At what temperature does No. 0 diesel freeze?
2 Answers
No. 0 diesel freezes at 0 degrees Celsius. The freezing of diesel is referred to as crystallization. The grade of diesel is named after the freezing point of the oil product, so No. 0 diesel begins to crystallize at 0 degrees Celsius. Diesel is a light petroleum product and a complex hydrocarbon mixture, serving as fuel for diesel engines. It is mainly composed of diesel fractions produced through processes such as crude oil distillation, catalytic cracking, thermal cracking, hydrocracking, and petroleum coking, and can also be obtained from shale oil processing and coal liquefaction. When selecting diesel, the choice is determined by the temperature during use. No. 0 diesel can only be used when the temperature is above 4 degrees Celsius.
I've been driving trucks long-distance for over twenty years, and in northern winters, temperatures below minus ten degrees Celsius are common. Number 0 diesel starts to wax around zero degrees, and it typically freezes solid at around minus five degrees. When the fuel line gets blocked, the truck stalls and won't move. I remember one time in Heilongjiang at minus eight degrees—the fuel pipe was as hard as an ice pop, and the engine just wouldn't start. Eventually, we had to pour warm water to heat it up, but the mechanic warned that this could easily damage the parts. Key preventive measures: use minus-grade diesel in cold regions, like minus 10 or minus 20, which have lower freezing points. There are also anti-condensation additives on the market. Keep the fuel tank full to reduce moisture, and park indoors in winter. Don’t try to save money by using Number 0 diesel in winter—changing to the right oil may cost a little, but safety comes first. Otherwise, you could end up stranded in a snowstorm and pay a much heavier price. That’s just how diesel behaves—it thickens when cold. Checking the weather and preparing properly before driving can avoid a lot of trouble.
