Winter Diesel

Information on winter diesel in the high country.

Diesel has a tendency to freeze when reaching the low temperatures encountered in the High Country of Victoria in Winter. The wax content of the fuel is what actually blocks the filters pumps and fuel lines of diesel vehicles. For this reason service stations near the High Country and on the snow routes sell a modified diesel, usually beginning at the start of April. Some fuel retailers at Mansfield and Myrtleford sell “winter diesel” all year round, but you have to ask for it out of season.

There is actually two winter diesels available. The first one called Highland Diesel is the one you will get out of the pump of most servos’ in the foothills of the High Country. The second is called Alpine Diesel. Both of these have had heating oil added to the fuel to dilute the wax content of the fuel. Highland has 20% heating oil added. Alpine diesel has 40% heating oil added and is only suitable for extreme weather conditions or machinery left stopped for extended periods in the cold. The addition of heating oil lowers the octane rating and hence the punch of the fuel and is why truckies’ avoid it like the plague.

While frozen fuel doesn’t damage the engine, it will make it run rough or not even start. The solution to this is to warm any areas where the fuel runs, ie. the pump, the filters and the fuel lines. The easiest, if you have time, is to push the vehicle into a sunny spot lift the bonnet and wait until all the fuel lines, pumps, filters etc. warm up enough to allow you to start the motor. You can also pour warm water over filters, pumps and lines to help speed up the process. If near mains power, I’ve also heard of a hair dryer been used.
It seems the filters get blocked the easiest, so trying to warm these is the most effective.

The simplest way to avoid having this happen when you are overnight in the High Country is to get fuel at one of the towns at the foothills. You should plan to get more then half a tank of Winter Diesel. This also pumps dollars into the local economy, especially when you see the price you will have to pay. You can also put in fuel additives that claim to lower the freezing point. The use of 2% or more of unleaded petrol into a tank of diesel is not recommended as you could possibly burn out the tips of your injectors.

Hope this helps anyone coming up to the High Country this winter.