[jomiri]

It's been about 0F where I am, but its been as low as -5F. Car has been sitting outside, not started in a few days. I went to start my car last night and it started a little roughly after the glow plugs did their job. I heard a high pitched electric motor whine from the back, but I just assumed it was something in the SCR injector going to work due to an extra hard/potentially smoky winter start. The whine got louder when I turned on the heated seat.

I went to clear snow off the car. Car ran for about 2 minutes, then sounded like it was misfiring for about 5 seconds and died. I had an "Engine Malfunction" warning but no SES lights. I tried letting it sit for a short duration and starting it again. It cranked and fired, but died almost immediately.

I'm assuming this has to do with the fuel gelling and the noise being the pump, not in the SCR system. I'm going to try to move the car into my garage and let everything thaw, its a balmy 40F in there! Will I need to add any Diesel 911? Do I need to add it to the fuel filter directly, or is the tank good enough? I'll be adding anti-gel additives from now on when its this cold.

I was under the impression that gelling was very bad, and once diesel gelled, the damage is already done. Does the fuel gelling in the car mean I need to replace the fuel filter now? Is there anything else that needs to be done, like bleeding the air, once I get the car warm and started again?

Or am I not correct and this is potentially another issue altogether? No issues with the car going into this. 115k miles, 15k mile old fuel filter, JR 2.0, emissions intact minus EGR, new SCR active tank and filled with DEF, no fuel additives.

I read OmahaDZL fixed a cold start issue by cycling glow plugs, but I don't want to strain the fuel pump if its gelled fuel. Also saw k20power had very similar issues and conditions, but my car turns over and fires (albeit once) while his just cranked.

Thanks in advance, I'll be sure to report back with the solution once I get the car started.

[ptpending]

leave car for a few hours in a warm place and try to start after that
you can damage your fuel pump in tank though

[335dsleeper]

I’d put the white or red powerservice bottle in it.

[RL18]

I had the same problem in my 7.3 powerstroke and my dads 6.7 powerstroke except gelled fuel lines for both of us. Sounded like a tractor when I started it but after putting some diesel 911 in the tank it came back to life and the idled a lot smoother, after that I put optilube winter formula (which is good down -50F) in my superduty and my 335d and haven't had any problems. Over here in Maine btw, its been below zero here lately too... -15F last night and that's without the wind chill...

[jomiri]

Thanks all! Did some reading on the winter products. Looks like the red and white bottles can be mixed. I'll probably pick up both and try to get the car running without removing or changing anything.

Because the filter likely froze, will I need to replace that?

[needcaffeine]

Mucho Gusto Too. Had the exact same problem was worried the battery had died. Off to get some Diesel 911 in the morning.

[Asonchadwick]

Diesel 911 should fix it, you cant add it directly to the filter on these cars. The filter does have a heater on it so most likely the in tank pump with gelled fuel i think you will be ok.

[smass]

On the X5 forum, a few members posted that their X5d were able to start at -25f. Winter fuel you get in PA is rated for even colder than that right?

[jomiri]

Thanks again all. Gonna try and get some Diesel 911 soon and let it sit and mix for a little.

Originally Posted by smassey321

On the X5 forum, a few members posted that their X5d were able to start at -25f. Winter fuel you get in PA is rated for even colder than that right?

I should update my location, I'm mostly in NJ now. From what I understand, PA has more additives, but diesel there is usually 50 cents more per gallon so I always fuel up in NJ. Just have to add more additives. It's hard to beat a 50 cent per gallon difference.

[335dsleeper]

-25 or windchill of -25?

Winter diesel should be available in most northern states now and should be good in the low teens without an additive. The 335d and 35d x5 have a fuel heater. For me, my X5 has started and ran fine at -1* yesterday without any additional additives.

The 335d should be fine as well but, could have moisture in the tank or maybe the fuel was poor quality to begin with.

Op, just put some additive in and drive your car.

Originally Posted by smassey321

On the X5 forum, a few members posted that their X5d were able to start at -25f. Winter fuel you get in PA is rated for even colder than that right?

[smass]

Originally Posted by 335dsleeper

-25 or windchill of -25?

Winter diesel should be available in most northern states now and should be good in the low teens without an additive. The 335d and 35d x5 have a fuel heater. For me, my X5 has started and ran fine at -1* yesterday without any additional additives.

The 335d should be fine as well but, could have moisture in the tank or maybe the fuel was poor quality to begin with.

Op, just put some additive in and drive your car.

http://www.bimmerfest.com/forums/sho....php?t=1200921

[jomiri]

Good news, the car started and runs fine! Weather got to around 25F yesterday and I put in some of the white bottle of Power Service (couldn't get my hands on Diesel 911).

Today it was 40F, went out and tried it and it fired right up. No glow plugs needed, no errors, no hard starts, no misfiring, no bad noises. Looks like my issue was bad fuel.

Thanks again to the community! I'd probably be tearing out the fuel filter and bleeding the injectors if not for the advice guidance.

[montr]

You can try this:
http://powerservice.com/psp_product/...-tank-cleaner/

[TorqueAddict]

Originally Posted by jomiri

Good news, the car started and runs fine! Weather got to around 25F yesterday and I put in some of the white bottle of Power Service (couldn't get my hands on Diesel 911).

Today it was 40F, went out and tried it and it fired right up. No glow plugs needed, no errors, no hard starts, no misfiring, no bad noises. Looks like my issue was bad fuel.

Thanks again to the community! I'd probably be tearing out the fuel filter and bleeding the injectors if not for the advice guidance.

It was -29C here in Canada, with a windchill of -40C. My car was outside the whole night, and it did not start the next morning. Luckily it was weekend and the temps were supposed to go up. When the ambient raised to about -10C, i tried again. It fired up right away, like nothing happened. Poured in half a bottle of Power service white, in a tank full. After that, so far so good. Most probably i got bad fuel, or some condensation somewhere in the fueling system that froze.

Glad it worked out for you as well.

[Juno01]

I've read that winter diesel #2 is presumably rated to -30F. I will never trust winter #2 diesel again after becoming stranded on the side of the road in -21F conditions in my f350 even after adding a few ounces of white bottle powerservice at my last fill.
A few days later, after having it towed, she still wouldn't start in 30F weather until I removed and replaced the inline filter which was caked with the wax that separated from the diesel. Also discovered Diesel 911 doesn't help when your filter clogged.

[lnxguy]

Originally Posted by TorqueAddict

It was -29C here in Canada, with a windchill of -40C. My car was outside the whole night, and it did not start the next morning. Luckily it was weekend and the temps were supposed to go up. When the ambient raised to about -10C, i tried again. It fired up right away, like nothing happened. Poured in half a bottle of Power service white, in a tank full. After that, so far so good. Most probably i got bad fuel, or some condensation somewhere in the fueling system that froze.

Glad it worked out for you as well.

I only get diesel at the Petro on the corner of Veterans and Mapleview. Super fast pump as well!

[TorqueAddict]

Originally Posted by lnxguy

I only get diesel at the Petro on the corner of Veterans and Mapleview. Super fast pump as well!

Thanks for the recommendation man. Now i'll tell you where not to get the fuel from - Shell station at Innisfil beach road and 400. (Near 400 Market).

[lnxguy]

Originally Posted by TorqueAddict

Thanks for the recommendation man. Now i'll tell you where not to get the fuel from - Shell station at Innisfil beach road and 400. (Near 400 Market).

Good tip. I see lots of big trucks at that one on Mapleview/Veterans. So the turn over should be pretty good. And that pump is wicked fast, saves me a bunch of time.

-Bill