Ungelling diesel

[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:

[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...