Maintain fuel tanks for cold weather performance

Before cold weather strikes, take steps to ensure problem-free engine performance and protect your valuable diesel equipment. With proper tank maintenance and fuel handling, you can avoid most common cold-weather problems.

In frigid conditions, ice formation in fuels containing water can create severe fuel line and filter plugging problems. Water is dissolved in and carried by all diesel fuels. At temperatures below 32°F, water that has collected in fuel-filters freezes. This causes decreased fuel flow to the engine and results in reduced engine power or engine shutdown.

It’s important to regularly remove water from storage tanks, vehicle fuel tanks and filter bowls, and to follow these guidelines:

• Tilt tanks to direct water and debris away from the outlet
• Pressurize tanks to keep vapor and air inside
• Drain and remove all contaminants every three months
• Install proper filtration systems on bulk tanks
• Replace fuel filters according to manufacturer recommendations; if filters have a drain valve, periodically drain water that may accumulate from condensation
• Clean pump screens regularly
• Request periodic fuel sampling for quality assurance purposes
• Have tanks cleaned annually

Power Service Diesel Additives, available at your participating Co-op, help prevent and treat fuel gelling and fuel-filter icing.
For temperatures below 30^oF, add Power Service Diesel Fuel Supplement + Cetane Boost to:

• Prevent fuel gelling
• Protect against fuel filter icing or waxing
• Boost cetane for faster cold starts
• Protect fuel pumps and injectors from increased wear caused by lower-quality diesel fuel
• Install proper filtration systems on bulk tanks
• Replace fuel filters according to manufacturer recommendations; if filters have a drain valve, periodically drain water that may accumulate from condensation
• Clean pump screens regularly
• Request periodic fuel sampling for quality assurance purposes
• Have tanks cleaned annually

If your vehicle will not start or gain power in cold weather, use Power Service Diesel 911, a winter emergency use product, to restore the flow of diesel fuel to an engine stalled by gelled fuel or frozen fuel filters. Power Service Diesel 911 and Power Service Diesel Fuel Supplement + Cetane Boost are compatible in diesel fuel and may be used at the same time.

To learn more about Power Service Diesel Additives, visit www.powerservice.com. For help with selecting the right winterizing products for your farm equipment, visit the professionals at your local Co-op.