I was driving home from work tonight, when I realized the truck would not accelerate over 45 mph getting on to the hwy, I pulled off at the next exit, & the truck stalled. Then it started right back up, I was able to drive a few blocks, & it happened again. Finally, it would only start, run for about 3-5 seconds, & die again. I was stuck! Its pretty cold out tonight, about 6 degrees. I have driven the truck in these temps before with no fuel problems. (I think the fuel is formulated for the low temps) I didn't have a spare filter, & the one that is in the truck has only about 1200 miles on it. Could it be plugged? When I opened the vent, & pressed the primer, fuel fowed out, very easy. Not sure if that means anything at all. Don't want to call the dealer if I don't have too. Its not suposed to get above 10 degrees for a few days, so I don't know what to do, and am not sure if it is even the fuel anyway. As of now, its sitting in a hotel parking lot 30 miles from home:(

any input would be great

With the low temps I would bet on fuel gelling. The fuel near the engine is warm, farther back it is not, you are just running out of fuel.

You need to double-up on a winter additive in the tank. You can also partially pre-fill the oem fuel filter with additive too. If you can get it inside a heated garage, that would help too.

You DID try to drain water at the fuel, yes?

Same happend to me truck would not accelerate after 40 mph, but drive home and next day was fine, outside temp was around 20 but day before it was around 0 and no probelm, what to do? so it wount happen again?

How much fuel did you have in the tank? Even with winter blend if you don't keep the tank full at the extended low temps your likely to see in Green Bay you susceptible to gelling. Do you use any additives like Diesel power service? I would highly recomend it. The ony time I've ever had trouble was one trip snowmobiling in Eagle River (forgot to run additive):mad: and we had the same problem. Withe the fuel gelled up we could run about 40mph :( too and that was pedal to the board. Run the additive, besides anti-gelling effects products like Power Service also have cleaning agents for the injectors and boost the octane a few points as well as a few other things. A gallon jug is good for up to 300 gallons or so.:)

Thanks for the info guys! The truck was down to about 1/6th tank, before stopping for fuel about 10 mins before this happened. Now its full. I did add anti-gel formula to the tank, but after the fact. So I doubt its getting to the filter. Because of where the truck is, I will have to work on it in a parking lot, or have it towed 30 miles. I hate the idea of changing the filter in this weather. I did cark the water seperator & fuel came out, not sure if there was any water or not. I couldn't see very well.
I am a new diesel owner, & am learning the hard way on a few things.

Another idea......Try and find a nearby shop or something nearby that has a heated storage are. Float them some cash to park it inside for a few hours to warm things up. If it runs fine once warm try adding some additive to the fuel (if not already done) and let it run thru the fuel system for awhile.

Wow 40th, you filled up the tank and a few minutes later you're not runnin. Looks like the fuel station owes you for the breakdown. Keep your receipts. It looks like you'll be dumping that tank of fuel. Good luck.

Generally all the fuel stops around here either mix their fuel with #1, or use an additive to lower the cold pour point. Unless you buy all of your fuel from a trusted supplier, you don't know what you're getting.
I always use an additive at every fillup, all year round. In cold weather, you especially need it to prevent gelling, but the other benefits are lubrication, higher cetane, water emulisifier, stabilizer, and other benefits.

I use FPPF Total Power:
http://www.fppf.com/prdTotalP01.html
The other one I would use is Primrose 409 or 405:
http://www.primrose.com/wtds/409%20Flow-Master%20WTDS.pdf
http://www.primrose.com/wtds/405%20Power-Master%20WTDS.pdf

The other thing needed in the cold is good batteries, to ensure the minimum RPM, (I think it's 100 RPM) is achieved when starting your engine.
I've been running my Duramax for three years and never had any problems starting or driving. The coldest I've started and run in has been -10 Deg F.

If you're still having problems, I'm about 30 miles from you, and have extra filters. Maybe I can help. I don't think 0 Deg. is that cold, and I've changed filters before.

The truck was down to about 1/6th tank, before stopping for fuel about 10 mins before this happened. Now its full. I did add anti-gel formula to the tank, but after the fact. So I doubt its getting to the filter.
Just wait till 3 pm heat of the day.

Make it a point to run on the top half of the tank. Later! Frank

03 duramax left me stranded in the cold!

maybe it should say, 03 duramax left me stranded in the cold due to incorect fuel i had put in, beware

Thanks for all the input guys. Last night I got it into a heated shop. Pulled the filter & it had chunks of ice around the drain/water sensor. I installed a new filter & could not get fuel to flow with the primer pump. Must have pressed that thing 100 times & got nothing. Guessing ice is frozen in the lines too. On Sunday I am planning On going back & trying it again. Is it safe to say that adding the "fuel additive" after the fact will do nothing to cure the problem? Once the tank is brought back to room temperature will the additive take effect?
Not sure IF I sould run it once its together again, or just have it towed & drained. How much water is too much were it won't seperate in the filter?

Thanks again, 68

Can you get it "plugged in". The block heater may radiate enough heat after a few hours, to get you thawed out, so you can flush.

The gas station should be doing this, not you.
It's a no-brainer that they did this to you.

Power Service makes a product call something similar to "Diesel 911" - never used it but I've heard from others who have that it has gotten them out of a few similar jams.

Power service markets diesel 911, it's in a red bottle.

Just wait till 3 pm heat of the day.

I sure hope you're joking! It was 12*F this AM on the way to work. Now, at 11:00am it's down to 10*. By 3 pm it will probably be even lower yet
:)

I wasn't, but I see your point. Gotta get it inside.

FPPF Emergency Melt Down or Power Service 911 are supposed to melt through frozen fuel systems to get you going, but they contain alcohol, which is bad for our fuel systems.
If you are in a bind, this is an option, but it should only be used in emergency situations, and NOT routinely.

If you had water frozen in the filter and now with a new filter you are not able to prime it and you just filled up a little while before this all started, I would say there's a good chance that you pumped a good amoount of water into your tank instead of fuel.
The fuel line is probablly frozen with water now too and won't let any fuel pass. Keep it in the heated shop to help melt the ice in the lines too. Then try repriming and see if you get any fuel. If you do then open the drain valve and see if you get any more water out before you start. If you do then reprime again and check for water again and keep doing it till no water. If you only got a little water at the fuel station this may work for you but if you got a lot of water at the fuel station you may end up having to drain the tank and clean out the lines.
Diesel engines are very good engines with little maintence BUT one of the things they need is clean uncontaminated fuel.
If this ends up costing you excess money out of pocket and turns out to be water in your fuel you should go back and talk to the station owner with reciepts in hand about a little restuition.
Don't know where you bought your fuel but it should always be at a high volume or trusted station or at a local truck stop.
If your going on a trip somewhere and need to buy fuel on the road look up the truckstops on the net that will be on your way and plan to stop there.

Edit. Also don't forget to run a good fuel additive no matter where you get your fuel from. There's many debates about which too use (emulsify or demulsify) and a search on the subject will bring many pages of reading. Personally I use one of the 2 that GM recommends (Stanadyne)

My .02

PS. 40th Vette was the 93 model year wasn't it, Ruby red if I remember correctly. Nice looking color

You could also work on heating the fuel line and filter fittings with a hair dryer or heat gun if you have one. Fittings are big for creating a restriction in the fuel flow, and are the 1st place to look for ice.
Like everybody else, I hope you get back on the road , and this turns around for you.

Tow that sucker home and put it in a heated garage. I wouldn't leave my truck anywhere out of my sight over night. You could have got that water at the last fill up or had it already. Doesn't matter now. The smallest passages on the inlet side of the pump are in the primer pump passages and check valves. If you are not going to tow it, try the hair dryer on the top of the filter. Later! Frank

Some TDI folks are dumping hot water on the pump and filter housing when gelled.

They say it works.