What is Icing?

Icing can result from liquid water freezing in fuel tanks, fuel lines, and fuel filters.

Icing can also result when water that is suspended or dissolved in the fuel falls out of solution as the fuel temperature falls. This water first forms droplets and then those droplets turn to ice crystals which will quickly plug fuel filters. Ultra Low Sulfur Diesel holds twice as much dissolved water as Low or High Sulfur Diesel. Biodiesel holds up to 10 times as much water (up to 1%) as Low Sulfur Diesel.

The amount of water that a fuel can suspend or hold dissolved changes as the temperature drops. For example a fuel that holds .2% water at 60°F can only hold 1/2 that amount at 30°F.

What to Do!

When you have ice in your fuel, there are only two choices. One warm the fuel up, generally done by dragging the piece of equipment into a garage, or two by using a product such as Thaw-It™ to dissolve the ice and disperse the water.

Thaw-It™ contains two co-solvents to break down the ice. Thaw-It™ will also remove (disperse) liquid and dissolved water in the fuel and fuel system.

What NOT to Do!

Using gasoline, ethanol, isopropyl, or methanol is dangerous as it lowers the Flash Point of the fuel and will likely damage pumps and or injectors.

How to Use Thaw-It™

Remove filter and replace if possible with a new one. If you must use the old filter try to pour out as much of the ice or gelled fuel as possible. Fill the filter with 50% Thaw-It™ and 50% diesel fuel. (Do not fill with 100% Thaw-It™). Add 1 quart of Thaw-It™ per 50 gallons of fuel to the fuel tank(s). Allow to sit for 20-30 minutes, then start engine. Allow engine to warm before driving or operating.

Use Summit Fuel Treatment™ or Freeze Flow™ to prevent fuel from gelling in the future. If you have water in your fuel system, use EnerFuel to disperse water.