Help: What are you guys Running? Powerservice, Howes, Stanadyne

MAXX IT OUT

<<<IT WORKS
Mar 1, 2013
1,780
37
48
Des Moines, Iowa
Our first big cold snap hit last night(-8), the truck started and ran fine, just 5 minutes down the road it started to gel up. I limped down back back roads to get to work after dumping in some 911 and still wouldn't build pressure past 10K. I have always run powerservice, and only had a couple issues and that was to due to biodiesel. What are you cold weather guys running for additives or do you guys just recommend going with a fuel pump heater.
 

IOWA LLY

Yes, its really me
Feb 23, 2007
2,275
4
0
I have never had my truck gel up using howes. I’m not saying it’s the end all be all but so far so good.


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Summit_Rider

New member
Jun 6, 2016
49
0
0
Howe’s here also. I farm and in the cold months use straight #2 and Howe’s in all my equipment as well as my pickup never gelled using it. I live in North Dakota it’s -15 right now, no issues.
 
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PureHybrid

Isuzu Shakes IT
Feb 15, 2012
3,495
476
83
Central OH
I've ran all three you listed at one time or another, but a couple years ago when it got down to -20 for a week or so I ran Howes at double strength. Been running it since, and it's cheaper than the others.
 

MAXX IT OUT

<<<IT WORKS
Mar 1, 2013
1,780
37
48
Des Moines, Iowa
I don’t run any additives. I just make sure I get my fuel at the right stations. I avoid biodiesel like the plague
I stay away from KUM and GO, their diesel is horrible, currently I run QT, GIT N GO, and Casey's. Last year I had no issues, but I guess I need to start taking Diesel samples again.
 

Novak

SQUIRREL TRYN TO GET A NUT
Jun 15, 2015
990
0
16
Cloud 9, IDAHO
Howes it’s cheap and plentiful and does the trick. Haven’t jelled up yet on it.


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beach_33

Member
Feb 18, 2008
704
0
16
des moines, IA
I stay away from KUM and GO, their diesel is horrible, currently I run QT, GIT N GO, and Casey's. Last year I had no issues, but I guess I need to start taking Diesel samples again.
I try to only get fuel at hyvee or Casey’s. I stay away from everywhere else. My 16 hasn’t gelled and neither has my jetta tdi. My 05 only gelled once and that’s when I got fuel at Kum and go
 

zf>allison

you never had your car.
Apr 30, 2013
3,394
0
36
elsberry mo
Can we take a poll on this and maybe stick it in a winter driving thread lol. It would be easier to see who uses what that way.
 

minerigger

Active member
Dec 24, 2013
2,660
1
38
Casper, WY
I used to use lower service and after I put 6 filters in 3 days I dumped 32 oz of howes and let it run all night. Never gelled since in 5 years and that was the first time I had gelled. It a cheap and in every truck stop in America so I use it

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jlawles2

Well-known member
Jan 28, 2010
1,058
40
48
Danbury, TX
When in Wisconsin and sub zero temps, I was running Howe's. Truck sat for 3 days at sub zero while I was on leave for a week. When I got back, cycled the key several times and started the truck. Was not slow to turn over and started on about the 3rd rev as normal. Oil filters screamed and pressure was through the roof. It scared the crap out of me and I turned it off thinking it was the Turbo. Opened hood, started truck and climbed all over till I found the noise (in the snow of course). Turned out to be the amsoil dual filter kit bypassing and making the noise. After I got it started that morning, it never did it again.
 

Dozerboy

Well-known member
Jun 23, 2009
4,892
470
83
TX of course
The only time I gelled on Howes was when my filters where on the old side and I was running a bunch of Bio diesel. Diesel 911 got me going, but more then 1/2 throttle and I was throwing low rail code. I made it the 900 miles home through.

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BoiseRob

Active member
Oct 12, 2007
392
45
28
63
I use Schaeffer's #137 Summer. The local winter diesel is mixed with PowerService when the tanker is filled so the 137 summer adds 4+ points of cetane for easier starting...
 

monster50iii

Member
Dec 5, 2014
335
8
18
If you run bio diesel its a shot in the dark as to whether you're in the clear or not for gelling. Here in MN we are at a max 5% bio for the winter, but I've heard its tested as high as 8-9%. I've tried about everything. If you get some shotty bio, you're going to gel. I finally put a wolverine fuel heater around my cat filter, and the BD Diesel fuel heater that goes between the water seperator and the airdog. I wired those both into a switch in the cab, and together they work awesome! It's nice not worrying about gelling anymore.
 

alohazabel

New member
Sep 18, 2017
16
0
0
-8 here this morning. Gelled up for the first time in a few years. Ive always used the white power service in the winter, but bought a bottle of howes and a new filter today. I tend to agree that where you buy your diesel matters more than what you add to it when it gets really cold.
 

LBZ

Super Moderator
Staff member
Jul 2, 2007
9,903
149
63
46
B.C.
If you run bio diesel its a shot in the dark as to whether you're in the clear or not for gelling. Here in MN we are at a max 5% bio for the winter, but I've heard its tested as high as 8-9%. I've tried about everything. If you get some shotty bio, you're going to gel. I finally put a wolverine fuel heater around my cat filter, and the BD Diesel fuel heater that goes between the water seperator and the airdog. I wired those both into a switch in the cab, and together they work awesome! It's nice not worrying about gelling anymore.
Ya we used to get the occasional load of shit fuel at the mine I used to work at that got it's fuel out of mn. We were told 5% max too but our lab tests were sometimes as high as 12%. They were trying to unload some of their shitty fuel banking the weather would stay warm and it didn't.