How to keep your diesel truck from gelling in an Alberta winter

Diesel fuel gelling prevention for your Ford truck 

Want to know how to keep your diesel truck from gelling this winter? In Alberta, we see many days below the diesel fuel freezing point, which can be an issue for diesel truck drivers. Luckily, there are some ways to prevent diesel fuel gelling, as we’ll see below. At Sherwood Ford, we offer diesel truck service and parts replacement, so visit us if you experience any issues this winter. 

What temperature does diesel gel at? The gel point of diesel fuel 

If you’re wondering what the diesel fuel gel point is, diesel fuel gelling can occur below 12 degrees Celsius. In Edmonton and Sherwood Park, we see many days colder than the diesel gelling point, so it’s important to take precautions to prevent this from occurring.  

How to keep your diesel fuel from gelling: A quick guide for truck owners 

There are really only three methods for keeping your truck running this winter. Either you need to keep your fuel above the diesel fuel gelling point, you need to add a cold flow improver (CFI) to your diesel fuel during the winter, or you need to switch to diesel fuel that doesn’t gel. 

Unfortunately, most diesel truck owners in Alberta don’t have the option of keeping their truck warm. That means you’ll have to work with option two: adding a CFI to your diesel fuel.  

How a CFI can keep your diesel truck running past the gelling point 

The gelling point is the temperature at which paraffin wax freezes. Paraffin wax is an ingredient in diesel fuel, and once it freezes, it can no longer flow through your truck’s fuel filter. This makes your engine inoperable at cold temperatures. 

How can a CFI help? A CFI can dissolve the bonds in paraffin wax, breaking frozen crystals into smaller parts. These smaller parts can still pass through the fuel filter and allow your truck to work as normal. 

Diesel fuel that doesn’t gel: What type of diesel fuel doesn’t gel? 

No. 1 diesel fuel is free of paraffin wax, which means you can use it in cold temperatures without fear of fuel gelling. If you don’t want to go through the process of buying a CFI and blending it with your diesel fuel, you should stick to No. 1 diesel fuel in the winter. You can find premium diesel fuel additives for No. 1 diesel to keep additives at the proper levels. 

Where to get diesel truck winter services 

Sometimes engine issues in winter can point to a larger problem than diesel fuel gelling. That’s where Sherwood Ford can help. At our dealership, we offer diesel truck services for Ford trucks and other diesel truck brands. Here’s why you’ll love us: