As I post this video, the temperature is predicted to get down in negative numbers where I live, by midnight. When it gets that cold, there will be some folks surprised that their tractors won't run. When I managed a dealership, every time it got much below 10 degrees Fahrenheit, the phone would start ringing for the service manager from customers wondering why all of a sudden a tractor wouldn't start.

Most of the time it's a result of untreated diesel "gelling" in the tank, or turning into a jelly-like substance that won't go through the injector system. The only fix I know of is 1) prevention and 2) waiting for warmer weather or getting the tractor to a heated area. Sometimes a heat lamp can warm things up enough for a tractor to start but I wouldn't bet on it. Putting an anti-gelling compound in the tank before it gets cold is the best waqy to deal with diesel engines and cold weather.

Gelling is worse with tractors than with pickups or diesel-powered cars because passenger vehicles are usually stored in attached garages, so it doesn't get as cold as your barn. Also, fuel is kept fresher when we're driving every day. If you're a "Hobby Farmer" like I am, you may not have purchased tractor fuel for a couple of months. That's a problem.

Most refineries have a "summer blend" that is sold when there's no chance of diesel fuel gelling. If you last purchased tractor diesel in September or October, that's probably what you have. There's no treatment in there to prevent the impact of cold weather.

A "winter blend" will have anti-gell components already in it, because of the need to prevent gelling when delivering fuel from the refinery to the gas station. If you bought fuel this week, that's likely what you'd get and it wouldn't gell up on you when the polar cold rolled through.

Most of the anti-gell compounds I've seen don't take much to work and are easy to put in the tank. I usually fill the tank half full, dump in the anti-gell stuff and then fill the rest of the tank. I'll do that before I'm getting ready to use the tractor so it circulates while being driven.

The good news for us in the Midwest is, this blast of cold air will be short-lived. The temperature will be up in the 40's again next Tuesday and everything should thaw out. In the meantime, keep warm and stay safe during these frigid cold temperatures!


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