will diesel re-liquefy after jelling?

Bill from MA · Feb 16, 2011

Neighbor has a JD compact and last spring, after not running all winter, (started right up) the hydraulics behaved funny and she had to have the fluid changed.

I told her I"d start it up monthly but am sure it only has summer diesel in it. We have had some good cold spells (-10 one morning last month) this winter but it will be in the 50"s the next two days.

I am assuming if it stays in her garage all winter it"s okay, but if I mess up and the diesel jells, will it re-liquefy in warm weather?

Am I better off to just leave it alone?
Regards,

JMS/.MN · Feb 16, 2011

It will be ok when it warms up.

Birdman · Feb 16, 2011

Yes it will liquify when it warms. You can add the correct amount of anti-gel fuel treatment to it as well and fix it. Just follow the directions on the bottle.

Like anything else, at a certain point it's cold enough to freeze and turn to a semi-solid state as it warms back up it just goes back to liquid form.
Tons of good deisel fuel conditioners out there, just read the label and make sure you buy one that says anti jell fuel conditioner or something similar. Pour it in and give it time to work, with temps in the 50's you should be good to go.

BushogPapa · Feb 16, 2011

The fuel itself will be fine, it is the wax that is pulled into the fuel filter during cold weather operation that will remain and changing the filter would be a good idea..

Ron..

paul · Feb 16, 2011

It'll be ok when it warms up.

--->Paul

Ultradog MN · Feb 16, 2011

Don't try that with acid.
I had 5 gallons of acetic acid and left it in the garage. It froze. And turned into rubber. And despite warming it to summer temps it never got to be a liquid again.
$150 wasted. Can't even say down the drain because it was like a wonder ball and wouldn't pour.

Goose · Feb 16, 2011

Yeah. I routinely let my D19 sit over the winter and start it up on the same fuel in the spring.

Russ from MN · Feb 17, 2011

I would think the fuel will be fine, also if it's a wood frame garage you might be surprised how warm it stays inside. A pole building with just steel sheeting will be almost as cold as outside, and feel colder! I have a well insulated garage with no heat and it barely freezes inside in central MN.

buickanddeere · Feb 17, 2011

Starting the engine monthly gains little to nothing. The engine should have been fogged and the battery disconnected.

dej(Jed) · Feb 17, 2011

Yes-- It will return to a liquid state. The gelling begins with the first appearance of what we call the Cloud Point. This usually occurs about 15 degrees F above the Pour or gel point.

(fuelsandlubestechnologies.org)

onefarmer · Feb 17, 2011

The fuel will unjell just like water will unfreeze.

will diesel re-liquefy after jelling?

Bill from MA

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