Episode 035 – When To Treat For Cold Flow

Knowing when to treat your fuel to avoid temperature-related gelling is key. In this episode, I’ll explain what you need to know about temperatures, timing, and components involved in deciding when and how to treat. You will learn about what cloud point is, how to find that for your fuel, and what that means for your treatment process.

Listen in as I go over key indicators that will help you know when to order the proper treatment for your fuel, as well as the various aspects that go into deciding when and how to treat. You will also hear about the best way to use anti-gel and the timing that is crucial to the success of the treatment process. Different parts of the country (or even the state) can have varying processes for planning fuel treatment, so don't miss hearing how you need to plan ahead to be ready for those changing temperatures.

Listen to the Full Episode:

What You'll Learn: 

• Why we know this coming winter may be colder—and the impact of that on your stored fuel.
• What paraffins are and what cold temperatures do to them.
• What cloud point is and what it can tell you about your fuel and temperature issues.
• How to plan to prevent cold weather diesel problems.
• What anti-gels are, the fuel temperature problems they address, and who uses them.
• When to procure anti-gel and signs that you may need to use it.
• Educated assumptions that you may have to make and the process you should use to make important seasonal treatment decisions.
• How different geographical locations are affected by gelling (and need to plan differently for proper treatment).
• How often to treat your fuel with anti-gel.

• “This may be the most important thing you need to know about your fuel: the cloud point temperature.” - Erik Bjornstad
• “Fuel gels in cold weather because the colder the temperatures get, the less soluble that fuel’s paraffin content becomes.” - Erik Bjornstad
• “Preventing a gelling problem can only be done by adding something to the fuel that causes the temperature of the fuel to change.” - Erik Bjornstad
• “Fuel gelling and resulting operational problems from that fuel gelling are temperature dependent first and foremost.” - Erik Bjornstad
• "When you see temperatures being forecasted to drop within 10 degrees above your cloud point, that’s your signal to start the wheels rolling on treating that fuel.” - Erik Bjornstad

Resources:

• Erik Bjornstad: LinkedIn