does the winter fuel have a lower or higher centene rating than summer fuel ???

 

The cetane rating could be the same, but typically winterized fuel has a higher percentage of diesel #1 or kerosene blended in with it. Diesel #1 and kerosene have less btu's (energy) per gallon, so overall mpg decreases proportionately with blended fuel. Best to find unblended #2 and use anti-gel additives IMO

 

Blended fuel should be higher cetane. Higher cetane aids in cold starting, not much else.

 

cp, why do you think blended fuel has higher cetane?

 

Fuel pumps around here are labeled with minimum cetane ratings.
If (Huge IF) they are labeled correctly : there should be no difference.
However, #1 diesel has less lubricity.
#1 also gells at a lower temp.

 

does kerosene have a centene rating

if it is lower than diesel#2 than mixing kerosene with #2 would lower the rating would it not

 

It doesn't matter one way or the other for the most part. The mpg loss will be there no matter what due to lower btu's of the kerosene/#1. Especially during times of winter blended fuel, using a fuel additive is recommended. As posted above, blended fuel has less lubricity, and the additives will help to lower the gel point and boost cetane.

 

[quote author=Lightman link=board=17;threadid=22991;start=0#msg215743 date=1070146662]
cp, why do you think blended fuel has higher cetane?
[/quote]

I don't know. I always thought that the higher fractions had higher cetane, but I can't find any reference to support my statement, so I'd better retract it. In fact, the only thing I could find states that #1 may be a couple of points lower in cetane rating than #2, not higher as I said.

Good catch.

 

WEll cp you're partially right...the 'higher fraction' does have higher cetane. #2 is generally has more btu's and cetane, however it's the highest percentage of the mix. It has to get pretty darn cold before that mix hits 50/50. Perhaps you were thinking about offroad fuel, which typically has more cetane along with more sulfur..