Diesel Starting To Freeze

[daviep.sco]

Hi

Has anyone had any problems with there Rav4 diesel freezing or starting to freeze? Just had to head back home after the it started hesitate and almost stopped. It is -17 up here so I think it might be the diesel starting to gel?

Thanks

[dave.m]

Haven't noticed any problems, which brand of diesel are you using ?

[daviep.sco]

I think it was Asda, started happening as I headed up country this morning it was saying -17?

[dave.m]

Oh dear, not wanting to preach davie but the concesus of opinion on here is that supermarket diesel is pretty cr^p.

Personally speaking I stopped using it before I had a Rav or was a member on here as I always felt my cars ran

better with Shell or BP.

[daviep.sco]

Yep I am starting to think the same. I still have a about half a tank so I think I will try and get rid of it today and fill it up with some Shell. I hope that it is the Diesel or it is back to the Garage as it took me about and hour and a half to get home as it won't go above 30 mph

[shcm]

I'm no expert, but I believe it's the "cold filter plugging point" spec of the fuel that's the key parameter.

Think there are about 6 specs used thoughout europe. Not sure what the UK uses, but this would suggest about -15C max:

http://www.conocophillips.co.uk/EN/fuels/p...ELTOBSEN590.pdf

So, maybe it's not beyond the bounds of possibility.

Just musing that the common rail system returns fuel to the tank. I wonder if there is any eventual warming effect (probably minimal)? There is a heat sink in the way.

[Sagitar]

I'm no expert, but I believe it's the "cold filter plugging point" spec of the fuel that's the key parameter.

Think there are about 6 specs used thoughout europe. Not sure what the UK uses, but this would suggest about -15C max:

http://www.conocophillips.co.uk/EN/fuels/p...ELTOBSEN590.pdf

So, maybe it's not beyond the bounds of possibility.

Just musing that the common rail system returns fuel to the tank. I wonder if there is any eventual warming effect (probably minimal)? There is a heat sink in the way.

Ah - nostalgia. Memories of lorries parked on the hard shoulder of the M1 in the winter of 62/63, with smokey little fires burning under their fuel tanks to try to get the diesel flowing.

[daviep.sco]

Just taken it out and filled it up with the Shell V power diesel and it seems to be running ok now. Saying that is now up to a almost tropical -8 time to get the shorts and T shirt on!

[igormus]

Hi

Has anyone had any problems with there Rav4 diesel freezing or starting to freeze? Just had to head back home after the it started hesitate and almost stopped. It is -17 up here so I think it might be the diesel starting to gel?

Thanks

hello mate

sometimes the seller just sells diesel just to have a profit.

the cure is very simple -- just to use a mix 1 ltr of kerosene to a 20 ltr of diesel.

it works.cheers/Igor

[anchorman]

I can now get Total Excellium locally and it runs a treat on that. I wouldn't use ASDA prime weasel pee in mine as if it is anything like the beans it is mainly water. Not only that but it will sound better. Had -12 here this morning and no problems.

shcm - the diesel gets very hot and is cooled to keep the viscosity for the pump and injectors. After a while the tank gets quite warm even in this weather.

fuel.pdf It won't stop it plugging when the engine is first started though. You are right the CFPP (cold filter plugging point) is the important aspect. That is the point it waxes in the filter.

sagitar - been there!!! We used to take the primary filter element out and it was nice lying in the slush with ice cold diesel running up your arm. Eeee those were the days.

[local hero]

If you want nostalgia you ought to take my cab out in this weather, took about 8 attempts to get it started,5miles later temp gauge moved off the "C" got baco foil covering half the radiator, anyone remember radiator blinds? used safety pin from first aid kit to unblock washer jets, unlocked boot to get some screenwash and plastic boot pull snapped in two..£70 to replace, heavy engine + me in the front, drives thru rear wheels, no weight in the back its a nightmare, narrow tyres, no abs, airbags, aircon, when rear passengers put heat on in the back front one blows cold, its only ever lukewarm at best, just been out for a play in my RAV, God its brilliant..

[bothwell_buyer]

wur poor ol genny runs on red diesel which is a nightmare just now....

The renault truck we bought has problems with its accelrator cable icing but its too cold to get out and fix it!! a heater is plugging away at warming it up then I might buy some pipe insualtion - when I drove up the M6-M74 at gretna a few days ago, there were a few lorries stopped!

[john21245]

Hi

Has anyone had any problems with there Rav4 diesel freezing or starting to freeze? Just had to head back home after the it started hesitate and almost stopped. It is -17 up here so I think it might be the diesel starting to gel?

Thanks

We run about 40 tractors on our farm and all run on red deisel.Although it's not the best fuel it is far better in recent years as far as waxing is concerned.We had more problems with the water content of the diesel freezing in the prefilter and main filter and this can be confused as "waxing".The main entry for water in a diesel engine is from condensation from the hot air in a partially empty tank overnight,especially in the exceptional weather we are having now.The cure was quite simple-at the end of the shift all tanks are filled.This expels nearly all of the air along with the offending moisture.Fingers crossed, I haven't been out to one "waxed up" tractor for a while.

[anchorman]

Good info John especially as the RAV diesels get a warm tank and they are made from steel.