I don’t know if that helps.
Dennis & Rocky Wisniewski
1986 XL
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I use a half a container of this each fill up in the winter for extra insurance. Howes
I have seen this for as much as $24 at Love’s, Pilot and Flying J. I buy it at Rural King, Atwoods, Menards and such for under $10. I buy four or five at the beginning of winter and stay south of I-20 as much as possible in January and February.
Davy
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If fuel is purchased in northern climates it is already treated and no additives are required. If the coach is being driven from the south to north the return fuel is warm and keeping the tank contents warm enough.
The coldest we were ever in, and the worst circumstances was on a trip north from FL to Jamestown NY we went into sub zero temps. With full fuel from FL we overnighted in a gas station and it got to minus 26. We left the engine run all night and ran the next day almost the entire trip on southern fuel. The warmest it got was minus 20. Just before home we topped off with fuel undoubtedly treated by the refinery.
We never had fuel gel or any trouble.
I wouldn’t add anything to my fuel.
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My question is does anyone know the name of the chemical additive that is refined into the fuel by the refinery in the Northern climates …. we have a F250 with a gas engine that acts up in cold weather climates and I believe the engine problem stems from the gas mix …
Thank you for your thoughts.
Pres
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I suppose it is risk tolerance, Jon.
I have very low risk tolerance to my diesel setting up into gel, so I happily add. I zip back and forth between north to south and along the dividing line in the winter. I do not want to count on the fuel being winter blend, because I have no way of knowing.
It works for me.
Davy
1984 96" with 8V92TA
(remodeled Liberty Coach)
Greenwood, MO -
Wikipedia came through with a slew of answers…
The primary additive appears to be kerosene … and apparently various “suppliers” have their own special formulas.
Thanks for the efforts everyone.
Pres
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Pres, you used the words “gas engine” and I think the responses relate to diesel.
The only additives I ever heard for gas for winter protection were intended to prevent ice in the fuel. They are available at gas stations, Walmart, etc.
Do not put kerosene in a gas engine.
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It was very, very common to put HEET in the gasoline in Wisconsin and the UP during the 60’s, 70’s, and 80’s. Maybe longer. Was supposed to stop “gas line freeze”. I can’t remember using it. But I know the filling stations back then moved cases and cases of it in the winter time. I never had a problem with what could be traced to “gas line freeze” … but had other issues related to sticking chokes, bad points or condensor, short life plugs, etc. Of course once electronic fuel injection, electronic ignition, and lifetime plugs became common … all that stuff became just memories.
My Dad had a diesel Cadillac back in the 70’s. I think that used an Oldsmobile engine that was converted to diesel … I realize now why that was a HUGE mistake. They were notorious for gas line freeze. On extremely cold days or worse nights you’d actually see all those GM diesel cars on the side of the Interstate.
I’m told by my trucker friends that that “northern diesel” is treated somewhere with an additive to keep it from jellying up. Don’t know what it is.
If I was going from south to north, I’d probably put something in the fuel. If I fueled up in Sept or Oct in Wisconsin and wasn’t going to drive the coach in warm weather until after it got cold (like most years), I would probably put something in the fuel.
I don’t think it hurts anything. More likely belts and suspenders.
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We left TX last week full of fuel. We filled up twice along the way toward our Detroit, MI destination. Our last fill up (thanks TSD!) was in Indianapolis, IN. That should be a Winter diesel blend and we are hopeful that we don’t need to add any additive to the fuel. We could be here for a month or more.
2000 Featherlite H3-45
2024 Jeep Grand Cherokee
Leesburg, FL -
Hey Pres take a look at Biobor EB gasoline fuel additive. You can google Biobor and go to the gasoline tab. Not sure this is what your asking about, but maybe it will help.
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Power Service makes several fuel conditioners including winter ones. They work. Maybe not as cheap as some, but it does work. They have some for before issues, and at least one for when you have gel instead of liquid.
BTW, not all truck stop fuel is winterized. It should be noted on dispenser if it is.
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Untreated diesel fuel can begin to thicken and gel at temperatures below +20F. Gelled diesel fuel will stop a diesel engine in it’s tracks. When traveling in the winter I do not rely on getting treated fuel. Like Davy, I use Howes. I have never had a problem with gelling diesel fuel when using Howes. I have had a tractor stop with gelled fuel when using Power Service.
I require all our southern based trucks to use Howes before going north in the winter. Every couple of years we’ll have a driver not use Howes and the fuel gells and we lose a day of work. Re-liquefying gelled diesel fuel is a time consuming royal pain in the rear.
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Can we all agree if the bus is headed north in the winter it is going in the wrong direction?????
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In most cases
2000 Featherlite H3-45
2024 Jeep Grand Cherokee
Leesburg, FL
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