its -10 out and i started the truck and let it idle for about 20 or so. engine temp was about 100 when i got into the truck. first thing i noticed was my service brake light was on along with the parking brake light and ABS light. when i parked it was fine so i figured it was a sensor that was just cold. i backed it up and took off.

half way up the hill the truck started bucking and i lost all power. i looked down and my CEL had came on. :mad: i limped it a few miles to a gas station and stopped and shut it off. i let it sit for a min then restarted. the service brake message and lights went away, the CEL was still there. i got back on the road and started to accelerate. truck started popping and spitting and wouldnt get above 2k rpms. i limped it home and shut it off.

now i just filled up a few days back. they start running the winter diesel here on october 1st and plus i added power service to the fuel. so i should be covered.

why in the hell did my truck gel? this is bs. happened to me last year while i was using a different antigel and it sucked changing the fuel filters. :mad:

oh and i dont remember if i got a CEL last year when i gelled. will it clear overnight or will i have to get a computer to clear it?

same problem today. stuck in north dakota because of blizzard. put in 911 and topped tank with #1 but still not coming out of it. I guess i might have to suck it up and change fuel filter in the snow bank what a bunch of BS.

think ill try 911 in the morning. if i remember right last year i put 911 in the filters and it still didnt help. but then again the truck was barely running last year, i could barley get it over 5mph.

i could at least drive it over 20 this time..

just a thought but if i gelled would i just have to change the secondary filter or both?

one would think all of the wax would be caught in the secondary filter leaving the engine one clear? thoughts?

Why take the chance? Change them both and know you started off with 2 clean filters.

Also, are you not running any additives?

OK. Exact same thing happened to me last year, -15F gelled WITH power service white...cel came on, no power above 2 grand. Limped it home/into heated garage, a few hours later it was "ungelled", ran fine...cel turned off on it's own after a few days. I changed the filter shortly after. I have since learned Power Service indicates on the back of the bottle to double the dosage when it's below 0 or something (don't have it in front of me). I've been doing that w/ even a bit extra. I also find driving with the winter front on keeps underhood temps up, which I think helps keep from gelling while driving in extreme temps. Also I hear letting it warm up good will allow fuel to warm as it goes through the underhood area, then any warm fuel circulated back to the tank helps warm the fuel already in it. (I don't know how true that lats bit is, though). That was the only time I gelled, that day I did NOT have enough PS in there, did NOT let it warm up, and did NOT use the winter front: Recipe for disaster I think. Hope this helps you...

Also, are you not running any additives?


power service in every tank. usually 8oz but 2x when its winter time

Why take the chance? Change them both and know you started off with 2 clean filters.

i did end up changing both. just sucks because there not cheap

i did end up changing both. just sucks because there not cheap


www.fleetfilter.com (http://www.fleetfilter.com)

Ther are $22 per filter for these trucks. You can stock up! Hope this helps.

If you want to stop the gelling problems you need to make sure the moisture is removed from your tank and you are running a good antigel. I run Conklins 4Power to clean the injectors and it removes the water by separating the oxygen from the hydrogen and the leaves the hydrogen to burn. I treat my tank with 4Power once every other month. This keeps the moisture out of my tank. Then I add Diesel Plus every tankful for lube and antigel in the winter. I get+2mpg on adverage.

power service in every tank. usually 8oz but 2x when its winter time

I don't understand why it gelled then? You would think the Power Service would of prevented it?

Try Howes. Excellent supplement for preventing gelling. I combination of Stanadyne and Howes.

Or try this! http://www.padheaters.com/fh50.html. Runs of your 12 volt battery.

The first year of the ULSD on the east coast, i gelled in the teens and had Stanadyne in the tank. I called Stanadyne on that Monday in a rage and they said you have to put in extra because the refineries are not winterizing the fuel like they use to. Stanadyne also said they had loads of customers that gelled that weekend in the northeast, School Bus Company's, Trucking Company's etc... They also said that they were going to have to get the word out to the midwest before that next winter when they started getting ULSD.

Try Howes. Excellent supplement for preventing gelling. I combination of Stanadyne and Howes.


i used to run howes till i read the report done here last year. howes scored low on the list.

I don't understand why it gelled then? You would think the Power Service would of prevented it?

exactally. im also at a loss

i cant remember but does all generation of dmax's have a fuel filter heater? and does it work when the truck is plugged in?

http://www.powerservice.com/ click - see the bottom title "winter" it has an instruction what to do for emergency procedure. This should correct the problem you have now. Anyway I look at the back of the white container (PS diesel supplement + cetane boost prevent fuel gelling) and says sub-zero add two times the additive.

i used to run howes till i read the report done here last year. howes scored low on the list.

It may have scored low on the list, but it has been around for a long time and has great anti-gel qualities. There is more to it than just lubrication. Use Howes, and follow the instructions on the bottle. You will be pleasantly surprised. I use both, and have not gelled yet. I have also used power service white and have not gelled with that either.

i cant remember but does all generation of dmax's have a fuel filter heater? and does it work when the truck is plugged in?



I believe all the Dmax's have the fuel heater, but as to it working when the truck is plugged in I would have to say no. The heater is only warming the engine coolant and does not connect any place else.

I believe all the Dmax's have the fuel heater, but as to it working when the truck is plugged in I would have to say no. The heater is only warming the engine coolant and does not connect any place else.

thats what i figured. just couldnt remember

So how or when does it work then?

Or try this! http://www.padheaters.com/fh50.html. Runs of your 12 volt battery.

RI Chevy -- Do you have one? I thought the padheater is fantastic. So I emailed for the price of the padheater. Just got email and said the price is $80 dollars. I dont know if it is worth money. I feel it is better to use anti-gel additive because it goes thru all fuel lines, pump and fuel filter as well.

I don't have one, but several members here do. They all swear by them. Search for some past history on them and the members that have them and use them.

If you want to stop the gelling problems you need to make sure the moisture is removed from your tank and you are running a good antigel. I run Conklins 4Power to clean the injectors and it removes the water by separating the oxygen from the hydrogen and the leaves the hydrogen to burn. I treat my tank with 4Power once every other month. This keeps the moisture out of my tank. Then I add Diesel Plus every tankful for lube and antigel in the winter. I get+2mpg on adverage.

funniest post of the year... 'it removes the water by separating the oxygen from the hydrogen and the leaves the hydrogen to burn.'

have you divined how to turn lead into gold as well?

ahm

I have gelled twice this winter both times with a higher dose of Howe's. I used it last winter with great success, had trouble the year before with Power Service. I don't know what to use, I have jugs of both sitting in the garage.

Any more input of the filter heater would be great. The $80 for the heater is about 3 fuel filters, I have already changed 2 this month.

i called napa and this weekend im going down to look at an insulated filter cover. it basically a heat wrap for a starter that i can zip tip to the aux filter on my truck. hopefully it will hold in a few degrees of heat...

Pics before you put it on???

I used socks as a temporary fix. I am thinking of having my Mom make a wrap for mine with velcro. It would be something similar to a beer can/bottle coolie thingy.

sure ill take pictures. should get it figured out this weekend

Thanks! Have a great Holiday!

here is my pictures.

i got 2ft of the insulation from ace, it was about 4$ a foot. i had the gorilla glue and the zip ties already.

measurements around the filter were 11" and i believe it was 8" long.

i laid out the insulation and cut it at 8" long and 2ft wide. that left me with a little overlap for more protection.

next i rolled up the insulation and went and checked the fit around the filter. after i had the correct fit i applied gorilla glue all over the overlap and tapped the end down so it wouldnt unravel. do not apply glue to where the filter will touch the insulation.

next i cut out a circle of insulation and cut slits all around the circle. i cut the circle a little big so i would have plenty of overlap when i went to insert it into the sleeve.

next step is to apply gorilla glue to the inside of the insulation sleeve where the circle will sit. insert the circle in the top of the sleeve and slide it to the bottom where the glue is at. i left it where it was flush with the bottom of the sleeve.

after it dried for a few hours i took it outside and zip tied it on.

if you have any questions please feel free to ask.

Nice job! Thanks for the ideas and the photos! Keep us posted on your results!