Diesel waxing

[Desert Orchid]

I remember this getting a big mensh a number of years ago (1982?) because of the cold. There was talk then of buses, lorries and some trains not being able to operate because the diesel fuel had waxed.

It got a brief mention again this morning but I wondered if anyone had any info about modern diesel fuels/engines and if they're designed to be more resistent to waxing, and at what temperature modern diesel fuel is likely to wax?

 

[del boy]

My neighbours Diesel car froze over Christmas, so it looks like its still happening.

 

[Desert Orchid]

I've been trying to check up on this.

Am I right in thinking that the fuel companies change the composition of diesel supplied to fuel stations in winter?

I'm reading in places that modern diesel winter fuel should be OK down to -15C. On various forums, some people are saying that they still had fuel in their tank since the summer and it's waxing up.

I'm presuming since HGVs etc are getting around in the coldest parts of the country that the winter diesel formula is doing the trick.

 

[walsworth]

I think you will find that most modern HGV's and Buses will have tank heaters nowadays.

 

[G-G]

Thought this was a thread about hair removal from the title.

 

[Shadow Leader]

Are there seriously people out there claiming that they haven't put any fuel in their car since the summer?? Really??!!

 

[Desert Orchid]

It was on one of the forums I googled when checking up on this. The person said he still had diesel in his tank from the summer. It struck me as unusual at the time but I thought maybe it was a big vehicle they didn't use very often or had access to another. Maybe they weren't talking about a vehicle. Do you get diesel oil for heating?

 

[walsworth]

We have diesel for standby generators and sprinkler pumps. Apparently at one of our sites in Manchester they had a power cut and the generator didn't start because of waxing.
Cue big panic among the bean counter in charge poking his nose in where it's not wanted, asking stupid questions. All our tanks are inside and there is no chance of temperatures getting anywhere near -12°.

 

[Shadow Leader]

That sounds more like it, diesel left over in a generator or something. I couldn't quite believe it if people were talking about their car, claiming to not have put any diesel in since the summer!