This information should help you decide if your diesel use will require any additional fuel treatment.  Current diesel fuels, both high sulfur off-road and low sulfur highway diesel, from Columbus refinery terminals have cloud points around zero to +4 degrees F.  If untreated, these fuels will plug a filter at around zero degrees F.  Starting Mid-November, we begin treating all diesel fuels with a winter additive that takes the cold filter plug point (CFPP) to approximately -10 degrees F.  Starting December 1, we step up the treatment to achieve a CFPP of around -20 degrees F.  If you have more critical, exposed applications, like reefer trailers and emergency generators with outside tanks, you will probably want to consider straight #1 diesel during the winter.

In addition to winter treatment, many customers also choose to go with our Premium Diesels.  In addition to having fuel injector cleaner and added lubricity, Premium Diesel has a higher cetane index, which improves the combustion of diesel and helps with cold weather starts.

Another cold weather characteristic of diesel fuel performance is moisture.  As fuel cools, moisture drops out, much like cold air cannot hold as much humidity.  This moisture can frost up fuel filters, causing an engine to perform poorly, same as when wax in diesel fuel gels.  Depending on the moisture content of the fuel, filter frosting normally won't occur until the temperature drops below zero.  To keep our trucks running in sub-zero weather, we add diesel fuel anti-freeze  (isopropyl alcohol) directly to our saddle tanks.  One pint treats about 200 gallons of diesel.  We have this diesel fuel antifreeze available in quarts.  You add this product to equipment fuel tanks on an as-needed basis, not into your storage tanks.  I would also strongly recommend that you change fuel filters on your transfer tanks, equipment and trucks before the first cold snap.  Condensation that has accumulated over the summer in these filters typically freezes and shuts down the filter when the weather first gets cold.

This program is consistent with what we have done in past years, and we have had excellent results.  If you feel you may need additional blending for your application, please let us know when you order.  If you have any questions, please call.

We appreciate having the opportunity to serve you.  I hope that this information is helpful.