Winter fuel blending has hit New England this past week. My fuel mileage has dropped the usual 2 miles per gallon. That amounts to a loss of over 1/2 of a round trip commute per tank.

 

Check with different stations, many no longer blend but instead use straight #2 with anti-gel additive. Cheaper and easier for the supplier and better mileage for you.

 

I seen winterized fuel hit the stations about a month ago, I'd rather not really have any until it really gets cold though. My local BP doesn't really say which is in it so I guess it is a surprise but my mileage hasn't been doing so well so I think I know the answer.

 

Same here. My mileage went from averaging around 20 to around 16-17 in the last 2 fill ups.

How long until spring?

 

Glad we don't have to worry about that stuff down here. My mileage already sucks as it is.

 

I can imagine the already suffering '04 guys doing a "What the...........?" when looking at their fuel mileage after a recent fill-up.

 

I'm averageing 20.6 MPG after the TSB 18-037-04 reflash two weeks ago.

With the new Winter Warmer blend I'll be just 1 MPG less than I was before the reflash.

It was nice while it lasted but I really can't complain.

DT.

 

Even in northern areas it's common to find some stations selling regular #2, and some selling blended. Just have to ask around. The bp diesel supreme I get is year round, unblended, but additized. My mpg never changes.

 

I don't know how the people at your gas stations know this stuff... I can't even get them to quote me the correct price when I call!!!

"Winter blend" would get me the blank stare.

 

Same here.

Most of them don't even know they sell Diesel.

"Diesel? don't you have to get that at the truck stop?"




phox

 

I asked a guy at a local Shell station that advertised "Premium" diesel what the Cetane rating was on his fuel.

After repeating the question for him 3 times, with 5 or 10 seconds of the "Deer in the headlights" stare, I checked all the pumps.....seems 40 Cetane passes for Premium at some stations.


Yes I know about the 2 out of 5 qualifications for premium ratings.
That is supposed to be changing soon I hope.

For those who don't know:
Premium Diesel only is required at this time to have any two of the following attibutes.
Most suppliers will choose the cheapest two attributes and sell you "Premium Diesel"
It pays to check


Ian MacMillan and David Daniels, executives with diesel additive maker Octel-Starreon, list these typical characteristics of quality premium diesel fuel:

ENHANCED COLD-FLOW IMPROVERS. Because diesel contains a lot of paraffin, or wax, it can quickly clog fuel filters if it gets too cold. MacMillan says that fuel filters are getting finer to handle increasingly tight injector tolerances. Because of the tiny filter passages, “Low temperature operability is increasingly a challenge,” he says. While truckers frequently use their own additives to improve cold flow, it’s important to note that quality premium fuels may offer an extra margin of safety for extreme cold.

HIGHER DETERGENCY. Detergents can reduce fuel system wear and repairs and enhance fuel economy. “Engine deposits reduce the efficiency of a diesel by interfering with fuel spray patterns,” Daniels says. “Dirty injectors will limit power by restricting flow, increasing fuel consumption, and giving rise to higher smoke levels in all equipment.” The smoke comes from the way deposits distort the spray pattern and keep the fuel from mixing with enough air.

HIGHER CETANE. The cetane rating measures how easily the fuel ignites. Combustion enhanced by a high cetane rating can help an engine run more efficiently and last longer.

“Fuels with low cetane numbers are the cause of hard starting, rough operation, noise and increased smoke opacity,” Daniels says.

While the American Society of Testing and Materials D975 standard puts the minimum cetane rating at 40, Octel-Starreon’s experts believe ratings closer to 43 give optimum performance.

Exotic additives can bump up the cetane rating. According to Octel-Starreon’s experts and Chevron’s website, the most common one is ethylhexyl nitrate (EHN), which can boost the rating two to four points or more. Such an additive is often included in a quality premium diesel.

GREATER LUBRICITY. Being thick and oily, diesel lubricates the high-pressure injection system. “Shortened life of engine components, such as fuel injection pumps and unit injectors, can usually be attributed to a lack of fuel lubricity,” Daniels says. Lubricity affects fuel economy, too, if there is not enough to protect injectors.

CORROSION INHIBITORS. These additives help because injector and other fuel system parts can rust. Retarding corrosion can reduce fuel system wear and enhance fuel economy.

GENERAL CLEANLINESS. Premium diesel has less water and sediment, elements that can reduce filter life or plug filters, which leads to fuel starvation. Water can promote corrosion and microbial growth. Microscopic droplets of water that make it into the injector can vaporize like small explosions, damaging fuel injectors.

THERMAL STABILITY. Quality fuels contain additives that help them resist the degradation that comes with normal engine temperatures. “Modern diesel engines put today’s fuel under considerable heat stress,” Daniels says. “The fuel can quickly darken and form black particulate materials that will make them hazy and create gum residues.”

 

MOst commonly it's thermal stability and injector cleanliness that they meet requirements with. My local Sunoco has premium and it actually lists those two attributes that qualify it as premium! This is the only place I"ve seen that though.

As far as finding out about winter or regular fuels, don't be surprised to get a blank stare from the minimum wage cashier - you have to talk to the manager or owner, whoever actually orders the fuel. That or you can just call your local terminal and find out what they are serving up.

 

Does any one run Artic fuel. I am not shure that is the correct name but it is as close as I can remember. My dad works for the local CO-OP where he lives and they have a cardtroll station. He gets all his fuel there. For the past 5 + years they have been running what he calls Artic fuel. It is a straight number 2 that is good to somewhere around 40 below. I have never asked but I would asume his milage dont suffer from the typical winter blend and the price never goes up to reflect the winter blend. He said they changed over to that a week ago already. I would like to find this stuff around here but I am not shure what to ask for. If anyone knows what I am talking abought does it have any draw backs to be aware of? Thanks.

 

Arctic Diesel is a brand name availible in the plains and mid-west Nov- March from several suppilers, mostly ag and truck cardlocks. It's good to -30° and is straight #2 with additive, no blend. Cetane is 46. All and all good stuff, use it if you can.

Click on the map here to find where to get it. http://www.premiumdiesel.com/KPFAvailabilityMaps.asp

 

I get Arctic Diesel where I fill up. They carry Arctic Diesel in the winter months and Gold Diesel in the summer months. That is where I get my fuel 99% of the time. I have never had a gelling problem, but I definately see a drop in mileage. Usually 2-4 mpg. A small portion of that is my slightly increased idle time.