Fuel With Confidence in the Cold
Tips to improve fuel economy in winter and keep your truck running
Standard diesel begins to gel around 15 to 20 degrees Fahrenheit. “The biggest issue is the gelling, which leads to clogged fuel filters and, ultimately, a truck that doesn’t start,” said Adam Schleicher, director of energy and fuel supply for Penske Truck Leasing. “The cost to repair a fuel filter can range from $800 to $1,000. Beyond the hard costs of the repairs related to fuel issues, you have the downtime.”
Winterized diesel fuel, sometimes called winter-blend or winter diesel, is specially formulated to resist the cold-weather issues that standard diesel can encounter. Penske takes a data-driven approach to winterizing fuel, treating and testing fuel, and tailoring solutions to the specific areas where trucks are fueling.
Determining Blending Dates
Weather across the U.S. can vary widely, so there isn’t a one-size-fits-all solution. Penske uses professional meteorological forecasts and daily summaries covering every Penske district to pinpoint when to start and stop winter fuel blending.
By relying on real-world data instead of fixed dates, Penske ensures that additives are used only when needed, maximizing performance, improving efficiency and reducing costs. “Previously, we treated fuel from Nov. 1 to March 31, but now we base blending off forecast data,” Schleicher said.
Blending Strategies for Every Climate
Penske offers different levels of treatment based on average temperatures in the region. In locations with severe weather, such as Minnesota and Wisconsin, Penske blends diesel fuel with additives and kerosene, which has a much lower gel point, around -40 degrees.
In more moderate areas, including Pennsylvania and Ohio, only additives are required, which are blended directly at the rack. Locations that are considered marginal, such as North Carolina, Tennessee and Washington, typically use jugs of additives that are added to bulk tanks. Taking a tiered approach ensures that each area receives the ideal level of protection.
Flexing With the Market
Kerosene is becoming harder to source in some areas and more expensive, so Penske is turning to wax anti-settling agents that lower the cloud point of diesel fuel to something similar to kerosene. “The main reason we’re implementing WASA is that kerosene is becoming less readily available in some markets,” Schleicher said. “It improves the cold flow properties of the fuel, similar to what kerosene does, so it makes diesel operable at lower temperatures.”
Remaining Aware
Schleicher recommends that fleets and drivers learn about winter programs at truck stops where they purchase fuel. “The big three truck stops — Love’s, Pilot Flying J and TA/Petro — post their winter program. Most of the time, if the temperature drops below 15 degrees in the market, they’ll put winter additive in their tanks,” he said, adding that if temperatures tick upwards the next day, locations may stop treating the fuel. “With us, when we hit the point where we start blending, we run it all the way through the season.”
Keeping a Solution in the Cab
For drivers traveling between climates, particularly from warm to cold regions, Penske recommends carrying emergency products, such as Emergency 911, Heat Bomb or Red Alert that can re-liquefy gelled fuel in a pinch. “There are quart-size bottles of winter additive you can add to the saddle tanks,” Schleicher said.
Drivers also need to think about where they’re fueling and their destination. “As your engine is running, the fuel will be hot, so it won’t gel while you’re on the road, but if you’re fueling up in Texas, driving north and spending the night in a cold environment, you have to think about it,” Schleicher said.
Looking Beyond Diesel
Use of biomass-based diesel fuels, such as renewable diesel (RD) and biodiesel, is increasing, and Penske closely monitors product specifications for both fuels. Schleicher said he isn’t aware of any additives currently available to treat RD. However, more renewable diesel is sold in California, so it doesn’t require cold-weather treatment. “The Neste RD product has a chemical makeup with good cold-weather properties, so it can be operable in much lower temperatures than some of the other RD products that are out there,” Schleicher said.
Penske blends biodiesel in states with mandates or where there is a monetary incentive for customers. Biodiesel can be more prone to cold-weather issues than traditional diesel, so Penske closely monitors blends and products needed to treat biodiesel blends.
Diesel exhaust fluid can’t be treated with additives, but Penske keeps it in climate-controlled tanks and containers to avoid any issues.
Benefits of Fueling With Penske
Fleets that fuel with Penske can take advantage of several benefits, including:
Guaranteed Fuel Quality:
Penske tests its fuel bi-weekly. “We’re not just trusting what our suppliers are saying they’re giving us. We’re validating it with a third-party lab and pairing it with weather reports,” Schleicher said. “We rarely ever see an issue with our fuel in the winter.”
Competitive Fuel Prices:
Penske's fuel is competitively priced with retailers. Fleets can see real-time fuel prices for Penske truck leasing's locations and third-party fueling locations through the Penske Fleet mobile app and the Fleet Insight portal.
Reduced Downtime and Costs:
Preventing gelling means fewer repairs, less downtime and significant cost savings per vehicle.
Driver Convenience and Comfort:
Penske's customer service representatives fuel the trucks for drivers, which means drivers can remain in the cab. “You want to keep your drivers happy,” Schleicher said, adding that reps also walk around the tractor and trailer and check for maintenance issues, such as mud flaps, headlights or taillights that need repair.