Tractor troubles

[SMN Herf]

Okay, a question for you guys. I've heard that if you get in a pinch, adding a little gasoline to the number 2 will help. Bad idea or BS?

We tried it the other day for the first time and got a CIH MX120 to go---after we had tried 911 and changing the fuel filter and working with the inline filter. We put about 2.5 gallon of gasoline (87 octane) into the half tank of #2 diesel (30 gallon) that had been double dosed with Howe's fuel treatment before the cold weather hit. I've heard truckers say you can add up to 20% of your total diesel (ie 2 gallons for every 10 gallons of #2), but I personally would be a little hesitant to add that much and would not recommend it.

The fuel man here says he has a number of people who run 10% unleaded in with #2 fuel. They claim no problem. But he says he wouldn't pull the engine too hard especially if the weather warmed up to 45 F.

I have done the gas thing in #2 several times. If things are gelled up, clean filters and then pour gas into fuel tank and then let it sit for at least half an hour. I think it tends to clean the fuel system out, especialy if a little ethanol is in the gasoline. I know some of these older truckers have some good tricks of keeping fuel flowing in cold weather.

Brian