I use organic sunflower oil in my flue pan to control foam but I don't like to add it into the syrup pan. It usually isn't a problem till I get a build up of sand in the front syrup pan. I was up at 5:30am and it was -1. The ground was crunchy, so hopefully that will be enough. On another note. I checked a couple of my 3gal pails behind the house this morning and some were 1/4 to 1/2 full! I am hoping the seasons will last in to a least the first week of April.