Fuel gelling prevention using engine auto start functionality

A method of controlling fuel temperature in a diesel-powered vehicle, the method comprising:

• receiving, by an electronic control unit (ECU) of the vehicle, fuel temperature information from a fuel temperature sensor positioned proximate to the fuel filter and situated to detect a first fuel temperature of fuel associated with the fuel filter;
• in response to determining that the first fuel temperature indicated by the fuel temperature information is below a startup temperature threshold value, turning on an ignition and performing a post-ignition interlock check;
• based on determining that the post-ignition interlock check has not failed, transmitting, by the ECU, an instruction to an engine crank to start an internal combustion engine of the vehicle;
• based on the internal combustion engine being started by the engine crank, stopping the engine crank;
• receiving vehicle state information from a vehicle state sensor, wherein the vehicle state information includes at least one of:
• an amount of time for which the internal combustion engine has been running;
• or
• a second fuel temperature of fuel associated with the fuel filter;
• in response to determining, based on the vehicle state information, to shut down the internal combustion engine, transmitting, by the ECU, an instruction to the internal combustion engine to shut down.

A non-transitory computer-readable medium having computer-executable instructions stored thereon that, in response to execution by an electronic control unit (ECU) of a vehicle, cause the vehicle to perform actions for controlling fuel temperature in the vehicle, the actions comprising:

• receiving, by the ECU of the vehicle, fuel temperature information from a fuel temperature sensor positioned proximate to the fuel filter and situated to detect a first fuel temperature of fuel associated with the fuel filter;
• in response to determining that the first fuel temperature indicated by the fuel temperature information is below a startup temperature threshold value, turning on an ignition and performing a post-ignition interlock check;
• based on determining that the post-ignition interlock check has not failed, transmitting, by the ECU, an instruction to an engine crank to start an internal combustion engine of the vehicle;
• based on the internal combustion engine being started by the engine crank, stopping the engine crank;
• receiving vehicle state information from a vehicle state sensor, wherein the vehicle state information includes at least one of:
• an amount of time for which the internal combustion engine has been running;
• or
• a second fuel temperature of fuel associated with the fuel filter;
• in response to determining, based on the vehicle state information, to shut down the internal combustion engine, transmitting, by the ECU, an instruction to the internal combustion engine to shut down.