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Diesel Gelling

9K views 6 replies 7 participants last post by  stockrex  
#1 ·
Hi guys, I have 2018 transit diesel with 8k miles. I have had a pop up on my dash saying fuel filter blocked Service required. I have had three fuel filters in this van in this 8000 miles. Last night the van was showing 5° outside and was saying fuel filter blocked. I have winter blend diesel in there as well as power service anti-gel. My brother Has a diesel F3 50 and has never had gelling issues. Has anyone else had this type of an issue with their transit?
 
#2 ·
I had the same issue a few weeks back when it was -3°. From my googling it sounds like since Fuel filter is back near tank in the Transit as opposed to near the heat of the engine, it is more susceptible to receiving blocked fuel filter due to geling.

I Put a bit of diesel anti gel in and wasn't a problem for rest of that tank. Warmed up after that.
Interesting that yours blocked up even with the PS Anti Gel.
 
#3 ·
Are you are changing them yourself, as the dealer charges an arm and a leg just to replace a $30 filter? Anyhow, mine does the same thing.
Here is the problem, the OEM filter has a very small micron rating, and the media ford picked for the filter actually absorbs moisture (leave the used filter out in the cold and it will harden up) . So basically any bit of moisture in your fuel along with the diesel fuel getting thicker from very cold temps can cause the "filter blocked" light to come on. It can even get bad enough to cause hesitation.

What I have found is adding twice as much anti-gel as you are supposed to (16oz per tank) is the only thing that seems to work in very cold weather, and even then, I had to add diesel-911 to my tank when it was -27f in Chicago a few weeks back in order to get home.
 
#4 ·
Interesting. I live at 6400 ft and the van sees temps below zero F many nights in the winter but nothing colder than -10 F. No issues at all, and I’ve never used any additives. Replaced filter once (at 20000 miles) just as routine maintenance.
 
#5 ·
I work with industrial stationary diesel engines, The kind that run at peak horse power 24/7 for weeks at a time. (Up to 50 gallons of diesel fuel an hour each engine.)

Water in fuel is always a problem, More often then not because black algae grows in the water in the fuel tanks. This black slime can clog fuel filters up quick! So twice a year I dump a Biocide in the fuel tanks,

With Biocide in the fuel tanks I go from changing fuel filters every week to changing the fuel filters once a month.

https://powerservice.com/psp_product/bio-kleen-diesel-fuel-biocide/