Which Anti-Gel Additive for Cold Weather?

[ManxShearwater]

3.0L Owner here--2023 Yukon. For the second time this winter we've had our diesel fuel gel on weekend ski trips to VT. The situation is we buy diesel in NJ (which I assumed was winter blend), drive to VT where the car sits for a couple days and the fuel gels. Both times temps were -5 to -10 overnight warming up to +10 during the day. Cold but pretty typical for VT.

The first time it happened, we had to have the car towed to the dealer and warmed up...New fuel filter. Tech said there were multiple fuel pump error codes on both the low pressure and high pressure side. After that, we bough a couple bottles of AC Delco Cold Flow Additive.
Second time, we were able to limp to a gas station and top of 1/3 of a tank with VT diesel and added a bottle of the cold flow additive. Eventually de-gelled the fuel...engine stopped stumbling and the whine from the fuel pump in the tank went away. Yes, we had the engine block heater plugged in overnight but my understanding there isn't a heater in the fuel tank.

1) Is there any way to know whether a gas station is selling winter blend diesel?
2) Are there safe alternatives to the AC Delco Cold Flow Additive that won't ruin the injectors? It's not easy to find and is expensive. The GM technician warned not to use Hot Shot or similar additives because he has seen injectors that needed to be replaced as a result $$$$

 

[Stbentoak]

Just use Power Service in appropriate amounts whenever you anticipate issues, but diesel in that area should be treated to handle that temp anyways. Won't hurt a thing.....

 

[JayceeP]

3.0L Owner here--2023 Yukon. For the second time this winter we've had our diesel fuel gel on weekend ski trips to VT. The situation is we buy diesel in NJ (which I assumed was winter blend), drive to VT where the car sits for a couple days and the fuel gels. Both times temps were -5 to -10 overnight warming up to +10 during the day. Cold but pretty typical for VT.

The first time it happened, we had to have the car towed to the dealer and warmed up...New fuel filter. Tech said there were multiple fuel pump error codes on both the low pressure and high pressure side. After that, we bough a couple bottles of AC Delco Cold Flow Additive.
Second time, we were able to limp to a gas station and top of 1/3 of a tank with VT diesel and added a bottle of the cold flow additive. Eventually de-gelled the fuel...engine stopped stumbling and the whine from the fuel pump in the tank went away. Yes, we had the engine block heater plugged in overnight but my understanding there isn't a heater in the fuel tank.

1) Is there any way to know whether a gas station is selling winter blend diesel?
2) Are there safe alternatives to the AC Delco Cold Flow Additive that won't ruin the injectors? It's not easy to find and is expensive. The GM technician warned not to use Hot Shot or similar additives because he has seen injectors that needed to be replaced as a result $$$$

Curious what brand of diesel did you fill up with in NJ vs VT?

 

[Axialflow]

Howes Diesel Treat used it for years in the older manual injection over the highway trucks. Older trucks didn't have much of a fuel return it just dribbled back in tank and freezing up was more common without some type of anti gel and Howes never let me down. Newer trucks have a lot more fuel return at way higher pressures and temperature and volume so freeze up isn't that much of an issue. With that being said if a lighter fuel is used or crap fuel is used there is always that risk. In a highway truck I've see my fuel filter restriction gauge starting to rise meaning I was getting fuel restriction in filter due to gelling and dump some Howes in and after a short time gauge would return back down to its home position.

 

[Padraig]

Years ago I had a 1989 Dodge Ram with a Cummins diesel. We had a particularly cold winter and I twice had the fuel gell. I would have to change the filter and purge everything. A real pain. I had used a commercial anti gel, after the first time but still had a problem. I talked to a friend who owned a small trucking company. He told me to put in kerosene, up to 15% of tank capacity. With the new diesels... I am not sure if it could cause problems but it works.

Padraig