Val d'Isere - How to stop my diesel freezing/waxing?

[emicen]

Going to Val d'Isere at the end of Jan / start of Feb and because the world champs are on, there's no underground parking left in the town. So I'll end up having to park my car at the open air carpark outside town and get the bus in.

Question is, given how cold it gets up there at night, am I likely to have problems with the diesel in my car waxing up and is there some form of additive I could use to prevent it?

[triggersbroom]

Some say add a wee bit of unleaded. What the quantities are, or whether this is true I have no idea.

I'm pretty sure someone will post the correct answer.

[AndyBe]

I don't think you'll have any problem. Fill it up locally.
My Escort TD started and ran fine when it was -28.

[rufusruffcutt]

Here are the freezing points, give or take 1 or 2 degrees either way.
I guess it would depend how exposed your fuel tank is and where you park the
car i.e. exposed to wind chill etc.

Diesel 'Clouding' = 0 centigrade
Diesel 'Gelling' = -10 centigrade
Diesel 'Waxing' = -45 centigrade

Unleaded 95 RON petrol freezing point = -60 centigrade

and for fun

Jet fuel A1 freezing point = -47 centigrade
Jet fuel A freezing point = -40 centigrade

[FPC]

Make sure you fill up in the resort - they should use diesel with a much lower freezing point.

[130R]

You can use a cold weather additive, I guess the diesel over there already has it in at the pump.

[cptsideways]

Fill it up at the bottom of the hill in Bourg, its cheaper too

[Camel]

There is really nothing to worry about, I live at 1500m in the Swiss alps and my diesel Rangie lives outside. All fuel bought anywhere near the alps will be fine for winter temperatures.

[DBRacingGod]

I don't think there is a wind-chill factor for metal. Just ambient, innit?

[Nobby Diesel]

It was -12 outside my house one night last week.
The Audi diesel started just fine - didn't even think about it.

[LeoSayer]

DBRacingGod said:

I don't think there is a wind-chill factor for metal. Just ambient, innit?

Does it get windy inside the fuel tank?

[Dupont666]

the local filling stations should have the relevant fuel with lower freezing temperatures.... I was in Finland (-17) and they have 3 different types, summer, winter and arctic fuel, so just use what the locals do and you will be fine.

[DBRacingGod]

LeoSayer said:

DBRacingGod said:

I don't think there is a wind-chill factor for metal. Just ambient, innit?

Does it get windy inside the fuel tank?

Twas a rebuttal to this post:

rufusruffcutt said:

Here are the freezing points, give or take 1 or 2 degrees either way.
I guess it would depend how exposed your fuel tank is and where you park the
car i.e. exposed to wind chill etc.

[Gafferjim]

Before you go, either change or empty & refill your fuel filter. These take out any water that gets into your fuel (condensation on inside of fuel tank for a start) if you have any decent amount of water in the filter, it will freeze and block your fuel line.

[cheeky_chops]

met a mate in livigno a few years ago as we went on seperate days - we had a petrol punto, he had a derv astra. We left fine. Get call later his car wouldnt start - it was proper cold over night, -20c!! They had to get a 4 hour taxi and still missed their flights! They had to hotel it, pay for flights next day, about £800 in total and late back (self employed) so a load of hastle and cost a bundle, most of which he got back on his insurance...

edit - his oil burner was hired in milan

Edited by cheeky_chops on Friday 9th January 22:52

[theboymoon]

Camel said:

There is really nothing to worry about, I live at 1500m in the Swiss alps and my diesel Rangie lives outside. All fuel bought anywhere near the alps will be fine for winter temperatures.

you're more likely to have problems with the handbrake sticking than diesel waxing to be honest

[Ozzie Osmond]

FPC said:

Make sure you fill up in the resort - they should use diesel with a much lower freezing point.

Yup, that's the one.

[emicen]

cptsideways said:

Fill it up at the bottom of the hill in Bourg, its cheaper too

World Champs are on whilst I'm over and the parking in the town is fully booked. Didnt quite understand the girl on the phone in the Val D tourist office but I think the gist is I might have to leave the damn car in Bourg and take the bus!

theboymoon said:

Camel said:

There is really nothing to worry about, I live at 1500m in the Swiss alps and my diesel Rangie lives outside. All fuel bought anywhere near the alps will be fine for winter temperatures.

you're more likely to have problems with the handbrake sticking than diesel waxing to be honest

Hmmm...park on the flat and leave it in gear then.

Cheers for the replies chaps, I was just going to wack a litre or two of unleaded in but I'll play safe and fill her up with local diesel.

Next debate: Bother with snow chains or not...

[tvrgit]

EEEE lad I remember in t'old days before all them new-fangled additivies an' all, when we 'ad to set fires with newspapers under us vans, so that t'diesel would flow when ye turned t'key...

Anti-waxing agents? Luxury!

[Ranger 6]

emicen said:

Next debate: Bother with snow chains or not...

Careful, 'tis a legal requirement to have them.
But if you're parking at the bottom they may not be needed at all.