We also check all of our 4 wheelers, pickups, trucks, loaders, tractors, and combines to make sure that there is sufficient antifreeze in the radiators so that the engine blocks won't freeze and crack. This job alone usually takes one person about a week.
Another important winterizing step is treating our diesel fuel with a cetane booster. You've probably noticed when you go to the pump that there is a few different types of gasoline to buy. The types that you select from in Kansas are usually 87, 89 and 91. These numbers refer to the gasoline's octane rating. The higher the level of octane in the gasoline the higher the temperature the fuel will reach before combustion.
Diesel fuel has something similar to octane; it is called cetane. The higher the cetane number on the diesel fuel the quicker it ignites when under pressure. The reason this is important on the farm is that when the temperature goes down the cetane number needs to increase in order for the fuel to ignite and the engine start and run. The cetane number is also important because it relates to the viscosity of the fuel. When the temperature goes below freezing the untreated diesel fuel will turn into a gel. This means the fuel stops flowing to the engine and it kills the engine, or wont start in the first place.
Last winter we treated all of our diesel fuel, but we had a few weeks that the temperature was below double digits below zero Fahrenheit. Even with the fuel treated and the engine heater plugged in the diesel still gelled on us and didn't allow us to start the tractor we were using to feed our cows. After that wonderful experience, we are going to give that tractor an double dose of cetane this time around.
-Ryan of the House Stark
