Winter blend fuel

[rvrjr7]

Hey Is the winterblend fuel already on sale in the north like in the past week? I have noticed a drop in my mpg from 7.5 down to if im lucky 6 mpg. :?

[Sealord]

Probably. I always carry some fuel additive that the company shop has just to be sure, particularly if I've fueled in the warm climates and then get sent north. Always careful, gelled fuel is no joke. BOL

[rvrjr7]

Ok thanks. I didnt think the winterized fuel came out this early. Ya i am careful with my fuel i ended up with crystalized filters last winter but kept the truck running barely :shock:

[lucky13]

If you are pulling a reefer dont forget to put somthing in the reefer tank also

[superdave9]

Don't mean to "hi-jack" a thread, if I am doing so, but what is a winter mix and what do they mix with it? As you can tell I am a complete rookie.

[superdave9]

HELLO.............. ANYONE................. WINTER FUEL................? I have lived in Florida my entire life.........HELLO............. :?

[Trucker4Life]

HELLO.............. ANYONE................. WINTER FUEL................? I have lived in Florida my entire life.........HELLO............. :?

In the winter, they mix in an additive to help keep the fuel from gelling when it gets too cold. Hope this helps.
BOL

[superdave9]

Trucker4life, thanks for info. How cold does the temp. has to get before you need this type of fuel or additives? Do you know what the additive is and why it would effect mileage? Domo Arigato.

[Skywalker]

Trucker4life, thanks for info. How cold does the temp. has to get before you need this type of fuel or additives? Do you know what the additive is and why it would effect mileage? Domo Arigato.

In some states what they will do is, as opposed to an actual additive, they will mix #2 Diesel which is standard diesel with a certain percentage of #1 Diesel which is supposedly a better grade of diesel....which is also thinner and has a lower gel point.

Generally speaking....the danger of gelling sets in at about 18 degrees F and below with #2 diesel. The tanks on these trucks are normally heated, and the return flow line brings hot fuel back to the tanks which helps keep the fuel warm. In the winter....your tanks can be good hand warmers. 8)

If they add an additive...it will be a petroleum based product that is much thinner than diesel, which will thin it out....and prevent the paraffin content in the diesel from gelling or solidifying. In order to thaw it out....you literally have to heat the tanks, and the fuel lines as well as the filters to thaw it all out..... I've had a device that looks similar to a flamethrower used on my tanks after the truck sat for several days in a very cold Missouri winter. The additives are "combustible"....very much so, so smokers need to beware when handling.

I have seen decreases in my MPG...and its generally been the result of using diesel fuel mixed with bio-diesel....some of the blends don't seem to be able to produce the power that straight diesel does. Seems there are also "lubricity" issues with some of these blends. It also makes me wonder if the fuel companies aren't pumping out the cheapest crap they can make...reaping the biggest profits possible..... I've heard other drivers having the same complaint....

Also....bio-diesel will gel at higher temperatures than regular or winter diesel.....so its best to have anti-gel on hand and used liberally if you are going north and its cold.....better to use it than gel up and freeze your butt off on the side of the road waiting for road service to show up.

[superdave9]

Skywalker, thanks AGAIN for the info. You are a walking, trucking, & typing encyclopedia for myself and all those who are lucky to have found this site. I can't tell you how much this site has informed myself. How long have you been in the profession? This bio-desiel, how long has this been around and are the companies pressured into using because of the global-warming/ finding alternatives for fossil fuel push? If you are not getting the MPG's out of the bio d. then it seems that would be de-feating the purpose of it. Probably a touchy subject which I know nothing of, but trying. :!:

[BAYDOG]

Ok, here is the poop from a fuel hauler. When they have it , we will blend it with ulskero( ultra low sulfer kerosene). If they do not, then we blend with a product called Coldflow. Most of the suppliers blend at the racks, and we further blend more to what each customer wants, sometimes almost up to a 50-50 0r 60-40. Will not be long and all distlets will be Ultra low(15ppm sulfur)even the fuel oils.

[Skywalker]

Skywalker, thanks AGAIN for the info

My pleasure 8)

You are a walking, trucking, & typing encyclopedia for myself and all those who are lucky to have found this site. I can't tell you how much this site has informed myself.

Thanks for the Kudos, but I am just one of many who comes and shares knowledge and information.... Compared to a couple of the others here.... I'm still wet behind the ears!

How long have you been in the profession?

Since 94'.

This bio-desiel, how long has this been around and are the companies pressured into using because of the global-warming/ finding alternatives for fossil fuel push? If you are not getting the MPG's out of the bio d. then it seems that would be de-feating the purpose of it. Probably a touchy subject which I know nothing of, but trying. :!:

A lot of the push behind the use is state mandated....with the states pushing to have bio-diesel produced in their states sold at the pumps. It is for mixed and varied reasons.... reducing emissions, reducing dependence on foreign oil, making the people who grow the corn and soybeans rich.... Whether or not it adds to or reduces fuel mileage is not the point....its who gets the bucks. Its not a lick cheaper than pure fossil fuel.

[Templedawg]

HELLO.............. ANYONE................. WINTER FUEL................? I have lived in Florida my entire life.........HELLO............. :?

Don't feel bad, i learned to drive a truck in Tampa, and lots of winter information was never brought up. Snow chains, carrying a shovel, fuel gelling, ( thought that was like a trailer stretcher, mess with the FNG!!!) I was stuck in the snow outside of Denver on I-70, when i called in, the dumb ARSE dispatcher couldn't understand why my teeth were chattering. It was February, she put me on eternal hold on a pay phone outside at a rest area. The dispatch offfice was in central Fla. Wish they had cell phones in '95. I think the temp was in the 10's.

[Skywalker]

HELLO.............. ANYONE................. WINTER FUEL................? I have lived in Florida my entire life.........HELLO............. :?

Don't feel bad, i learned to drive a truck in Tampa, and lots of winter information was never brought up. Snow chains, carrying a shovel, fuel gelling, ( thought that was like a trailer stretcher, mess with the FNG!!!) I was stuck in the snow outside of Denver on I-70, when i called in, the dumb ARSE dispatcher couldn't understand why my teeth were chattering. It was February, she put me on eternal hold on a pay phone outside at a rest area. The dispatch offfice was in central Fla. Wish they had cell phones in '95. I think the temp was in the 10's.

Wow....talk about "deja vu".... been there, done that..... I live down south of Tampa...but to show you how stupid dispatchers can be....mine was in SLC!!

It was snowing like hades, I-70 was closed at Eisenhower, and all she mumbled about was "the load has to get there"..... I told them it would... sooner or later...

They did have "cell phones" back then. I had one in 93'....big clunky thing that weighed about 30 pounds, came in a bag, cost a fortune to use.... my average monthly bill was over $500.00 a month...in 93'/94' $$!! People didn't yap much with those....too darned expensive.

[superdave9]

To both the dogs, Temple & Bay, thanks for the info! I guess since I will be training in a week or two, I will be getting my "feet wet", or frozen, soon enough which will be a good thing to have somebody w/experience at this time. I GUESS it is something you have to experience rather than get taught........... Skywalker.........I am staying in New Port Richey as of now, probably hour or so away from s. Tampa. Where is Sup. Carriers out of? Do they hire newbies? And those cell phones are like lawyers, can be a real pain in the ***** but you need them :evil: AGAIN, thanks.

[ben45750]

Kudos on the reply Skywalker.