Like a lot of members my car, an Octavia II 2.0Tdi CR, is not being used much as we are currently only doing short shopping journeys and we use my wife's Renault Clio for those. Should I be concerned that the diesel in my Octavia which was bought in June this year as I understand that the composition of diesel sold in the UK in the winter months is changed to stop it waxing?

 

If the fuel sold in the summer is liable to wax in our winter temperatures here in North West England can I mix something else with the diesel, I have almost a full tank, without causing damage to the fuel system?

If the ground / air temps get down around -10*oC--12*oC & lower then yes you need to be concerned like all the Car Dealerships, Hire Companies, Fleet operators with vehicles sitting with diesel in from before October.

 

What you could mix with the diesel is the diesel being sold now after taking the car for a run to use a few gallons, or you could get Anti-Waxing Diesel Winter Additive and add to the tank and go drive and get it mixed in the tank.

 

Google Anti-Wax diesel Winter additive.

E-Roottoot thank you for the detailed information. I thought that diesel waxing occured at about 0 Deg C. I can remember when I was young seeing on the television, in black and white, scenes of lorry drivers lighting fires under their tanks. Winters may have been a lot colder then.

 

The car is kept in a garage and I hope to be able use it around Christmas so unless we get a really cold snap it should be OK and I can then top up the tank with "winter" diesel.

1963 was very cold, but lorries / tractors were still getting fires or heaters under them long after that.

I remember seeing it still done in the 70's.

There was often H20 in the fuel though.  (Kerosene was usually added to the Derv.)

 

It is as low as -5*oC on roads in the North already and going lower.  Colder were there are no road sensors usually.

 

I have my Greenhouse fan in my van now as it is minus 3 degrees and stayed below freezing all day.

http://trafficscotland.org/weatherstations

 

Edited 3 December, 20205 yr by e-Roottoot

I think winter diesel gets sold from October onwards.

 

If your fuel is getting that old you'll need to think about a fuel stabliser anyway or it'll go off in the tank.