-7 tonight, how low can diesel go?

Third Opinion

Third Opinion

Third Opinion

Soldato
Joined
3 Jun 2005
Posts
5,365
Location
West Sussex
Apparently it could get down to -7 tonight in my area. Since I have had the car I don't think it it has ever gone down lower than -5.

Does anyone know what UK spec diesel can take before the cloud point is reached?
 
A disadvantage of diesel as a vehicle fuel in cold climates, compared to gasoline or other petroleum-derived fuels, is that its viscosity increases quickly as the fuel's temperature decreases, turning into a non-flowing gel (see Compression Ignition – Gelling) at temperatures as high as −19 °C (−2.2 °F) or −15 °C (5 °F), which cannot be pumped by regular fuel pumps. Special low-temperature diesel contains additives to keep it in a more liquid state at lower temperatures, but starting a diesel engine in very cold weather may still pose considerable difficulties.
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http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diesel_fuel
 
I'm not sure about summer vs winter mix, but I'd not filled my car up since the summer and found that it was ok down to -15, then I left the car a week and it went down to -24 and back up to -10, the car wouldn't start and took a load of fuel additives, easy start spray and battery charging to get going.

I presume they add some extra additives for winter even in the UK, but I'm not sure how much difference it makes?
 
Don't worry about it as it's no where near enough to freeze Derv. On a side note if you have to glow your car up then Glow it twice when it's this cold then it will start quickly saving your battery from cranking over the engine untold times. ;)
 
I see but the cold filter clogging point is -15. Should be ok but seems the initial cloud point could be reached. Scary, lucky I always keep a spare filter to hand.

She starts fine from cold thankfully.
 
Years ago you would see Lorrys parked up on the motorway with a fire under the Derv tank to get it liquid again. :p

I do love messing with Derv though & used to freak the bejesus out of people by stubbing my fag out in a puddle of Derv, You should see them jump :D
 
I suspect they were more amazed/scared at how you had managed to turn an entire vehicle into a puddle in the first place.
 
Just thought I should ask, not being funny but the UK seems to be quite badly prepared for winter weather it is the sort of thing you can imagine happening, lol.
 
Kenai said:
I suspect they were more amazed/scared at how you had managed to turn an entire vehicle into a puddle in the first place.
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I used to go to a Depot & fill 6 x 50 Gallon Oil drums & the puddle was in the top of the Oil drum where the rim is. I'd take a mate along to help me owt & give him an earner but The Freaking them out was just for fun. :p
 
Was in Alberta, Canada in October & November, Fort McMurray, where temps can get down to -40! The worst I saw was -28 (still a bit parky), and my diesel Nissan Armada had no trouble starting (no fuel additives), just ignition on for 5 mins, then start.
You don't know what cold is, until you've sneezed at your Mrs and almost knocked her out with the super-quick frozen snot... :D
 
I believe most diesel filters are heated which allows operation down to -24C but clouding starts at -5C for UK winter diesel.
-15C seems like the temperature that causes problems for fuel in the tank.
 
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4T5 said:
Years ago you would see Lorrys parked up on the motorway with a fire under the Derv tank to get it liquid again. :p

I do love messing with Derv though & used to freak the bejesus out of people by stubbing my fag out in a puddle of Derv, You should see them jump :D
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Not a big fan of the show but I remember Mythbusters trying to ignite diesel. They had blow torches, welding rods etc and it wont go. It has to be compressed to burn or very hot. It is amazing modern diesels work as well as they do.

The only thing that caught my eye is that to winterize diesel they use to add Paraffin, something that would be lethal in a common rail as it would ignite in the injectors.
 
I got told on the day of London riots by a shell assistant that I couldn't fill up a container with diesel.. due to the fact I may use it to petrol bomb someone.

After arguing for 10 minutes explaining my reasons clearly about why I needed it and stating the fact that diesel doesn't ignite like petrol does, I rang the police (the Shell assistant said that Police had advised them).

5 mins on the phone and the lovely lady agreed entirely with me, even stating herself that diesel wouldn't do any good in a petrol bomb!

Love it when I get my way.

TL;DR - Shell said "No diesel you bomber". I said "Yes diesel you idiot". Police said "Sell it to him you idiot". Me said "Win win ahahaha"
 
My vauxhall seems to start having misfiring like symptoms when it gets under -5 (did the other day put your foot down and kangaroo time)
 
We used to stick five gallons of petrol in our truck diesel tanks.

And..Build a bonfire under the tank on monday mornings

aye lad, Back in those days we had a name for weather like that....

"Summer"
 
I distinctly remember reading -17c on the dash of my MkV Golf GT TDI. It was painfully cold out. I had no issues at all with the diesel in the tank!

Stop worrying and crack on :)
 
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