diesel fuel gelling

Hi everyone, can some one tell me if there are any additives etc. to get rid of gelling in diesel tank, sensible sugestions appreciated, thanks.
Taddyman.

ive always put two stroke oil in mine, half a litre per tank every time i fill up with diesel, dont know if it will clear gunk though. what caused the gunk in the first place

We sometimes have problems here with diesel 'freezing' or 'waxing' at low temperatures..it gells at -10, waxes at - 45..remember your wind chill factors..i usually add a litre of petrol when theres gonna be a long cold period..but thats the 2.5n/a engine..it can cope...

Thanks Shreky, will try anything that might help,been told gelling could be result of tank condensation, had vehicle five years first experience of this.
Taddyman.

theres also an algea that can live in diesel on the surface between the water and oil molocules. Its fairly common on boats...look up a good chandlers and they'll give you some stuff to treat the tank.

If you fill your tank, then put £2 of petrol in, that usually does the job!

You buy for fuel from a supermarket by any chance? This is cheaper fuel as it has no additives! In fact, if you have a moped, it will kill it- fast! lol!

taddyman said:

Hi everyone, can some one tell me if there are any additives etc. to get rid of gelling in diesel tank, sensible sugestions appreciated, thanks.
Taddyman.

Click to expand...

Depends which engine but you can run with 30-50% vegetable oil in with the diesel. Has the effect of chemically cleaning the fuel tank pipework etc.
All the gunge tends to collect in the fuel filter so this will need changing a couple of times. Don't do it in cold weather thought the vegoil also gels.
200 or 300 Tdi engines ok.
The gunge is common in older tanks- bacteria form it .

Also this http://www.kamco.co.uk/diesel.htm

Most diesel fuels already contain some levels of Anti-waxing agent as standard and suppliers normally increase the concentration in extreme cold markets (a fact that most of the additive makers seem to ignore). Lets face it hte fuel companies don't want their equipment clogging up either. In any case it has to get damned cold before it happens. I think your problem is therefore more likely the bacterial gunk that can form although I have only ever heard of it with fuel from some what dubious supply sources. I used to even see it in African aircraft with kerosene fuel.

As to the solution, ultimatly the only reliable was is to steam clean the tank and then all new filters. Not a fun job!

The bacteria is usually called diesel bug. It doesn't cause the diesel to gel but appears as black slimy snot that blocks the filters. Theres lots of different biocides that will kill it and some will allegedly dissolve it but I'll believe it when I see it. Usually treat the fuel and clean the filters until its gone, but if you stop treating it, it often comes back. Depends on your fuel supply. We get these problems on our boats all the time
Gelling is something else. My old Shogun would run up to 50% petrol according to the handbook to prevent diesel waxing. God knows what it did to the IP long term though. I would have thought a 300tdi would be much the same. Wouldn't try it on a TD5 though.