[PowderMonkey]

Wondering if anyone has had this problem this year? Thanksgiving day camping in the middle of nowhere, had a snow storm come through the night before. It was brutally cold the next day. Truck wouldn’t start! Thank goodness the wife brought her hair dryer, and I bought the geny. I was able to heat up the fuel filters and it started. I got lucky starting there. I’m going to change the filters over Christmas.
Anyone had this problem? Now I’m not sure why it’s freezing there unless filter heater is not working, no codes to indicate an issue. I’m hoping someone else has had this issue, oh and I treat with sea foam every other tank for the last 3 years.

 

[SFLTruck]

Wondering if anyone has had this problem this year? Thanksgiving day camping in the middle of nowhere, had a snow storm come through the night before. It was brutally cold the next day. Truck wouldn’t start! Thank goodness the wife brought her hair dryer, and I bought the geny. I was able to heat up the fuel filters and it started. I got lucky starting there. I’m going to change the filters over Christmas.
Anyone had this problem? Now I’m not sure why it’s freezing there unless filter heater is not working, no codes to indicate an issue. I’m hoping someone else has had this issue, oh and I treat with sea foam every other tank for the last 3 years.

32 is not all that cold so I'm wondering if you maybe have water in the fuel separator/filter housing that froze up preventing fuel movement. I would open the drain plug and capture the fuel in a glass container and have a look at it.

 

[Tuloko]

I've had the issue twice in the past week, truck won't start when cold. Probably around 20 degrees both times. First time, it turned over, sputtered and stalled out. I tried a few times and the same thing happened. I plugged it in for an hour and it then fired right up like nothing was wrong.

Then today, same thing. But upon plugging it in for an hour, it still barely started. I was able to limp it into the garage where it then stalled again, and got the message on the dash "Engine Power Reduced". After an hour in the warm garage it fired right up. But prior to starting, I called OnStar to get the error codes which there were 4. I then looked them up...

P0087- A general OBD2 diagnostic trouble code that indicates a fault within the fuel delivery system. This code is set once the ECM has detected low fuel pressure at the fuel pressure sensor.
P228A- Appears to be a fuel pressure regulator issue
P228B- Also indicates a fuel pressure regulator issue
P228C- Fuel Pressure Regulator 1 Exceeded Control Limits - Pressure Too Low

Here is what I'm hoping...

I last filled up a few hundred miles from home in a warm climate. Now at home, it's cold... maybe the Chevron I fueled up at didn't have the cold weather treated diesel? I do think and hope it is a gelling issue. Tomorrow I'll fill up locally, assuming it starts, and also throw some treatment in the tank.

Any comments or theories aside from mine appreciated.

 

[SFLTruck]

I've had the issue twice in the past week, truck won't start when cold. Probably around 20 degrees both times. First time, it turned over, sputtered and stalled out. I tried a few times and the same thing happened. I plugged it in for an hour and it then fired right up like nothing was wrong.

Then today, same thing. But upon plugging it in for an hour, it still barely started. I was able to limp it into the garage where it then stalled again, and got the message on the dash "Engine Power Reduced". After an hour in the warm garage it fired right up. But prior to starting, I called OnStar to get the error codes which there were 4. I then looked them up...

P0087- A general OBD2 diagnostic trouble code that indicates a fault within the fuel delivery system. This code is set once the ECM has detected low fuel pressure at the fuel pressure sensor.
P228A- Appears to be a fuel pressure regulator issue
P228B- Also indicates a fuel pressure regulator issue
P228C- Fuel Pressure Regulator 1 Exceeded Control Limits - Pressure Too Low

Here is what I'm hoping...

I last filled up a few hundred miles from home in a warm climate. Now at home, it's cold... maybe the Chevron I fueled up at didn't have the cold weather treated diesel? I do think and hope it is a gelling issue. Tomorrow I'll fill up locally, assuming it starts, and also throw some treatment in the tank.

Any comments or theories aside from mine appreciated.

Yup you may be on to something here. I agree throw some antigel in and a full tank of local fuel in and see if that resolves the problem. I would still open the fuel drain on the fuel filter case for good measures but that's just me.

Let us know how it works out for you.

 

[Tuloko]

Yup you may be on to something here. I agree throw some antigel in and a full tank of local fuel in and see if that resolves the problem. I would still open the fuel drain on the fuel filter case for good measures but that's just me.

Let us know how it works out for you.

I'll drain the filters as well, but really hoping I can find one in town today and replace it altogether. I'll keep you posted.

 

[DieselDrax]

Wondering if anyone has had this problem this year? Thanksgiving day camping in the middle of nowhere, had a snow storm come through the night before. It was brutally cold the next day. Truck wouldn’t start! Thank goodness the wife brought her hair dryer, and I bought the geny. I was able to heat up the fuel filters and it started. I got lucky starting there. I’m going to change the filters over Christmas.
Anyone had this problem? Now I’m not sure why it’s freezing there unless filter heater is not working, no codes to indicate an issue. I’m hoping someone else has had this issue, oh and I treat with sea foam every other tank for the last 3 years.

There is no filter heater, the fuel is heated by the fuel returning from the injector rail. So, if the fuel isn't properly treated for the temps you'll be out in then fuel gelling is likely to bite you. A bottle of Diesel 911 would be good to carry in the winter. I've had to use this once, my truck was parked outside near Chicago for a week during a polar vortex and temps never rose above 0F for a while. My truck would start and idle but would stall if I tried to drive. Had to get a Lyft to Walmart to get some Diesel 911, poured it in, let it sit, then let it idle for a few minutes. No problems after that.

There are various fuel additives you can use in the winter if you're unsure if the fuel you have has been sufficiently treated for the expected temps. I tend to use Hot Shot's Secret winter additive since it's easy to dose. Back when my fuel gelled I didn't use any winter additive and the fuel in my tank wasn't treated for the expected temps.

Welcome to winter with a diesel!

 

[PowderMonkey]

There is no filter heater, the fuel is heated by the fuel returning from the injector rail. So, if the fuel isn't properly treated for the temps you'll be out in then fuel gelling is likely to bite you. A bottle of Diesel 911 would be good to carry in the winter. I've had to use this once, my truck was parked outside near Chicago for a week during a polar vortex and temps never rose above 0F for a while. My truck would start and idle but would stall if I tried to drive. Had to get a Lyft to Walmart to get some Diesel 911, poured it in, let it sit, then let it idle for a few minutes. No problems after that.

There are various fuel additives you can use in the winter if you're unsure if the fuel you have has been sufficiently treated for the expected temps. I tend to use Hot Shot's Secret winter additive since it's easy to dose. Back when my fuel gelled I didn't use any winter additive and the fuel in my tank wasn't treated for the expected temps.

Welcome to winter with a diesel!

Guys I appreciate all your input, thanks so much! Here’s a little update on what I have found. So I had a diesel mechanic look at it today, he found that the problem isn’t moisture or gelling…. it’s the fact that the ECM is not telling the heater to come on. He was able to turn it on manually so everything is working properly, it lies with ECM. Now up until now, I’ve owned the truck for 3 years. Never had a problem in winter but this year I deleted the truck. 🤔

 

[DieselDrax]

Guys I appreciate all your input, thanks so much! Here’s a little update on what I have found. So I had a diesel mechanic look at it today, he found that the problem isn’t moisture or gelling…. it’s the fact that the ECM is not telling the heater to come on. He was able to turn it on manually so everything is working properly, it lies with ECM. Now up until now, I’ve owned the truck for 3 years. Never had a problem in winter but this year I deleted the truck. 🤔

Whatever heater there may be will never prevent gelling elsewhere in the fuel system. I got the same codes when my truck gelled. The best way to prevent this from happening again is to be better prepared. Treat the fuel with winter additive and keep a bottle of Diesel 911 handy.

The Duramax supplement even talks about cold weather operation and issues that can happen as temps drop below 32F.

 

[PowderMonkey]

I’m my case, “THE HEATERS” aren’t working. When it finally starts after, a few attempts it keeps running. I treat my fuel all the time. I’ve never had any codes. It’s an issue with the tune.

 

[DieselDrax]

I’m my case, “THE HEATERS” aren’t working. When it finally starts after, a few attempts it keeps running. I treat my fuel all the time. I’ve never had any codes. It’s an issue with the tune.

The tune has nothing to do with fuel heater and if it somehow does then I'd be asking whoever did the tune WTF. Regardless, I'll say it again, it doesn't matter if there's a heater for the filter housing. That will not prevent gelling elsewhere. So if your fuel were properly treated for the temps experienced then you wouldn't have had gelling problems. You had gelling issues due to the fuel not having the correct type or amount of winter additive. The heater or problems with the heater is not why you had problems.

I feel like you're just not listening. You've got tunnel vision on this somehow being related to some heater problem. It's a fuel problem. It gelled. It wasn't properly treated.