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ridethe907 t1_iutl7oi wrote

Reply to comment by [deleted] in 30 minutes of car preheating in sub-zero conditions produces as much particulate emissions as driving 97km in a gasoline car, or 20km in a diesel car “These findings do not suggest to stop preheating cars; instead, we could reduce the emissions by using similar methods that are in place for engine” by giuliomagnifico

The block heater in a diesel heats the coolant in the engine block, which in turn keeps the oil and fuel in the engine warm, but it does nothing for the fuel in the tank. Anywhere that gets a real winter switches the type of diesel you get at the pump for the winter season so that gelling is not a concern.

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[deleted] t1_iutmgvs wrote

[deleted]

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ridethe907 t1_iutnaxa wrote

Maybe in some trucks, probably semis. DEF tanks in modern consumer trucks are heated too, but not by the block heater, and that stuff will freeze solid if it's cold enough. In your typical 2500-3500 series pickup the fuel in the tank will be heated when the truck is running, but by hot fuel recirculating from the return line, not an electric heater. If we're talking about plugging in your average normal person diesel car or truck, the only thing being heated is the block. Some people add additional heating pads to things like the battery, and oil and trans pans. I've never heard of anyone putting a pad on a fuel tank.

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SpaceAgePotatoCakes t1_iuug2e6 wrote

I swapped the tank in my diesel Grand Cherokee, there absolutely wasn't a heater in it. It wasn't super happy about it but it started at -35°C.

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