anyone know the temp at which diesel fuel starts to gel?
Unplugged the 7.3 this morn and fired it up, kicked tuner into high idle to get it nice and warmed up before driving off.

drove slowly through the hoods and side roads, got to where traffic started flowing and required some go pedal and she started losing all power and running really rough.
got to the side of the road and let it idle, smoothed out and tried again.
same story.
limped home and fired up the Bronco and came to work.
Nice to know I can depend on the Bronc, just a little chilly with my yet to be fixed air leaks.

Gonna buy some diesel treatment (prolly should be using it anyhow) but figured I might see if that is what happened if anyone knows?

I had problems a couple of years ago and started running "Diesel 911" in my fuel tanks during the winter month's.

Copied from Yahoo Answers;
Diesel fuel #2 should resist gelling down to about -10 deg. F (-23 deg. C), while winter blends of diesel fuel #2 and fuel #1 (kerosene) can typically handle temperatures down to -4 degrees F to -20 deg. F. But some "winter" blends may gel at higher temperatures if it contains too much #2 diesel and not enough #1 (say around 18 to 20 degrees F).

It's a little too late to check, but you can pull the cover off your fuel filter and see if you see any waxy stuff in there. That's typically where it'll gel first. Thus plugging the filter and causing the problems you saw.

You should run a fuel treatment for many more reasons than just gel protection. This ULSD is hard on engines not designed for it. I run Schaeffer's fuel treatment as I know it's quality and 2oz treats a whole tank.

I thought I remember some issues with running Diesel 911, so it might be worth some research. Maybe OK as an emergency, but I don't think you're supposed to run it every tank.

J.D.

got it. thanks guys.

I think I will do some interweb research and see what I can get at the local auto store.
But I am guessing Gelling was the issue.
truck OSA thermo read -15 and house OSA thermo read -18 at my house this morn, and tonight is supposed to be even colder.

May just plan on driving the Bronc til things warm up.
Last cold snap I had 100 feet of cord run out to the truck to keep it plugged in so it would start when it was quitin time.

Thx again

I drove my 7.3l this morning, and had no problems. I did plug her in overnight though.

I put "Diesel Kleen" in the tank every other tank this time of year as well as anytime I am on a road trip. Also I try to never let the tank get below 2/3 full. Just because filling that damn thing will break me every time I let her run low.....

I dont know if it helps or not, but it is something recomended by the head ford tech at Burt Ford a few years ago.