I have a Land Rover Discovery with a 3.0L turbo diesel engine. Although I have owned it a couple of years, I've not taken it into cold weather.

My wife is planning a trip to Yosemite this January. It's not particularly cold there, likely lows in the 20's--but we'll be staying in a cabin outside of the valley which may potentially mean a few thousand feet of elevation gain and possible overnight temps in the single digits. A garage may or may not be available.

Because I am driving from Southern California, the diesel fuel here is not winterized. I think it would be prudent to winterize the fuel myself with an anti-gelling additive for the tank of fuel I start my trip with. I presume diesel fuel that I find up there will be properly winterized for the climate.

So, with that in mind, does anyone have a brand of anti-gelling diesel fuel additive they'd like to recommend?

Given the chemistry involved I don't think it matters much who, so much as just adding what you need. I happen to like stanadyne winter since they make fuel pumps, but its sometimes problematic to find. but I have used power service since a zillion years and it has never an issue. And all the long haul people I know swear by Howes.

FWIW we use Power Service Diesel supplement anti-gel in all of our fire apparatus in the wintertime.

This is the bottle:

Fifteen years long haul, always used Howes. It worked fine in Williston ND one winter when it got down to -38. I literally had to light a propane stove under the truck to get it started, but the fuel wasn’t gelled. Oil was like peanut butter.

My first recommendation would be the Diesel All-In-One from AMSOIL. I say that only because I'm an Independent AMSOIL Dealer. Between Howes and PS, I would go with Howes only because it has better lubricating properties for the fuel system. However, the quart bottles are difficult to pour into the fill neck, and measure the proper ratio of additive to fuel capacity. Stanadyne is also an excellent choice, but is not readily available.

quote:

Originally posted by sigcrazy7:
Fifteen years long haul, always used Howes. It worked fine in Williston ND one winter when it got down to -38. I literally had to light a propane stove under the truck to get it started, but the fuel wasn’t gelled. Oil was like peanut butter.

Always used Howe's in my diesel converted Land Rover Series 1 Discovery with 2.8L Powerstroke.

Also, for my 97 Ram 2500 Cummins 12V. Even with the hideously cold winters we had in 2014/2015, fuel was always fine.

Best prices found were at Menards.

The big bottles are a little tricky to pour, but not the end of the world. As for measuring, always just eyeballed it and erred on the side of more. The directions say it's not a concern to dose too heavily and they also have a tow guarantee.

I like the Opti-Lube product line -

https://opti-lube.com/diesel-fuel-additives/

quote:

Originally posted by ryan81986:
FWIW we use Power Service Diesel supplement anti-gel in all of our fire apparatus in the wintertime.

This is the bottle:

Power Service makes EXCELLENT products. I've used them in yachts for over 10 years.......You REALLY want to consider getting a block or pan heater installed. Regardless of the the fuel not gelling, the oil and cylinders will be very cold and think it would be hell to get it started, once cold in those temperatures.

Thanks for the replies everyone. Nice to have people chime in with first hand experience.

I used to be a partsman in a commercial truck dealership, GM & Isuzu. We sold Power Service products exclusively.

quote:

Originally posted by ryan81986:
FWIW we use Power Service Diesel supplement anti-gel in all of our fire apparatus in the wintertime.

This is the bottle:

This is what I use in my pickup. We've had temps getting down past -20F. I also carry a bottle of Power Service 911 (red bottle) just in case it gels up, but in the 12 years I've had my pickup I've never had to use it.

I use that pictured white bottle Power Service in the winter and their gray bottle in the summer for my skid steer. I believe they are also the official recommended product of Cummins.

quote:

Originally posted by ShouldBFishin:

quote:

Originally posted by ryan81986:
FWIW we use Power Service Diesel supplement anti-gel in all of our fire apparatus in the wintertime.

This is the bottle:

This is what I use in my pickup. We've had temps getting down past -20F. I also carry a bottle of Power Service 911 (red bottle) just in case it gels up, but in the 12 years I've had my pickup I've never had to use it.

This is good stuff Maynard!

I am a Stanadyne fan but the PS works well also.

Another thing not mentioned is to be sure your battery is in top shape. Trying to start a diesel in cold weather will tax a battery.

I just saw a YouTube video from PROJECT FARM. They tested Diesel additives.
HotShot scored well.
They also tested Amsol 2cycle oil in the test. It did as well or better than the supplements in most categories including fuel gelling.

I use the Power Service Diesel Supplement (pictured) in my ‘95 Dodge with the Cummins 12V diesel every winter.

I suggest using some kind of supplement all year because the “clean” low sulphur diesel doesn’t lubricate the injectors like to older, unprocessed diesel did. As precise as injectors are (some parts can be measured in millionths of an inch) they really need their lubrication.

quote:

Originally posted by Aeteocles:
I have a Land Rover Discovery with a 3.0L turbo diesel engine. Although I have owned it a couple of years, I've not taken it into cold weather.

Have you checked the specs on it perhaps it had a block heater on it when you bought it, from what I've read LR doesn't put them on in the USA much though...

Use the Howes or Power Service. Read and understand the label, it will explain that low use rates are for summer the high rates are where your winter protection comes from, that is an important detail that is often missed.

Plan to arrive near your destination with A very low tank. Buy fuel locally and ask if they have a winterized fuel blend. Most truck stops have a blended fuel as well as straight fuel. If you see 2 pumps and one is expensive assume it’s the blended. Additive first then fill drive quite a distance to get the fuel throughout the system. Filter plug first, so you might change beforehand if you are getting close to maintenance time. I wouldn’t do it just because as they are stupid expensive and I’m not into waste.

quote:

Originally posted by HRK:

quote:

Originally posted by Aeteocles:
I have a Land Rover Discovery with a 3.0L turbo diesel engine. Although I have owned it a couple of years, I've not taken it into cold weather.

Have you checked the specs on it perhaps it had a block heater on it when you bought it, from what I've read LR doesn't put them on in the USA much though...

Yeah, if only I was so lucky. Block heater is available for the Canadian market, but not the USA market. Weird.

quote:

Originally posted by Chris42:
I use the Power Service Diesel Supplement (pictured) in my ‘95 Dodge with the Cummins 12V diesel every winter.

I suggest using some kind of supplement all year because the “clean” low sulphur diesel doesn’t lubricate the injectors like to older, unprocessed diesel did. As precise as injectors are (some parts can be measured in millionths of an inch) they really need their lubrication.

I hadn't considered using a fuel additive year round.

A quick round of googling suggests that Costco (where I buy my diesel) has an additive package to their diesel which qualifies it as "top tier diesel." Hopefully that covers it.

https://www.costco.com/gasoline-diesel.html