As we all know the winter season can bring harsh weather with freezing temperatures. Just as we bundle up to protect us from the cold, diesel fuel needs protection as well to get through the ice-cold winter season.
In cold climates diesel fuel can be susceptible to gelling. Paraffin wax, present in all diesel, improves lubricity and viscosity. But when temperatures drop, the wax will begin to thicken and form into a crystal-like state. Known as the cloud point, wax crystals will stick together and the fuel will have a cloudy appearance. As the gelling process reaches the Cold Filter Plugging Point (CFPP), the wax crystals will begin to clog fuel filters and prevent your engine from running. Diesel fuel can ultimately solidify to a point where it will no longer flow, referred to as the pour point.
So what can be done to prevent diesel gelling? Winter diesel additives can be added to improve fuel performance when you need it most. Additives can reduce the rate that diesel gels by preventing wax crystals from grouping together. Premium winter additives contain other advantages like cold flow improvers that reduce the CFPP, cetane enhancers that improve cold starting and detergents that can remove harmful deposits that form on fuel injectors.
It’s essential to have a diesel winterization plan in place. Be sure to check with your fuel supplier to make sure they provide a winter fuel additive. Additives and occasional fuel samples and testing are inexpensive ways to ensure that your fleet will continue to run when the weather dips.
Atlas Oil offers Platinum Power, a premium diesel additive. For more information on the advantages of Platinum Power click here.