Gel Point - Page 2 - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

jaoneill · #16 01-19-2007, 06:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rebreath

I think he said he parked in a garage.thats what made me wonder if it was mechanical.even though he is more north than I,should be somewhat similar since I park outside,and have only had the one prob.starts like a champ every morning now.

Yes, the car is parked in the (unheated) garage. But, Wed morning it was -23f (that is, twenty three degrees below zero farenheit). I have parked at the airport in Syracuse for a week and the 190 will start right up on one glow cycle at zero. Actually, when I left home at noon on Wed it was -10, when I went through Syracuse at two oclock it was in the mid twenties there, thirty degrees warmer.

The intent of this thread when I started it was to warn anyone who might be in cold climate that the ULSD will gell when it gets seriously cold (or even semi seriously cold). I haven't had any problems at zero or above, this was the first sub zero cold snap that we have had this winter. Minus 30, or even minus 40, is not all that uncommon here in the North Country, 50/50 mix, plus additive, has always been the standard. Point is, don't depend on the additives, mix the fuel or risk gelling.

All the best,
Jim

rebreath · #17 01-19-2007, 07:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jaoneill

Yes, the car is parked in the (unheated) garage. But, Wed morning it was -23f (that is, twenty three degrees below zero farenheit). I have parked at the airport in Syracuse for a week and the 190 will start right up on one glow cycle at zero. Actually, when I left home at noon on Wed it was -10, when I went through Syracuse at two oclock it was in the mid twenties there, thirty degrees warmer.

The intent of this thread when I started it was to warn anyone who might be in cold climate that the ULSD will gell when it gets seriously cold (or even semi seriously cold). I haven't had any problems at zero or above, this was the first sub zero cold snap that we have had this winter. Minus 30, or even minus 40, is not all that uncommon here in the North Country, 50/50 mix, plus additive, has always been the standard. Point is, don't depend on the additives, mix the fuel or risk gelling.

All the best,
Jim

ouch,thats cold!! we only had two nights of close to that here and that was a wind chill!I am jealous,I am sure if I left mine at the airport for a week I would have to sit with a propane torch at the intake while someone else cranked her.even then she might not start.glad my block heater works.knocking on wood!

jaoneill · #18 01-19-2007, 08:20 PM

I don't have a wind chill chart but breeze was blowing here that morning at 15-20mph, must have been a wind chill factor somewhere around -40.

DubMutant · #19 01-19-2007, 09:41 PM

it was around 7 degrees 2 nights ago. There was no gelling in the fuel line with @15% Bio and 1/2 PowerService White bottle. I had to glow it three times and then wait 45 seconds for her to actually start after plugging in the block heater for 35 minutes. That has me a little worried. I think Ill do another valve adjustment.

I have since bought a Black and Decker 1.2 amp trickle charger and am searching for a flexible heated dipstick heater.

I also want to get an old heater pad to wrap the intake manifold for that forst start on cold days.