Truck Driving Jobs

rvrjr7 · #1 10-31-2007, 12:11 PM

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 · #2 10-31-2007, 12:56 PM

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 · #3 10-31-2007, 01:41 PM

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 · #4 10-31-2007, 02:24 PM

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

superdave9 · #5 10-31-2007, 04:30 PM

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.

ops:

superdave9 · #6 11-01-2007, 10:09 PM

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

Trucker4Life · #7 11-01-2007, 10:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by superdave9

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 · #8 11-01-2007, 11:16 PM

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 · #9 11-01-2007, 11:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 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.

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 · #10 11-02-2007, 12:51 AM

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. :!: