Diesel Gelling Up

[Guest blatters]

You guys with the diesel engines............

 

Should I be concerned at the risk of diesel fuel beginning to cloud and then gel on the fuel filter?

 

I'm off to Austria in a few weeks and the temperature in the resort this week is around -15c at night.

 

I've seen plenty of Galaxy's there in the Summer but it occurs to me that the locals might have special heaters to keep the diesel flowing - don't think mine does?

 

Can you add an additive or do the fuel distributors do this in the winter for us so that what we buy at the pump is ok?

 

Any thoughts?

 

Regards :)

 

Blatters

[Guest Hankinson]

Last year in Austria we left it standing for 6 days with overnight temperatures of -12 deg C and she fired up okay when we left. No additatives used etc.

[widu13]

The companies put it in at the refinery these days.

[Guest FlyingDutchMan]

If I'm not mistaken, the fuel lines actually have a small heating element in it to 'melt' the diesel gell before it can clog up the injectors. It supposed to be located just where the fuel line leaves the tank. Together with a lot better quality diesel, it shouldn't be a problem anymore.

FDM

[Guest blatters]

To you three fellows who have been good enough to offer reassurance....thanks.

 

Here, for everyone else's information is what Shell Fuels said (& even though it's not written in the kind of plain English I speak it was kind of them to respond within 24hrs).

 

Dear Mr Blattman

Further to your email, please see the response from our Fuels Technical Manager as follows:

"Within Europe the fuel specification for automotive diesel is standardised upon EN590, but allows for the anticipated climatic variances seen in different European regions. In the UK the maximum Filter Flow (CFPP) limit is set at -15degC or below, whereas in Austria the limit is set at -20degC. As will be typical of the UK the diesel that you purchase from shell retail stations is likely to be circa -22degC CFPP or lower.

For info the -20degC CFPP during winter periods is achieved by blending the fuel with a Cold Flow Improver additive"

 

Kind Regards

Heather Whyte

Customer Relations - Retail

Shell UK Oil Products Limited,

Rowlandsway House, Rowlandsway, Manchester M22 5SB

 

I think they're saying that, if you fill up with Shell stuff, the diesel won't freeze at least until -22degC? Anyone think the same?

 

Blatters

 

PS. Anyone else confirm FlyingDutchMan's belief that the fuel line is heated anyway.....and is that standard on all TDi models?

[johnb80]

Fuel lines NOT heated as standard or even an option to my knowledge. You'll be fine unless it gets really cold. When the engine is running there's always a flow of warm diesel back to the tank so whilst travelling it's unlikely to be a problem. VW used to recommend up to 10% petrol in with diesel to lower it's gel point, it definately works, I had a VW Jetta Diesel in the 80's before 'Winter' diesel and had problems until I added the petrol.

 

Regards - JB

[Guest TDiAds]

Easiest thing is to fill up with their diesel when in austria, they use a lower temp diesel to us to solve the problem and its cheaper.

[malcolm.dobell]

In the old days "Cold Flow Improver additive" was petrol! About 10% petrol was added to diesel. Of course this can't happen today......can it?

[Guest FlyingDutchMan]

Is there anybody out there that has checked the fuel lines around the area where they leave the tank? I've been told that there should be a little square box there that is the heating element to warm the diesel and melt the gel?? Just haven't seen it myself.

No modern diesel is being delivered without it anymore, I've been told. Despite what the oil companies tell you, -15C is almost certain to clog up the injectors with gelled diesel. If diesel cars wouldn't have that, it is difficult to see how diesel cars would run properly in Southern Germany, Austria, Switserland etc. where in the winter it regularly can be as low as -25C. By the way, we also can thank the people in those countries with these nice wintery condition for complaining to VW and getting them to equip the cars with the much beloved aux heater as the first TDI's in the Galasharamba weren't able to get the interior warm in winter.....

Anyway, just as a matter of interest, has anybody ever experienced gelled diesel with their Gal???

FDM

[Guest MATT]

all I've noticed, is that i seem to be putting more fuel in? :unsure:

 

but otherwise, it runs fine.

 

MATT

[seatkid]

Despite what the oil companies tell you, -15C is almost certain to clog up the injectors with gelled diesel. If diesel cars wouldn't have that, it is difficult to see how diesel cars would run properly in Southern Germany, Austria, Switserland etc. where in the winter it regularly can be as low as -25C.

I've travelled many times to eastern europe, germany etc. During very cold spells you see the better stations advertising diesel suitable for use down to -23 deg C.

 

Gelling is not a big problem with low sulphur fuel and the exact formulation is altered to suit local market conditions. I've never had a problem starting the Alhambra even at - 20deg C.

 

Its rare to get a sustained period of -20deg C or lower in Europe. (Wind chill is not a factor to consider either)

 

Make sure your glowplugs and battery are in tiptop condition though, they're both essential for easy starting at those temperatures!

[Guest Hankinson]

The Shell Fuels Technical Manager speaks of CFFP. What is CFFP?

 

From Texaco: It is the combination of fuel behavior and fuel system design that causes filter plugging, not either one alone. While some fuel systems plug at the cloud point temperature, many others can operate several degrees below the cloud point. This is because low temperature filterability depends on the size and shape of wax crystals, not merely on their presence. There has been considerable effort to develop a laboratory test that correlates with field performance, especially for additized fuels.

 

One dynamic test that has been widely accepted in Europe is the Cold Filter Plugging Point of Distillate Fuels (CFPP).1 In this test, the sample is cooled by immersion in a constant temperature bath. Thus the cooling rate is non-linear, but fairly rapid

[Guest TDiAds]

Like I said in an earlier post "fill up with diesel from the country you are visiting, you wont have any problems because none of the locals do" :huh:

[Guest blatters]

Hello Guys,

 

Overwhelmed by the response so thanks very much.

 

Some thoughts:

 

1. will pack my thermals, snow shovel, chains & GPS avalanche survival unit!!!

 

2. yes, I will fill up at the Shell station in the ski valley resort. Clearly their diesel should be the best available for cold weather performance.

 

But........in my experience (I'm currently working through a degree course from the University of Life - hopefully, some time to go yet) I've learned that the local Austrians have cars equipped for Alpine winter weather that makes us lot look like a bunch of beginners.

 

There was my first year in the Alps with Summer Tyres and a set of Halfords chains. One chain broke (because it was useless as I found out when comparing it to the 'proper' ones) and the very same Shell station sold me some RUD chains for

[Guest vr6galaxy]

Not seen an fuel heater on any of the spares listings for TDI's although I have seen a couple of fuel coolers though :o for vehicles in warmer climes!