B737-800
Flight Crew Instrument; Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP); Flight Crew Multiengine
Flight Crew Last 90 Days 443
Aircraft Equipment Problem Less Severe; Inflight Event / Encounter Fuel Issue
Flight Crew Overcame Equipment Problem
Aircraft
Flight crew arrived at cruising altitude of FL370. We immediately notice a fuel imbalance. As Captain; I proceeded with the fuel cross feed procedure to no avail. The left tank continued to burn fuel at a much higher rate than the right tank. We got an amber Fuel Imbalance Caution. I called for the Fuel Imbalance QRH procedure. We noticed after about midway through the procedure the fuel levels stabilized and began to correctly balance. We then finished the QRH procedure and pressed on towards ZZZ. Upon arrival in ZZZ; I immediately called Dispatch to arrange a three-way call with Maintenance. Manager on Call sent a Maintenance Officer to the aircraft to conduct a further inspection. As the flight was in smooth air continuously and the imbalance was less than 3000 pounds; Maintenance signed off and returned the aircraft back into service. The reason for this [report] is 1) the fuel imbalance exceeded the limitation of 1000 pound imbalance (our imbalance reached 1800 pounds before it corrected itself with the cross feed procedure activated) and 2) that this; being the first flight of the day for this aircraft and temperatures close to freezing; Maintenance suspected a possible stuck valve due to the frigid environment.
B737 Captain reported fuel distribution system malfunction which ultimately self-corrected.