Author Topic: Cold weather is coming again, what's everyone using for anti-gel?  (Read 3316 times)

October 10, 2009, 11:14:17 pm

colectb

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As the title states, what is everyone using? The input of the Canadians is especially valuable :P  Last year I had to run a concoction of different liquids just to keep my car from gelling up. About half a tank of #1 finally fixed it... added to a 60/40 blend. I have been running howes all year long, but I'm betting it will gel up again when it hits about 15°F or -9°C. That's where it would always turn to slush for me. So, what is everyone running, is there anything better than howes or powerservice? Has anyone else had any problems with these two products and/or the new ULSD gelling up no matter what?
1986 Porsche 944 NA

1983 Audi 5000 Turbo Diesel

Reply #1October 11, 2009, 08:00:35 am

dieselsmoke

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Re: Cold weather is coming again, what's everyone using for anti-gel?
« Reply #1 on: October 11, 2009, 08:00:35 am »
I use a couple of products made by Power Service. They make 3 different bottles. There is a white one for year round use and prevents gelling, a red one which is called 911 which is used if your lines have already gelled ( I have used this when my lines gelled at -40 and it works really well, was up and going in 10 min) and they have a grey bottle which I believe is just a cetane boost.

Reply #2October 11, 2009, 08:52:15 am

Black Smokin' Diesel

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Re: Cold weather is coming again, what's everyone using for anti-gel?
« Reply #2 on: October 11, 2009, 08:52:15 am »
I've never has issues with gelling even at -40C. Your diesel must not contain a lot of winter additive from the pump.
91 Passat syncro 1.8T swapped.

Reply #3October 11, 2009, 09:26:01 am

Rabbit on Roids

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Re: Cold weather is coming again, what's everyone using for anti-gel?
« Reply #3 on: October 11, 2009, 09:26:01 am »
As the title states, what is everyone using? The input of the Canadians is especially valuable :P  Last year I had to run a concoction of different liquids just to keep my car from gelling up. About half a tank of #1 finally fixed it... added to a 60/40 blend. I have been running howes all year long, but I'm betting it will gel up again when it hits about 15°F or -9°C. That's where it would always turn to slush for me. So, what is everyone running, is there anything better than howes or powerservice? Has anyone else had any problems with these two products and/or the new ULSD gelling up no matter what?

#1 diesel is BAD!
it was made to run in detroits. they dont have injection pumps. there isnt as much lubricity in it. or at least thats how it used to be. im not for positive on todays diesel, because i havent seen #1 at a pump for years around here. we just get green or red diesel.

Reply #4October 11, 2009, 10:42:18 am

veedubcanuck

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Re: Cold weather is coming again, what's everyone using for anti-gel?
« Reply #4 on: October 11, 2009, 10:42:18 am »
I've never has issues with gelling even at -40C. Your diesel must not contain a lot of winter additive from the pump.

X2 never had an issue with gelling either so I've never had to add anything...
2003 Jetta GLS 1.8T w/ Upsolute software 20k kms (yes 20)
1993 Jetta GL 1.9TD stock 440k kms
1990 Jetta 1.6TD stock 320k kms
1993 Golf GL 1.9TD stock 401k kms
1991 Jetta 1.6TD Stock 587k kms

Reply #5October 11, 2009, 10:43:43 am

diesel smoke

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Re: Cold weather is coming again, what's everyone using for anti-gel?
« Reply #5 on: October 11, 2009, 10:43:43 am »
I run PowerService in the white bottle all year, but add more in the winter, in the summer it is just a cetane boost. ;D
'99.5 Bora TDI
'88 Fox Coupe
'71 Tin Top Westfalia Bus
'85 Mercedes 300SD

Reply #6October 11, 2009, 12:47:46 pm

colectb

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Re: Cold weather is coming again, what's everyone using for anti-gel?
« Reply #6 on: October 11, 2009, 12:47:46 pm »
well usually the "additive" at the pump is a #1 & #2 blend. I know #1 is bad, but I didn't have a choice. Maybe the fuel in my region is bad.
1986 Porsche 944 NA

1983 Audi 5000 Turbo Diesel

Reply #7October 11, 2009, 01:41:19 pm

macka

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Re: Cold weather is coming again, what's everyone using for anti-gel?
« Reply #7 on: October 11, 2009, 01:41:19 pm »
power service or kleen flo diesel additive.
Quote from: Vincent Walden
I do know that I drive torque,  while listening to my friends prattle on about horsepower.

Reply #8October 11, 2009, 07:16:15 pm

dieselsmoke

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Re: Cold weather is coming again, what's everyone using for anti-gel?
« Reply #8 on: October 11, 2009, 07:16:15 pm »
I have had my share of bad batches of diesel fuel. the powerservice additives has helped me out alot!. My friend uses the stuff in the grey bottle from power service and he noticed an increase in mileage.

Reply #9October 12, 2009, 06:47:25 am

catlin_cava

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Re: Cold weather is coming again, what's everyone using for anti-gel?
« Reply #9 on: October 12, 2009, 06:47:25 am »
Never used additives in the winter, that's usually my car, the farm tractor, and my brother's transport truck and we use all the same station up here
Catlin

2012 VW Golf 2.5 5speed Deep Black Pearl
1999.5 VW Jetta TDI Bosch .216mm injectors and Malone stage 2, soon 11mm pump and vnt 22(parked for the winter)
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Reply #10October 12, 2009, 11:01:47 am

booneylander

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Re: Cold weather is coming again, what's everyone using for anti-gel?
« Reply #10 on: October 12, 2009, 11:01:47 am »
Add another vote for not having any issues down to -40 from the pump.

Have been using B100 all summer so might find some troubles this winter as I'll be trying to blend some Bio into the tank, but we will see how it goes.

Reply #11October 12, 2009, 11:19:36 am

burnt_servo

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Re: Cold weather is coming again, what's everyone using for anti-gel?
« Reply #11 on: October 12, 2009, 11:19:36 am »
i'm just a bit south of prince george b.c.  .

i've never had trouble with fuel gelling up at any temp around here with any diesel i've had ( it hits - 40ish a couple times a winter ) .
around - 20 c  the car gets hard to start without plugging it in .

around nov. the gas stations here switch to #1  diesel ( you can tell beacuse you all of a sudden seem to burn through way more diesel ) .

that  said every winter i know of a few people who's diesel trucks  freeze up , and because of that i always keep a bottle of " meltdown " in the trunk just in case .
1990 jetta , tweaked pump , tweaked turbo , ported head  2.5inch exhaust .

1993 dodge w250 , diesel ... removing the dead moose parts .

Reply #12October 12, 2009, 09:58:49 pm

colectb

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Re: Cold weather is coming again, what's everyone using for anti-gel?
« Reply #12 on: October 12, 2009, 09:58:49 pm »
Wow, I am just unlucky I think. Thanks for the replies and I guess I'll be switching from Howes to Powerservice since that seems like what everyone is using.
1986 Porsche 944 NA

1983 Audi 5000 Turbo Diesel

Reply #13October 12, 2009, 10:08:45 pm

bajacalal

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Re: Cold weather is coming again, what's everyone using for anti-gel?
« Reply #13 on: October 12, 2009, 10:08:45 pm »
The last owner of my car used a product from the Power Service people called Arctic Service (in Montana) but my Golf "Lucky" is spending it's "golden years" in the sun belt (for now).