UK cold and using diesel motors.

[John Gryphon]

As I live in a colder area the only diesel is Alpine Diesel available (with the added cost in it too) What's the go in the UK? Do you add yourself or does the fuel company pre mix it?

Alpine Diesel - Do you even need it?

Dex Fulton gives us the lowdown on Alpine Diesel, including what it is, why and when you need it, and what to do when you get caught out.

rvdaily.com.au

 

[Turnips]

When we order ours they put an additive in it, if it’s going to be in the tank over winter.

Couldn’t tell you what’s in it, but it costs a little bit extra per litre.

 

[Smellydog]

In the rare event we go to -15c I add petrol.

 

[HonestJohn]

Completely irrelevant to the UK unless we hit another ice age

 

[John Gryphon]

In the rare event we go to -15c I add petrol.

isnt that injurious to a diesel donk?

 

[Smellydog]

isnt that injurious to a diesel donk?

Mk1 golf manuals use to say below -10 add one gallon of petrol to 8 diesel.

Incidentally I accidentally put three gallons of petrol in my diesel, about 1/4 tank full prior.
I then filled it with diesel.
Probably 7 derv to 3 petrol.
Drove fine.

 

[Smellydog]

Donk!

 

[Bavarianbrit]

The modern German army used kerosene as an additive. No good at Kursk though.

 

[Dunwaters]

Add a couple of litres petrol to a tank of diesel, say 2-3 in a 60L fill.
We picked up the trick from the East Europeans that moved here.
Cheap, cheerful and it works down to around -10C.

 

[Malxwal]

I ran an older 3l Toyota on veggie oil for over 100k, thinned it down with petrol, and a splash of whatever engine oil was lying about to lubricate the fuel pump. She could be a bit lumpy once the cold start cut out, until the fuel had circulated a bit. That was in -5 deg C

 

[tackb]

depends on your engine , old school proper diesel just slop some petrol in she'll be fine

modern common rail with all the emmissions duckery i'd use a proper diesel or proper additives , the systems are about as robust as a warm mars bar at the best of times

(ps , why does my auto correct think i want to tell people to duck off?)

 

[8x57]

Not usually considered necessary in the U.K. however some police forces and fire services particularly those in rural areas resort to spiked diesel as a precaution in the winter months.

 

[John Gryphon]

Has anyone at all had their diesel 'jellied'

 

[Bavarianbrit]

Has anyone at all had their diesel 'jellied'

My old LR Disco had summer diesel in it that I then parked in my garage when I worked away from Germany, I came back for Xmas and it would not start and I had to have an electric fan heater on all day to warm the 3 car garage up till it de jellified, then I drove off to the garage for filling up with winter diesel to thin it out. I had never heard of this problem before it happened, the village neighbours all assumed I knew about it.

 

[co’den]

Has anyone at all had their diesel 'jellied'

Not for about 30 years. UK diesel has all the additives for UK temperatures.

 

[John Gryphon]

Completely irrelevant to the UK unless we hit another ice age

?

Not for about 30 years. UK diesel has all the additives for UK temperatures.

Ah so the diesel fuel is premixed, perhaps many don't know of it.
Cold is cold IE same in Aus as the UK.
I have heard how a few of the hunters have had to light a small fire under their 4wd`s in the high country after cold nights.
Also I read many and I mean many years ago that the dozers etc in Antarctica were left running 24hrs a day so their fuel didn't jelly.
I just had a quick look up.

"type of diesel mostly used in the Antarctic and sub-Antarctic region is light grade fuel known as Special Antarctic blend (SAB) diesel, due to its low density and viscosity, which are needed to prevent its solidification at low temperatures "

 

[HonestJohn]

all we get here is rain and 5-15 degrees basically. 300+ days a year

 

[John Gryphon]

all we get here is rain and 5-15 degrees basically. 300+ days a year

I love winter, its cold and even the rainy days but not for 300.

 

[Smellydog]

depends on your engine , old school proper diesel just slop some petrol in she'll be fine

modern common rail with all the emmissions duckery i'd use a proper diesel or proper additives , the systems are about as robust as a warm mars bar at the best of times

(ps , why does my auto correct think i want to tell people to duck off?)

Check post#6.
Modern diesel with the bull**** bits.

 

[Dunwaters]

Has anyone at all had their diesel 'jellied'

Not the fuel, but I had a gearbox that took a while to warm up.
Mind you it was bloody cold.
I had to sit there engine running until it engaged.