Still learning about diesels..but woke up just now at around 6:15am and checked the temp outside and its 29F..is it safe to start my truck? I haven't added any gels yet to it, and not exactly sure when I'm suppose to? -

Be good till around 0F. -

wildbill's Sig:

I Drive An 06 Dodge Ram 2500

Powered By a 5.9 Cummins

It Has Some Parts But Could Use More

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Most anti gels drop the poor point by 25 degrees. It depends on where you live and what fuel they ordered at the station. I didn’t check your weather, but if it’s a sudden temp drop you have a higher chance at having issues.

From what I have learned (I have no references to back this up)… Bio diesel is good to 40 to 20* depending on what they made it from. We buy straight ULSD and were told by our supplier that it’s good to 0*, but to be careful when you get dips below 10* for extended amounts of times. We start treating our fuel with an anti gel for when the temp drops below 20 for extended amounts of time. -

do you just buy your diesel at the pump?

If so don't worry too much because most stations are starting to change over. At least here in Wisconsin they are.

If you are real concerned most stations label their diesel as winter blend and when you see that happen just run your tank down below 1/4 and fill-er up should be fine IMO -

the_new_kid's Sig:

1997 F-150 with Cummins 4BT
4" exhaust, 5-speed, 4x4, pump cranked to MAX

Yea..I buy my diesel at a Speedway gasstation that is right off the interstate so alot of truckers go there (only 2 pumps though) but their diesel prices are like the cheapest in the area, not much more than regular unleaded.

How can I tell if the gasstation uses a winter blend? If they do, does this mean I don't have to worry about adding a antigel? -

All diesel in Northern States should be winter blend.

You shouldnt have anything to worry about yet. -

Dr. Evil's Sig:

98 12V quad cab 4X4 AND 2001 24V quad cab 4X4

One way to tell is your MPG will go down by like 2 MPG when your on the winter stuff -

stkdram55's Sig:

Just an Inline 6 Cylinder

Only 2 defining forces have ever offered to die for you.....Jesus Christ and the American Soldier..
One died for your soul, the other for your freedom.

So when do I have to worry?

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Okay..that really doesn't help me much..how I'm I suppose to tell that? My truck was made in 1985..it doesn't have estimated MPG computer screen.. -

Neither does mine...all it takes is simple math, when you fill up reset your trip meter or write down your odometer reading, then at your next fill up find out how many miles you went and then divide that number by how many gallons you just put in it....EX: i went 520 miles on my last tank of fuel and used 27.4 gal 520/27.4=18.97 MPG -

I use additive all winter long just as insurance..............the stations blend 50/50 normally around here -

Whit's Sig:

* 01 Cummins/Dodge/HO/6 speed*275 injectors*PDR 35 turbo w/14cm housing & high pressure boots*HTT 3 piece ported exhaust manifold*Progaurd 7 with prefilter*Edge Comp*Fass II*Southbend con OFE*Jacobs brake*5"Stacks Big ens*E/F shift knob w/2low & brake switch*10 Gages*KW Ram air System cab controlled*Rickson 19.5x265's*True speed calibrator*Rancho 9000's*DT track bar*DSS steering stabilizer*KW Side impact rails*KW Traction Bars*Toolbox/fueltank 60 gal Combo*Mag High Tech Diff Cover*Ranchand bumpers*Grover air horns*Rear Wheel Cylinder Upgrade DYNO 375 Horse 941 Torque

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I see, thanks for the tip.

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I take it if the gasstation carries this winter blend, it will say it on the pump?

Is this winter blend diesel..do they put the same antigel stuff that you buy at the store in their diesel tanks at the gasstation?

I'm still curious though when/if you have to buy antigel at the store if you are already using it when you fill up at the gasstation? Is it at or around 0F like said some posts up? -

a normal winter blend for the stations is 50/50 this means they are blending #1 and #2 at a 50/50 ratio.............yes the pump should say blended or winter fuel on it, I use additive year round anyway as it also has a cetane improver in it and that alone will justify the cost of the additive in MPG gains so the anti-gel part of the additive is just insurance or a bonus of the deal -

It's a bigger pain, but mix it yourself. At least then you know it's good. And don't rely on antigel additives too much with straight #2, especially if it gets colder than 0F. -

I've never seen a pump marked for winter blend in Ohio.. I just guess by the "how the heck did I use up that tank so fast?" factor.

My last truck was an 86 ford idi that hated to start below 0* temps, added a little power service (winter in the grey bottle) to each fill up and it was much much better!

never had any gelling issues otherwise, I believe the winter blends are guaranteed to 0*f but if memory serves me correctly shouldn't gel until -20f to -40f

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Also, from what I recall is the colder it gets the more aggressive the mix of #1 gets.. so you may start out with a mix of 40/60 this time of year and end with a mix of 60/40 at the coldest points. I wouldn't worry about needing any anti-gel unless we get into a cold snap of -20 or more for extended periods. -

Budgreen's Sig:

1993 W350 club cab 4x4 5spd dually.
Homemade custom fuel pin, star wheel and smoke screw cranked. 366 spring, HX35 in a few weeks possibly

Unlike most of the other guys here so far, I start using anti-gel as soon as the temperature starts to drop below 32F/0C. I'll add a little bit to my tank at every fill up, about 160-350mL of Howe's, as long as there isn't a chance the temperature will hike back up well above 32F.

I do this as insurance. My tank is huge and changing filters on the side of a highway in freezing weather isn't fun. Also, I don't know or trust other fuel stations if I'm in a random location. Apparently some places pre-mix, some don't. I don't know if they do or not and how much, so I make sure I'm good on my own.

Once the temperature starts to drop below 0-10F consistently, I'm on the additive like crazy...about 300-500mL of Howe's/100L of fuel. I don't take any chances after too many hard lessons.

In addition to the additive if you're really concerned about cold weather, make sure you have some kind of winter front for your truck too to keep the engine bay warm. I always carry spare fuel filters and wrenches with me now for the extreme cases. -

K50's Sig:

2003 Chevrolet 2500HD Duramax 4x4 extended cab long box. No cat, 56 gallon Titan tank, Bully Dog Tuner installed on Tow mode.
Changes to come soon: 2" Cognito front lift, MBRP 4" or 5" exhaust.

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