How Cold Weather Affects Your Diesel Fuel

October 04, 2022

To fix fuel problems caused by cold weather, you need to know what happens to fuel when it's cold. When the temperature drops, the paraffin wax in diesel solidifies, which causes gelling. Usually, the fuel has to stay below -10°F for long periods of time, like 48 to 72 hours for this to occur. A lot of drivers don't pay attention to or think about how their fuel works when the weather changes. They are the ones who get stuck, either by experiencing a breakdown or having to pay more for fuel treatment on the road. If you manage your fuel well and take the right steps, you shouldn't have to worry about it when it gets cold.

 

When Should You Use Diesel Fuel Additives For Cold Weather?

Using a winter performance diesel fuel additive when the temperatures start dropping to around 40°F can prevent cold starts, fuel clouding and gelling. At the cloud point, the natural paraffin wax in diesel fuel starts to turn into crystals. The average cloud point temperature for diesel fuel is between -18°F and +20°F, but it can go as high as +40°F depending on the base stock and refining processes used to make it. The amount of wax in the fuel can change the pour point. This is the temperature below which a liquid loses its ability to flow. There is a range between the cloud point and the pour point. The pour point is usually 2° to 20°F lower than the cloud point.

 

Diesel Fuel Filters Freezing

Drivers say that their fuel is getting thick, but that might not be the only problem. It's also likely that the fuel filter has ice or solidified paraffin wax building up in it. A diesel fuel's cloud point is usually within a few degrees of its Cold Filter Plugging Point which shows the coldest temperature at which the fuel will still pass through a 45-micron filter. The CFPP is achieved when enough of these crystals have formed to prevent fuel from passing through the fuel filters.

Add Performance To Your Diesel Fuel System

Anyone who must rely on diesel as a fuel source in freezing temperatures must prioritize the operational durability of their equipment as well as the efficiency of their engine. If you're having issues at temperatures ranging from 20° to 30°F, you most likely have ice in your fuel lines or fuel filters. Warm fuel melts water, which can slosh around with movement and creates finer particles that can freeze in cold fuel lines and filter. Using cold-weather performance additives can help prevent gelling and other diesel fuel system problems in winter. 

 

 

E-ZOIL performance additives are designed to work with today's Ultra Low Sulfur Diesel. They comply with all emission regulations and add protection to your valuable diesel-powered equipment. Pure Motoring Products offers the best cold-weather diesel fuel performance additives that guard against cold weather, breakdowns, and frozen fuel filters.

 

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