Winter Diesel Operability

Having trouble with machines not starting? Gelling fuel? Sluggish engine performance? As we go through the harshest months of Canadian winter, it is time to rethink winter operability and how you prepare for those big temperature drops. Downtime due to cold weather-induced fuel and filter issues can be costly to your operation. Implementing a fuel quality management program can help you avoid those headaches.

Start with your storage tanks. Water and wax are held in suspension in all diesel fuel. As temperatures drop, both water and wax separate from the fuel, fall to the bottom of the tank and sometimes cause problems by restricting fuel flow and plugging filters. Removing the free water in the bottom of the storage tank and changing the filter can help. After all, a dirty, half-clogged filter that has been doing its job is much easier to plug than a brand new one.

Using a quality cold flow improver is another way to help eliminate problems. A well-formulated cold flow improver should contain a non-alcohol based deicer component and a couple of wax-control components. Look for a formulation with;

• A deicer component that suppresses the freezing point of water in the fuel and protects fuel lines and filters from freezing, often when equipment sits idle overnight 
• A wax modifier component that keeps wax crystals from sticking together, forming platelets and becoming large enough to plug filters and restrict fuel flow 
• A wax anti-settling agent that keeps the wax particles dispersed and suspended to prevent them from falling to the bottom of the tank.