COLD WEATHER OPERATION
07.3
Cold Weather Operation
11-04
RoGator 418
Diesel Fuel
Consult your local fuel distributor for properties of
the diesel fuel available in your area.
In general, diesel fuels are blended to satisfy the
low temperature requirements of the geographical
area in which they are marketed.
Diesel fuels specified to EN 590 or ASTM D975 are
recommended.
In all cases, the fuel must meet the following proper-
ties:
•
Cetane Number 40 minimum.
Cetane number
greater than 50 is preferred, especially for tem-
peratures below -20
°
C (-4
°
F) or elevations
above 1500 m (5000 ft).
•
Cold Filter Plugging Point (CFPP)
below the
expected low temperature OR
Cloud Point
at
least 5
°
C (9
°
F) below the expected low tem-
perature.
Sulphur Content of Diesel Fuel
•
Sulphur content should not exceed 0.5%. Sul-
phur content less than 0.05% is preferred.
•
If diesel fuel with sulphur content greater than
0.5% is used, then reduce the service interval
for engine oil and filter changes by 50%.
•
DO NOT use diesel fuel with sulphur content
greater than 1.0%.
Bio-diesel fuels meeting DIN 51606 or equivalent
specification may be used.
DO NOT mix used engine oil or any other type of
lubricant with diesel fuel.
Diesel Fuel Storage
Proper fuel storage is critically important. Use
clean storage and transfer tanks. Periodically drain
water and sediment from bottom of tank. Store the
fuel away from buildings in a convenient place.
IMPORTANT: Do NOT store diesel fuel in ga l-
vanized containers. Diesel fuel stored in galva-
nized containers reacts with the zinc coating
on the container to form zinc flakes. If fuel con-
tains water, a zinc gel will also form. The gel
and the flakes will quickly plug fuel filters,
damage injection nozzles and injection pump.
DO NOT use brass-coated containers for fuel
storage. Brass is an alloy of copper and zinc.
Store diesel fuel in plastic, aluminium, and steel
containers specially coated for diesel fuel storage.
Avoid storing fuel over long periods of time. If fuel
is stored for more than a month prior to use, or
there is a slow turnover in fuel tank or supply tank,
add a fuel conditioner to stabilize the fuel and pre-
vent water condensation. Fuel conditioner also
reduces fuel gelling and controls wax separation
during cold weather.
IMPORTANT: If the diesel fuel is stored in 45
gallon (200 l) drums and exposed to weather,
then store the drums on their side (horizon-
tally) and place the bungs at the 3
00
and 9
00
o'clock positions.
Weather expansion and contraction can reduce
the pressure inside a vertically stored drum and
cause precipitation and condensation that collects
on the top of the drum to migrate past the bungs
into the diesel fuel. Using this water contaminated
fuel will affect engine performance, clog fuel filters,
and require that the fuel filters be replaced. An-
other method that reduces the risk of water con-
tamination of fuel is to place a block of wood under
an edge of a vertically stored drum. This will cause
any precipitation to drain past the bungs and not
submerge them.
