How To Fix Frozen Diesel In Your Truck

With the mornings getting extra chilly, these days it’s not uncommon for your engine to put up a bit of a fight. If you think your truck might be a little trickier to start up, you’re probably right. Water isn’t the only thing that freezes in the winter. Diesel, normally a hot and fluid substance in the warmer month, can gel and thicken in the colder temperatures. Every day, hundreds of tiny combustions take place inside your engine that enable it to operate at its ideal performance levels. If the diesel is cold and solid, your engine is at risk for overheating itself in order to compensate for your unresponsive truck. Not only is gelled diesel a safety risk, but it can pose a significant problem for truck drivers who run on a tight schedule. Fortunately, there are plenty of ways to resolve the problem in order to get on your way this winter.

Diesel fuels are created with paraffin, which is a type of wax. When temperatures drop, the compounds in paraffin cause it to solidify. Just like when a candle is lit and the wax is hot and fluid, only to cool and harden when blown out, the diesel fuel in your truck operates the same way. Gelling occurs at two major temperatures points. The first is called the cloud point, during which paraffin wax starts to precipitate in the fuel. This results in a cloudy-looking appearance in the diesel and usually happens around zero degrees Celsius. The second stage is the actual gel point, during which your diesel has so much wax that fuel can no longer flow effectively through your engine. This phenomenon usually happens when the temperatures drop to negative 10 degrees Celsius or lower.

How Do You Fix Gelled Diesel?

There are a number of ways to reverse the effects of frozen diesel. The most obvious answer is to find a method of heated storage so that the fuel can thaw out. If you have access to a garage, it might prevent this from reoccurring. Truck drivers who leave their vehicle’s out in the elements usually experience this more frequently than those who use heated storage. The other way to cure frozen diesel woes is by using fuel additives like special treatments or kerosene. Mixing a fuel additive into your diesel is cost-effective and an easy DIY remedy. The additives in these fuel treatments can prevent the paraffin additives from bonding together and ultimately stop freezing from happening. Many fuel additives also come with a wide range of winter weather benefits, like ignition improvements and removing harmful deposits from your vehicle’s fuel injectors. Kerosene will reduce the plug-point temperature which is when paraffin particles crystalize and clog fuel filters.

A healthy engine is key to mastering Canadian roads and highways this winter. Is your engine in need of a check-up? Book a service appointment today and play it safe in the snow. Call us today at 1-(877) 650-6296 or contact us online to reserve your spot.