Winter Diesel Blending + A Case Study

How Much Blend and When?

1/3 the cost of a 50/50 blend, without the negative effects. Using PFS Arctic Xtreme/PLUS Complete Winter Formula every time is taking the biggest step for a trouble free operation, but is that enough? For Normal winter operation it should be safe to use #2 fuel with PFS Arctic Xtreme or Arctic Plus (mixed according to directions) to approximately –15°F. This is providing the equipment and filters are in proper working order and the fuel being used is a quality winter refined #2 fuel.  At temps of –15°F.  PFS recommends a 15% #1 fuel blend. For every 5°F. colder PFS recommends an additional 15% with a max blend of 45-50%.

How Much Blend and When?

Using PFS Arctic Xtreme/PLUS Complete Winter Formula every time is taking the biggest step for a trouble free operation, but is that enough? For Normal winter operation it should be safe to use #2 fuel with PFS Arctic Xtreme or Arctic Plus (mixed according to directions) to approximately –15°F. This is providing the equipment and filters are in proper working order and the fuel being used is a quality winter refined #2 fuel.  At temps of –15°F.  PFS recommends a 15% #1 fuel blend. For every 5°F. colder PFS recommends an additional 15% with a max blend of 45-50%

What Happened?

Just as the buses are different than they were twenty years ago, so is diesel fuel; so to treat winter fuel the same old way is not only costly, but dangerous. It is one thing to have a bus stranded in the middle of a blizzard and it’s another to be stranded with passengers.

When problems occur during the cold, it is automatically assumed to be gel. Sometimes this may be true, but in many cases it is simply the result of a viscosity problem.  When fuel becomes thick, pumping it through fuel lines and filters may be impossible. Older 30 micron filters have much less restriction than the new 5 or 10 micron or smaller filters. These filters are so tight that they can be almost impossible to pull cold thick fuel through without a fuel pre-heater or #1 being added.  A filter that is partially dirty will also restrict flow.  Even without wax in the filter, the engine may starve for fuel and won’t run. Viscosity failure results in a filter that is about half full or almost empty.  Gelled filters have wax build up on the element.

How Does This Work?

#1 diesel flows easily in the cold and can also thin out heavier #2, which helps it to flow easily in the cold.  #1 is not an anti-gel, but it contains less wax. The average drop in CFPP with a 50/50 blend is about 8°F. PFS Arctic Xtreme/Plus is far more effective than #1 at reducing wax build up but neither a #1 blend nor any anti-gel can solely guarantee success . Even if a blend keeps the fuel thin but wax forms on the filter the engine will starve and go down. If using #2 with an anti-gel can keep fuel from gelling, it may still get too thick and heavy to pull through the fuel filter and system. The best way to protect against engine shut down is to use a combination of both. The use of PFS Arctic Xtreme/Plus will complement a blended fuel, while also providing higher lubricity and performance lacking in a basic blended diesel fuel.

I Never Thought Of That:

Understanding all of the different cold weather terminology can be difficult and misleading like “winterized #2 or winter blend”. Many think this is a blended fuel but it’s not. Winterized #2/Winter blend, is just that; #2 modified for cold weather operation.  Arctic Xtreme/Plus Antigel and a proper blend will give the best assurance of trouble free fuel related winter operation.