Re: Any winter starting tips

Posted by captaink on December 13, 2004 at 12:12:24 from (66.115.214.56):

In Reply to: Any winter starting tips posted by Dave MN on December 13, 2004 at 11:28:19:

A tried and true method that has worked for me for many years is as follows. Above 20 degrees F, straight # 2 diesel fuel will work fine. Below that I start blending # 1 with it. My rule of thumb is that 60% #1 and 40% #2 will work to at least -25 F (25% #1 at about 0 F). I will blend to the coldest temp I expect (which is at least 10 degrees below what a reputable weather man calls for) but leave enough room in the tank to get to 60% # 1 if needed. Below that I go straight #1. I also use 10-10W oil in the winter; plug the engine in on a timer set to go on 2 hours before I want to start it. Light fuel, plus light oil equals easier starting. As long as I followed this, I never had a gel-up, engines always started and I’ve had very limited injector or pump trouble in the 30 plus years I’ve been running diesels on the farm and up and down the road at temps as low as -30 F. I never worked the tractors for extended periods of time under severe loads in the winter either, usually shorter runs with medium to heavy (grinding feed or blowing snow) loads.

Now, some will tell you that too much #1 is hard on pumps, injectors. Some will recommend adding diesel fuel conditioner and running a higher percentage of #2 fuel. I have also heard that 1% unleaded regular gasoline (no alcohol) will keep #2 from gelling in the winter. I have never tired any of these and don’t know if they work or cause damage or not.

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