Home heating fuel oil ???????

ericy · Jan 29, 2014

Here at home I have fuel oil for my furnace to heat the house . I have been haveing trouble with the oil filter jelling up . I asked my oil man to make sure that I am getting #1 miked with #2 or K 1 to help with it from freezing up at the fliter ... well after 2 after hour calls at $ 130 I am still haveing it freez up can I get some type of fuel addtive like they use in the semi trucks use to keep from jelling up?I did ask my furnace man about useing some he has told me that it might work but could not give me a name brand to look for. I am planing to relocate the filter in side the house to maybe get some help I am not to thrilled about that idea got some heat tape but the pakage said not for fuel lines so what else can I do Please help

Anonymous-0 · Jan 29, 2014

I had a similar problem year's ago only it was the 1" line from the tank to the house, about 18" of pipe. I cut a metal box and put around the pipe and put a heat bulb in it. Turned it on when it got around zero and that cured the problem. I was using straight #2.

edj856 · Jan 29, 2014

You can add the anti-gel that the trucks use, like Howe's or CRC, or whatever the parts store has in stock, or mix in about 10% kerosene. Not every oil company mixes their #2 with kero. At work, they buy a 55 gallon drum of additive that gets mixed with 500 gallons of #2, and then added to the 500,000 gal tank every time somebody offloads into the tank at about 15-20 gals of additive to 7500 of fuel. Recently, they changed additive brands and now the additive is falling out of the fuel and laying in the bottom of the tank, needless to say, there have been quite a few problems with gelling.

Bob · Jan 30, 2014

If burning #2, having the tank in the basement (out of the cold) and topping it off before it's empty will make life better for you.

paul · Jan 30, 2014

I often find water in the filter when this happens to me. Or rather ice...

If you got a new filter in, then yes, I add Power Service to mine when the temps are to be minus 10f or lower around here. Or blend in some #1 fuel.

Both of those options work better if they are done in warmer weather, not after it so already below zero.....

Paul

davpal · Jan 30, 2014

My 300 gallon tank is outside and the filter is in the basement. When they deliver the fuel they have an additive called Frost Free that they put in there. Looked like about a 16-20 oz bottle he dumped in there. Ive had it delivered twice and they put the additive in there each time. I did change the filter and the nozzle on the furnace because I was having a few problems with it acting up but so far no frozen up fuel and it's been really cold here in michigan.

MarkB_MI · Jan 30, 2014

Definitely move the filter inside.

Here in Michigan, they "winterize" the fuel starting in November. If you live where subzero temperatures are uncommon, I suspect your supplier doesn't bother with winterized fuel. It may be time to switch suppliers.

unclemerle · Jan 30, 2014

If you are in a state that mandates Bio-Diesel your #1 has it in also. Ran into #1 gelling a couple years ago and found out this was the cause. You will have to cut it with some Kerosene to stop it from gelling.

Geo-TH,In · Jan 30, 2014

In the early 1970 we had 25 below, 2 ft snow, oil filter jelled. I put a 100 w light bulb under filter, covered filter with aluminum foil, put snow around things to block wind. What a night. Put filter inside. My jelling was at filter.

I'm total electric; never looking back at oil, propane, or natural gas.

El Toro · Jan 30, 2014

My nephew uses fuel oil and house has been in the family since the 1950's. They've never had any problem with the fuel oil gelling. The tank is in the basement. It was a different story at work as the shop used fuel oil and when it was very cold the fuel oil gelled and you had no heat. The fuel oil tank was outside. It was -17°F. It's 3° here this morning in ne MD. When I had a mobile home I used kerosene. I had it when I was in the Army too. Hal

JDemaris · Jan 30, 2014

I've got two outside fuel-oil tanks for heat at a barn I have in central NY. I add one bottle of the white Power Service fuel treatment to each 275 gallon tank. Never gelled up yet. But - before this year - fuel oil was "full" sulfur." Now the fuel oil is low-sulfur which gels more easily. So, jury it still out on what happens now.

M-MAN · Jan 30, 2014

You'd be surprised at how well plain old plumbing insulation (fiberglass) and duct tape from just below ground level all the way to the tank (yes the filter and valve) works.

Bill(Wis) · Jan 30, 2014

Heet.

Donald Lehman · Jan 30, 2014

Around here anyone with an outside fuel tank is using pure kerosene as heating oil from about december through to mid march. Costs more and less BTU's but sure worth it in the long run. Many have tried 50% kero and 50% #2 but usually regret it if it gets cold enough.

moresmoke · Jan 30, 2014

Get your filter inside, use additive. Power service, Howes etc and you will be fine. I've always bought #2 and had outside tanks, never had a problem. And I live where its cold.

Home heating fuel oil ???????

ericy

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Anonymous-0

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edj856

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Bob

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paul

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davpal

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MarkB_MI

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unclemerle

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Geo-TH,In

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El Toro

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JDemaris

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M-MAN

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Bill(Wis)

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Donald Lehman

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moresmoke

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