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The change in weather can affect the blend of your diesel. A drop in temperature can turn your diesel into a thinner and less gel-like substance. In some cases, the diesel fuel in your tank will start to gel and freeze up. The worst-case scenario is when your fuel filter gets iced up, resulting in a damaged engine. When this happens, your fuel gets lower energy content, and it could mean reduced mileage for your diesel engine. 

You can observe this sudden shift every wintertime. Because of the colder weather, your fuel won't last as long as it does in summertime. Luckily, there are ways to slow down this change. While you cannot completely stop your fuel from thinning down, there are ways to expand its lifespan.

1. Load it with additives

What makes diesel fuel different from its gasoline counterpart is how it contains more energy per liter. During wintertime, the Cetane rating of diesel fuel lowers. Cetane rating is the measurement of the fuel's performance and quality. The higher the number, the faster the fuel burns in the vehicle's engine. 

The sudden drop in Cetane's quality indicates that the fuel loses some of its natural energy. One way to combat this is to use an additive like the Alliant Power Ultraguard or Stanadyne Performance Formula. 

Combining any of these additives with the fuel forms a new mixture that can help counterbalance the effects of a low Cetane rating. The additive helps protect and lubricate the fuel injection system. 

Apart from that, increasing the Cetane improves your engine's performance and reduces its emissions. It also prevents any formation of algae or bacteria in your fuel tank by dispersing its water.

2. Perform these car maintenance activities

You can also conduct personal checks and balances in your vehicle to ensure that your diesel will last longer. Here are some of the things you can do. 

• Plug your truck to a block heater in the morning for around two hours before you start your engine - The block heaters can help reduce the duration of fuel-enriched combustion as the engine warms up. When this happens, your vehicle reduces fuel consumption and emissions.
• Change your engine oil to synthetic oil - Synthetic oils have smaller and more uniformed size molecules than non-synthetic oils. Because of this composition, less friction happens within, and this setting improves the vehicle's fuel economy.  
• Check your tire pressure - Under-inflated tires can lower mileage by around 0.2 percent.

3. Load your car with the right winter diesel and bring extra

Not all locations experience the winter weather, so you should not assume that the lower mainland will have a pump for your winter diesel. If you plan to travel far or go to colder and more mountainous terrains, make sure to load your vehicle with the right diesel fuel. It is also safer for you to bring extra fuel. 

Conclusion

The winter season is truly rough on equipment and vehicles powered by diesel engines. Regular checking, enough preparation, and a good knowledge of how diesel works during the cold season can help you make the necessary adjustments ahead. 

In case you need more information on how to keep your diesel engine in its good condition, don’t hesitate to contact us, your diesel experts. We are the number one diesel shop in Western Montana and well beyond, and we carry around 92 brands to cover all your diesel needs. Call us today!