Anti-gel additive for diesel in NC?

[06bluebeetletdi]

Long stretch of COLD weather in central NC (below freezing from saturday until wednesday) and several mornings in the teens or less. I have a pair of tdis: '14 passat and '13 beetle. What fuel additive is recommended so the diesel wont gel? I'm loving the passat's remote start (it seems to shift/run better after warming up a bit). Both are dsg and have been emission modified, also they are outside (no garage).

 

[BroncoAZ]

Power Service White is what I use in all my diesels through the winter.

http://powerservice.com/psp_product/diesel-fuel-supplement-cetane-boost/

 

[jrm]

+1 I just add one bottle of powerservice to 100 gallons of diesel.

 

[TDI smile]

Power Service White is what I use in all my diesels through the winter.

http://powerservice.com/psp_product/diesel-fuel-supplement-cetane-boost/

It's not COLD enough for the white bottle... Live here in Edmonton, Alberta and I use nothing, but the car is parked overnight in an unheated garage....

For you the silver bottle should be ok... DIESEL KLEEN!

 

[Rico567]

It's not COLD enough for the white bottle... Live here in Edmonton, Alberta and I use nothing, but the car is parked overnight in an unheated garage....

For you the silver bottle should be ok... DIESEL KLEEN!

But are apples being compared to apples here? I'm thinking that there may be al whole lot more winterizing of the fuel itself in Alberta as opposed to North Carolina.....

 

[Tdijarhead]

But are apples being compared to apples here? I'm thinking that there may be al whole lot more winterizing of the fuel itself in Alberta as opposed to North Carolina.....

Absolutely, it’s possible some stations in NC don’t even realize diesel needs to be winterized. Power service, the white bottle, less than $10 at Walmart.

 

[06bluebeetletdi]

Thanks! Heading to the auto store with my back up gas car in a bit

 

[Abacus]

Definitely use the Power Service white, it won't hurt a bit.

Even here in Maine where the fuel is heavily treated (I'm down to 42 mpg from 50), I've rescued a number of people with gelled fuel. They all now use the PSW and none have had it happen again.

 

[dieseldorf]

Power Service white bottle.

 

[El Dobro]

I used to keep a bottle of Diesel 9-1-1 handy too, since you never know.

 

[tdiatlast]

Absolutely, it’s possible some stations in NC don’t even realize diesel needs to be winterized. Power service, the white bottle, less than $10 at Walmart.

FYI, ALL FUEL in any region comes from a single distribution source, winterized/additized (is that a word???) accordingly, across ALL brands. Individual stations don't control winterizing additives.

NC fuel is winterized for well below freezing temps. Someone might want to post a map showing the rate of winterization across various temp zones (similar to a zone map for plant growing seasons.

Hope this helps...adding appropriate amounts of silver/white won't hurt, might give you peace of mind.

 

[Jb22]

Are you all using the VW Diesel fuel nozzle adapter to get the additive in the tank?

 

[Rico567]

Are you all using the VW Diesel fuel nozzle adapter to get the additive in the tank?

I just use some small bottles I got when I bought a gallon of additive years back...not PS, though.

 

[Tdijarhead]

FYI, ALL FUEL in any region comes from a single distribution source, winterized/additized (is that a word???) accordingly, across ALL brands. Individual stations don't control winterizing additives.
NC fuel is winterized for well below freezing temps. Someone might want to post a map showing the rate of winterization across various temp zones (similar to a zone map for plant growing seasons.
Hope this helps...adding appropriate amounts of silver/white won't hurt, might give you peace of mind.

True enough, however with the record setting cold we’re having gelling in some of the normally warmer areas is not out of the question. Fuel is winterized by zone or region, and that does change by the month. There is a map floating around this site somewhere.

 

[jrm]

its not winterized here, Oregon's B5 and B20 cant get near zero, I poured some in a pickle jar and threw it in our freezer- was able to turn it upside down- complete solid like a candle. This causes issues as some drivers fill up with non winterized B20 down in town where its 55F and head up skiing where its well below freezing.

 

[El Dobro]

It's cheap insurance using an additive. I also used to carry a spare fuel filter and the tools to change it,

 

[Mark_J]

It has to get very cold for diesel to gel. I work in a hydrocracker unit and we make diesel and jet. The target freeze of the diesel in the summer is +20F, but in the winter the target can be as low as -54F, which should keep it from gelling up. But some are correct here, some companies have the distributer add anti gelling additives to their diesel before it is delivered to their stations. Also even the southern diesel freeze target is just as low as ours because a semi can fill up in a southern state and arrive in a very cold state on that same tank of diesel. We start making winter diesel early in the fall to make sure it is available when the cold weather hits. I have driven in -25 F without any issues. I am 64 and been driving and operating diesel equipment all my life and the only time I had diesel gel was at -48F. But I do add a dose of Stanadyne, but not so much for anti gelling, but for the lubrication qualities, especially with the ultra low sulfur diesel today.

 

[hiroler]

My 2015 Passat TDI with 11k miles would not start yesterday in NJ. 10k service recently done. It cranked to 1k rpm’s then shut off. No error codes. I cycled multiple times and it absolutely would not turn over.

It was about 6 degrees and 20 mph winds. I assume I need the white bottle to get the car running? Is there any use in calling roadside assistance? I’m in DC right now, had to get the 435 convertible out :|

 

[turbobrick240]

Once the fuel has gelled, you need to warm the fuel above it's cloud point before the PS white bottle will mix and be effective. If that's not possibe, you need the PS red bottle 911 treatment. Are you sure the battery isn't the problem?

 

[tomo366]

I use Opti Lube XPD in every tank....and I have increased dosage in this current cold snap....

 

[tdiatlast]

Wouldn't there be more cars failing than the 2 or 3 posting here, if it is a gelling issue? We're not discussing -20f here.

 

[tomo366]

I have heard of quite a few in Mass and New Hampshire

 

[Skimax]

I have heard of quite a few in Mass and New Hampshire

-26F here this AM. No issues starting/running our 15 SEL no additive used and it's been below freezing and frequently below 0F here for weeks.

 

[turbobrick240]

-26F here this AM. No issues starting/running our 15 SEL no additive used and it's been below freezing and frequently below 0F here for weeks.

I didn't get a flat tire today, but I still carry a spare, just in case. I have a mason jar filled with pump diesel for my tractor sitting outside during this cold snap. It hasn't clouded or gelled down into the -20's- so apparently it's been treated sufficiently. Been adding PS white to my car for extra margin. Messing with filters and such in arctic cold is not my idea of fun.

 

[Abacus]

Going to the mailbox in such frigid temps isn't fun.

 

[hiroler]

My 2015 Passat TDI with 11k miles would not start yesterday in NJ. 10k service recently done. It cranked to 1k rpm’s then shut off. No error codes. I cycled multiple times and it absolutely would not turn over.

It was about 6 degrees and 20 mph winds. I assume I need the white bottle to get the car running? Is there any use in calling roadside assistance? I’m in DC right now, had to get the 435 convertible out :|

I got back to NJ today. It’s 15 degrees now and it started right up. The coil light continued flashing and the car was making a loud high pitched squeeking noise so I shut it off.

Anyone think it’s safe to drive now? I guess I will call the dealership in the AM. To be honest I get my fuel from a very small Delta gas station in Somerset NJ that may not have had a delivery in a while.

 

[El Dobro]

Here's the thread on gelling in the Northeast.
http://forums.tdiclub.com/showthread.php?t=485191

 

[inthered]

I got back to NJ today. It’s 15 degrees now and it started right up. The coil light continued flashing and the car was making a loud high pitched squeeking noise so I shut it off.

Anyone think it’s safe to drive now? I guess I will call the dealership in the AM. To be honest I get my fuel from a very small Delta gas station in Somerset NJ that may not have had a delivery in a while.

Sounds like you and I had very similar problems.

I was fine today (see other thread). I wouldn’t worry if I were you.

 

[tdiatlast]

Here's the thread on gelling in the Northeast.
http://forums.tdiclub.com/showthread.php?t=485191

Thanks for posting this. Sounds like you guys are right, gelling IS a problem this winter. Sorry about that!

 

[Rico567]

Being that the Passat in my sig is our first diesel, I took it as a matter of faith after reading several threads here that a winter additive is good insurance. I used Opti-Lube XPD for 3 years, and since have been using PS White (which is easier to get). I have had no problems at all. This is by far the worst winter temperaturees the car's seen, and I admit I've been running an increased dosage of PS since it went down to -11F.
The other reason I always use an additive is to boost lubrication, since I live in a state where there may be more biodiesel in the mix. All the pumps say "5-20%," which isn't very specific.