Guys, thanks a bunch for the helpful info and tips.
I did pick up a bottle of Power Service winter fuel supplement yesterday. It was a Quart size bottle, and said it treats 100 gallons below 30*, and 50 gallons below 0*. We are not supposed to drop below zero, nor get up to 30* for the next 5-6 days. I poured 1/3 of the bottle in, (since the tank is basically 1/3 of 100 gallons), then pumped in 20 gallons of fuel to mix things up. Drove 15 miles before parking it, to (hopefully) get some treated fuel through the pump, lines, filter and injectors.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: FootbrakeJim,

I put some of the Power Service treatment in my old Dodge yesterday in Conroe Tx before we came home to Tyler. No injector noise at all. You can really tell the difference.

Since I am new to the Power Service additive, does it come in a smaller size bottle? Here is the label on the back, check out the Handling Precautions at the bottom. Sure seems kinda silly they would intentionally make it so the screw on cap doesn't seal?
Back label
Since it treats 100 gallons, maybe this is the size for semi tractors. It was all they had at the local parts store. I wasn't gonna toss out 2/3 of the bottle, so I used a bungee to tie it upright in the bed til I got home.

Edit: Looks like the picture isn't showing up. Flickr is messed up these days, tried to use Google Photos, apparently that doesn't work either...
It is a balmy 15* here now, haven't fired it up yet today. I didn't plug it in last night.. Kinda thinking an oil pan heater might be better than a block heater, for a diesel...

This message has been edited. Last edited by: FootbrakeJim,

IDK my Son in Law gave me a big jug good for 250.

My truck holds 50 gallons and had roughly 40 gallons in it. I poured 16oz in it and put the rest on the shelf for next time. I did start it up and run it for 10 minutes to circulate it thru the fuel system

The Power Service is very good stuff,not only for the anti-gel,but also the cetane boost and lubrication for the injectors.

dtye knows ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ use all year and they also make a product called Diesel Kleen and it also has Cetane Boost in it.

Used to use Power Service but switched to a gallon of kerosene per tank for iffy fuel in early December or using truck stops going cross country for sleddin' in the mountains. Take a smell of Power Service and then try to figure out why you're paying up to $12 for a quart of Kerosene with some diesel fuel with a little added cetane.
Like everyone else said plug your truck in and it will help start p in initial running. For one week, I wouldn't worry about oil weight. 15-40 will be a bit thick. It'll be ok as long as your batteries are in good shape.
Just got off of LOW where the overnite temp was -33F and had to use a generator for the heater and an extra battery to get it started. My diesel hates me now...

4'-8' more snow on it's way Predicted wind chills 20-25 below. Added 5 gallons kerosene to each service truck. Gels ups,, Tow em in.. I give up. Can't take the punishment any more trying to get em fired up and down the road. Working on the shoulder of the road. Done...Designated fuel stops stating fully treated fuel.
Believe NOTHING.. Come up here to the north. Don't bank on a quart in each tank of treatment. NEVER had a jell up when they are running fuel tank heaters..EVER.

Never used additive until last month in 5 years and truck sits for long period of time. Only drive it in winter when roads might be bad.

I only added it last month at recommondation of buddy that works on them. He said it helps cut down on algae that can sometimes grow in it.

Never plug it in either. 13* this morning and it started with phone start no problem.

I try to only buy fuel from places like SHEETZ and other reputable lotions that you can assume keep up on their tanks and where they buy it from.

quote:

Originally posted by Bucky:
I'm wondering if my tractor will start tomorrow. Need to move some firewood. I don't think there is a block heater on it.

Grew up on a farm in my much younger days. To get the old Massey Harris 55 started on cold days, we just put a one burner Coleman stove under the oil pan to warm up the oil. No blocker heater and no electricity to the shed that the tractor was parked in.

Even at work, trying to get some diesels started after they've been sitting for days in the cold, a propane heater aimed at the oil pan really helps. I've also stuck a tiger torch into a curved exhaust stack to get heat at the oil pan.

Webasto preheaters are such a good investment when you can't park close to shore power. Turn them on and wait an hour before starting the engine. Freightliners use a ThermoKing Evolution APU which is also good to get a cold engine warmed up. They're a little more complicated as they'll also keep the charging system topped up and can provide AC for the sleeper when the truck engine isn't running.

Many new diesel engines do not recommend 15w40 in them any more. 10w30 diesel oil is more than enough. Same goes for new cars. 10W30 is too thick.

When things were simple. Cut down 55 gallon barrel. Throw some charcoal briquettes in it and under the oil pan it went. In case of wind, we would wrap a tarp around the front. And to think things are rough now? lol. They could be so lucky.

Those were the "Real coal Rollers"

He**, i have even taken an old HD exhaust hose from a running truck and corked it into the cold dead truck exhaust.It would warm that bad boy up.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: TD3550,

-1 Yesterday afternoon. Got some 911 in the tractor just in case.. All fuel around here should be treated...but

Few hours later hit the glow plugs to cycle once and it started pretty much right up without complaints. Inside ventalated barn, but out of wind anyhow. Newer Kioti. Electronic, which I'm not sure is better or worse for cold starts. Hydro pump complained for a while.

Charcoal under the tractor is a great idea. Wouldn't want a real leaker of a tractor I suppose.

I had a '96 GMC 454 pickup that I bought new.

One very cold morning below 10 degrees when I started it up there was a very loud screetch/squeal followed by a thud.....

No power steering....No power brakes.....

I drove it to work anyway....took back roads and luckily it's under 10 miles...

Power steering pump shaft snapped and somehow the serpentine belt/pulley stayed on so water pump was working.

It was a 4x4 3/4 ton pickup...Real fun to steer and try to stop.....used the e-brake....been there before...

Same truck lost an idler one day on a trip to Pa. Ended up on a flatbed to home.

Lost an idler on my Duramax and again drove it back to work serpentine belt ripped off....No P/S, Steering nearly impossible dead stopped.....I made it...

Hate getting towed....

quote:

Originally posted by TD3550:
4'-8' more snow on it's way Predicted wind chills 20-25 below.

Did you mean feet? I would be packing up for certain.

The back yard. Bad drift covers most of the back yard. 1/2 way up the glass sliding doors. Have to dig what i can to get the dog out. He is freaking out and looking at Pops. WTH. ole man.

2015 duramax wont start with key fob this morning.heater plugged in, addative in tank.had a real hard time yesterday,would hit and die.0 deg this morning

Put a quart of Emergency Thaw in it. It will dissolve the ice crystals and the paraffin. The big trucks normally get 2 gallons in each tank and i have a large spoon that i stir it up with from the cap area. I have even pulled the filters directly and filled with Emergency Thaw and fired them. That's in the big trucks. I have had to use a bullet heater at a safe distance several times aiming it at the fuel tank. STEEL TANK ONLY..If it is a plastic tank. DO NOT DO THIS.....
https://peterbiltparts.com/202..._EAQYAiABEgKFUvD_BwE

This message has been edited. Last edited by: TD3550,

Dang Rusty. I hope you didn't get a batch of bad fuel. My 2015 started yesterday with no heater, when it was 15* outside. It didn't sound real happy for the first 15 seconds or so. I let it warm up for almost 10 minutes before heading off. I followed Rich's advice last night, plugged it in while the engine was still warm. Our big problem is the rolling power blackouts, we have been averaging 20 minutes on, and 40 off for the past 36 hours, so I wondered how the block heater would do. I checked things out with my scan tool at 5:00 this morning, (didn't start it up), it said coolant temp was 69.8*F, and ambient was -0.4*F, intake temp 25* so it is definitely worth using, imho.

Im dealing with the same thing now Rusty. I can't keep mine running. I've drained seperators and added the rest of the additive I had. I guess I may have find the Diesel 911 additive.