Ungelling diesel

[funkymonkey1111]

My girlfriend has added a jetta tdi to the household fleet. I don't know anything about diesels.

After having this thing parked at the airport for the past four day it appears the fuel has gelled (plenty of crank, but it won't turn over).

So my question is is this something that will resolved itself once the weather warms up, or is there going to need to be a repair to any part of the fuel system? Do these diesel 911 type products work? Are they harmful to the fuel system?

thanks for the input

[eneranch]

I don't think there is anything you can add after the fact to de-gel ; except heat. You may have to change fuel filters.

[MED]

My girlfriend has added a jetta tdi to the household fleet. I don't know anything about diesels.

After having this thing parked at the airport for the past four day it appears the fuel has gelled (plenty of crank, but it won't turn over).

So my question is is this something that will resolved itself once the weather warms up, or is there going to need to be a repair to any part of the fuel system? Do these diesel 911 type products work? Are they harmful to the fuel system?

thanks for the input

Does it have a block heater? It should. You may have to hook it up to a power inverter in your car for awhile.

[Great-Kazoo]

we use to add gas to avoid jelling. Most if not all auto stores carry additives to prevent jelling. BUT @ sub zero temps they can still be issues.

[Dave]

Not sure if you can add anything after it gels up, if you pour something into the tank I think it would just sit on top of the fuel unless you could somehow stir it in. Never owned a diesel, but I knew a couple of people with them at Ft Drum and they just accepted the fact that anti gel additive was part of their fuel expense in the winter and added it to every tank. Here in Denver I think you would want to add it in the winter if you are leaving it at the airport just as insurance since the forecast could say 50* the next few days then on day 2 of your trip the polar vortex changes everything.

[clodhopper]

If the lines are gelled, the block heater wont do anything. Spin off the fuel filter cap and see if the fuel is liquid in the filter. If it is gelled there, chances are the lines are gelled also. Either wait it out for the weather to change, get it towed to a warm garage or shop, or tent the car with a heater. Gotta warm the lines up to ungel what is in there before any kind of 911 treatment will do anything.

Get your girl a bottle of treatment and explain why it is important to use it regularly. With the size of the tank on a jetta, it only needs a splash. One bottle will last all winter.

[Great-Kazoo]

Not sure if you can add anything after it gels up, if you pour something into the tank I think it would just sit on top of the fuel unless you could somehow stir it in. Never owned a diesel, but I knew a couple of people with them at Ft Drum and they just accepted the fact that anti gel additive was part of their fuel expense in the winter and added it to every tank. Here in Denver I think you would want to add it in the winter if you are leaving it at the airport just as insurance since the forecast could say 50* the next few days then on day 2 of your trip the polar vortex changes everything.

Impressed you used Polar Vortex in a sentence.

[funkymonkey1111]

. Either wait it out for the weather to change, r.

This is really the question as it's the cheapest alternative at this point int the situation. Once the weather heats up, should this thing start right up? Or are there lingering issues?

[clodhopper]

This is really the question as it's the cheapest alternative at this point int the situation. Once the weather heats up, should this thing start right up? Or are there lingering issues?

Provide the issue is gelling, there shouldn't be any long term issues. Should fire up.

Had a couple others in the office this morning talking about vehicle issues that were probably gelling related.

This needs to be standard in winter if you drive diesel:

http://images.oreillyauto.com/parts/img/large/pws/orly_1016.jpg

[Mtn.man]

Not helping here with this gelling issue, but to avoid gelling we add kerosene to the fuel even though the diesel you buy at the pump is supposed to already have winterized additive (kerosene) in it.



Also if you be gelling then your feets feel good.

[tmleadr03]

If the lines are gelled, the block heater wont do anything. Spin off the fuel filter cap and see if the fuel is liquid in the filter. If it is gelled there, chances are the lines are gelled also. Either wait it out for the weather to change, get it towed to a warm garage or shop, or tent the car with a heater. Gotta warm the lines up to ungel what is in there before any kind of 911 treatment will do anything.

Get your girl a bottle of treatment and explain why it is important to use it regularly. With the size of the tank on a jetta, it only needs a splash. One bottle will last all winter.

No fuel filter cap on this.

If you want you can have it towed to my shop and have it sleep here overnight (I keep the heat on always since it would never warm up in here otherwise) or tow it home and park it in the garage if you can get the tow truck driver to drop it there.

The PowerService is a good line of additives. It is what I used on my Jetta Tdi.

ETA: It probably doesn't have a block heater on it. My Jetta didn't, but I also never had an issue starting it in sub zero temps. Good glow plugs, and some PowerService and I was good.

[DFBrews]

If the fuel pump moved any of the paraffin to the filter it will need replaced if it just stays in suspension it will go back to normal but once you pack some in a filter it will stay indefinitely. We have had 40+ calls a day about gelled trucks these past two days. Same advice tow it some where warm when the fuel no longer looks like jelly add 911 or howes change the filters and fill with additive as well and hope that there is not any paraffin in the lines

[brianakell]

Used to use this. Gelled, used Howes in filter and in tank. Let it sit for a few hours, fired up, fuel pressure perfect and all. If nothing else, the cap on the Hoes actually seals, the DS cap is a leaky POS. Makes the bed of the truck smell for weeks. Can only imagine what a container in a car truck would do. Would be like the car version of a meth house!


Provide the issue is gelling, there shouldn't be any long term issues. Should fire up.

Had a couple others in the office this morning talking about vehicle issues that were probably gelling related.

This needs to be standard in winter if you drive diesel:

http://images.oreillyauto.com/parts/img/large/pws/orly_1016.jpg

[BREATHER]

You will have to replace the fuel filter. The block heater will not help the fuel. The additives do work, I would get good stuff from a diesel repair. ...The "polluter stuff" that keeps the diesel fuel from gelling was taken out of diesel fuel by several fomer presidents as it "caused" pollution. Now we have to add it back in to keep our diesels running.... I sure wish I could have gone to an Ivy League school cuz it shore made 'em smarter to keep this country out of the continuing troubles "they" seem to keep getting into....

[clodhopper]

No fuel filter cap on this.


Actually.... Mine does. 2006. Cartridge fuel filter. It isn't easy to remove (hoses, screws, swearing and more), but the lid does come off.

I think the 2005 and earlier had unitized canister filters.

OP doesn't list a year. Guess I assumed a girlie was driving it so it had to be newer.

[funkymonkey1111]

Actually.... Mine does. 2006. Cartridge fuel filter. It isn't easy to remove (hoses, screws, swearing and more), but the lid does come off.

I think the 2005 and earlier had unitized canister filters.

OP doesn't list a year. Guess I assumed a girlie was driving it so it had to be newer.

2013

[Holger Danske]

For your situation get the diesel 911 from diesel kleen. Plug in block heater. Make sure the batteries are fully charged or get new ones (takes a lot of amps to crank a diesel). Once you get it running use the diesel kleen at every fill up. Ive added marvell mystery oil to my diesel in the winter with good results.

[cofi]

In the future use kum and go diesel if possible it's premixed with power service started my merc 240d in two cranks at 5 this morning (butthole cold) I have had no gelling issues this winter plus my butt dyno says I picked up a few hp

[Leapfrogger2]

Used to use this. Gelled, used Howes in filter and in tank. Let it sit for a few hours, fired up, fuel pressure perfect and all. If nothing else, the cap on the Hoes actually seals, the DS cap is a leaky POS. Makes the bed of the truck smell for weeks. Can only imagine what a container in a car truck would do. Would be like the car version of a meth house!


Hahaha +1 on the DS with the leaky cap!! I love that stuff and always use it but I have to put it a special bucket in the toolbox to keep it from leaking on everything. I dunno why they can't make cap that seals.

The leaky cap was my first thought with a diesel that doesn't have a bed.



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[tmleadr03]

Actually.... Mine does. 2006. Cartridge fuel filter. It isn't easy to remove (hoses, screws, swearing and more), but the lid does come off.

I think the 2005 and earlier had unitized canister filters.

OP doesn't list a year. Guess I assumed a girlie was driving it so it had to be newer.


Which is why I was basing all my replies off a 1992 VW TD...

[clodhopper]

I have a bottle of PS in the trunk of my jetta, stays there all winter. There is a junk catcher compartment on the passenger side that works great to keep it upright. I also have one of the smaller bottles of PS behind the back seat of my Superduty for just in case situations, and come to think of it, stays there year round. The big bottle that is regularly used sits in a box in the bed. Lid on tight and the bottle upright, never had a problem.

[brutal]

For your situation get the diesel 911 from diesel kleen. Plug in block heater. Make sure the batteries are fully charged or get new ones (takes a lot of amps to crank a diesel). Once you get it running use the diesel kleen at every fill up. Ive added marvell mystery oil to my diesel in the winter with good results.

I'm a big fan of the Wonder Whiz myself.

Prevents gelling in winter, quiets the injectors. Helps mileage a tiny tiny bit. It's not enough to offset the cost, but I like the extra lubricity it provides.

In my 35Gal tank, I use 12oz PS and 4oz MMO mix.

PS diesel Kleen - White for winter, Silver for summer.

[tmleadr03]

2013

Well, in that case call the dealership and tell them that their car isn't starting and ask them what they are going to do about it.

Warranty crank no start.

[funkymonkey1111]

the jetta fired right up without any de-gelling stuff this warm afternoon.

thanks to all for the input and tips.

[theGinsue]

In the future use kum and go diesel if possible it's premixed with power service started my merc 240d in two cranks at 5 this morning (butthole cold) I have had no gelling issues this winter plus my butt dyno says I picked up a few hp
Usually use Kum & Go, but last fill up was at 7-11. Always add a healthy dose of Power Service anti-gel additive in cold months. I gelled on Thursday - hit me when I was on my way to Base. Had to limp it in to just before the base when it finally started to act normal again. Going to stick with Kum & Go exclusively in cold months for now on (I didn't know they pre-added the anti-gel).

Where do I find Howes? The harsh odor of the Power Service additive does leak badly enough to give me a headache.

[Jeffrey Lebowski]

Once the weather heats up, should this thing start right up? Or are there lingering issues?

Nope.


Well, in that case call the dealership and tell them that their car isn't starting and ask them what they are going to do about it.


Yep. (Although non-issue now…)


the jetta fired right up without any de-gelling stuff this warm afternoon.


With my own, I find leaving it sit in the cold just leads to harder starts. I like to use the engine block heater if I can remember and know I won't start the engine.
I also like to second (or 5th?) those PowerSource supplements, but I don't know you need to do it every fill-up. I think I've used it once this winter. However, mine is garaged at home and underground at work. If I were leaving it outside and not starting it frequently, I'd be using more of that stuff. So far, I haven't used much of their "911" product, but if I know it is going to be really, really cold, I will.