How to Treat Diesel for Extreme Cold
Diesel provides increased power with improved fuel mileage. Because of this, diesel is used in trucks and vehicles to haul items and perform work for construction. Although it has many benefits, diesel has a problem of gelling up when it gets cold. The gelling can not be completely stopped, but you can take steps to help limit or prevent this gelling.
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Things You'll Need
- Diesel fuel cold weather additive
- Heated garage
- Block heater on vehicle
Instructions
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Pour cold weather additive into tank of diesel fuel. This can even go into the tank of a vehicle. All manufacturers have different guidelines, so follow the manufacturer's guidelines for the amount of additive per amount of diesel fuel.
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Place tank or vehicle in a heated garage to keep the temperature of the diesel above freezing. Do not apply direct heat to the diesel tank, as this could cause an explosion.
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Have a block heater put on your vehicle to keep the engine warm and help to keep the diesel flowing. The block heater is plugged into an outlet and warms the engine of the vehicle when the vehicle is not running. A trained professional should install a permanent block heater so the engine of the vehicle will not be damaged.
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Tips & Warnings
Find an additive that works best for your personal needs.
Some additives are designed for long distance driving while others are for stop and go or short distance driving.
Some additives last for a longer time frame or are rated for a colder temperature.
The owners manual of the vehicle may help with deciding the appropriate additive.
Avoid sparks or open flames as this may ignite the diesel.
References
- Photo Credit diesel image by Martina Berg from Fotolia.com
