Hi list. I've started purchasing diesel from an independent gas station. Today I met the proprietor and learned the diesel is from Sinclair Oil. What I don't know is if all diesel fuel is the same ? Are there any differences that make seeking one manufacturer worthwhile ?

Sven

 

There may be difference in Cetane ratings, but you should be able to tell that by a sticker on the pump. Other than that Im not aware of alot of differences in fuel by manufacturer.

Only other differences I can think of are different types such as
on and offroad diesel and biodiesel

just my .02cents
jeff

 

When We load diesel at the pipeline we load whatever is cheapest that day for the stations & truck stops we haul to. At the pipeline if one supplier runs out that supplier may get a draw of product from another oil co. They just open a valve with the computer & transfer from one tank to another. In colder climates on the other side of the cascades we blend #1 d/o with #2 d/o to winterize it.

 

And where I live, that is only a paperwork change--all brands of fuel come out of a common storage tank. The loading racks don't maintain brand identity. As the fuel comes to them through the pipeline, it is put in one big tank or tank(s). They don't have enough tanks at a loading rack to separate every brand of fuel.

The only way you can be assured of getting whatever brand of diesel that the station supposedly sells is if they have their own pipeline and loading rack.

 

Sinclair is a good company. If your getting Sinclair diesel, you'll be fine.

 

Yeah, but... how do you get it? The last place it can be identified as Sinclair is at the refinery and they don't have too many retail pumps there. Just because you're buying it at a Sinclair station doesn't mean you are buying diesel fuel that Sinclair refined. If they (Sinclair) use someone else's pipleline to move product from refinery to distribution terminal (aka loading rack) then there is about a zero percent chance that Sinclair identity is maintained.

 

So does this mean that buying a major brand means nothing? So aside from making sure you are buying fresh fuel there is no difference?

jr

 

Not necessarily. It can mean something.

In my neck o' the woods, fuel comes to town on two pipelines--Williams and Amoco (now BP). Amoco carries only their own product and has one loading rack, so their identity IS maintained. Williams carries everybody else and has two of their own racks and transports the fuel for two others.

So, in my town, if you buy BP, you are probably buying BP fuel (when BP runs out, I have seen their trucks load at Williams). At any other station, you are drawing from the big tank in which all other brands are mixed.

What I'm saying is that if buying a particular brand is important to you, you will have to do more research to find out who, if anybody, has their own pipeline and loading rack in your area. If you live close to a refinery, there is a good chance you can do this. The only time I make an effort to do this is in the winter, and this isn't because the fuel is substandard, it's because some station operators don't do their homework on blending, and it is strictly up to the station as to what blend ratio (if any) the fuel has.

 

So, if I am understanding this correctly, buying diesel fuel is just one great big crap shoot? There is no way to do this kind of research if you are traveling.

Being just a neophyte I am not sure what to do now. I have owned three deisel vehicles, two VW Rabbits and a deisel Volvo. I just pulled up to the pump and filled it without another thought, but from what I have read that was unwise and now brand seems to make no difference.

jr

 

I wouldn't call it unwise. What else could you do, especially, as you say, when travelling? Gasoline is the same way. Who worries about where they get gas?

Don't worry about it. Just keep on doing what you have been. You'll be fine.

 

Some Diesel Fuel info from Chevron. Its an interesting read.
http://www.chevron.com/prodserv/fuels/bulletin/diesel/

 

One of our bigger diesel truck stops in my neck of the woods has a few "Super Diesel" pumps as they are labeled. Just a few points difference in Cetane.

 

I have to agree with what cp said. I have been hauling petroleum for 29 yrs. With gas the difference between brands is additive. Not much difference in diesel. I pull for Chevron and can only put gas that is additized with their additive in a chevron station. I can put what ever diesel they want to buy that day in their tank. At our tank farm ( pipeline ) we have 4 loading racks. years ago each rack was a designated oil co. run by Southern Pacfic Railroad. Now owned and run by Kinder Morgan and all 4 racks are community & can load several oil co at each rack the additive is loaded as the gas is loaded. Diesel comes down the pipe & put into which ever tank supplies that rack no mater which co. shipped it.

 

Thanks for the great replies. I had not idea how fuel reached gas stations.

Sven

 

I want to say thanks also for the good education. I downloaded the pdf file from Chevron and am finding it interesting reading.

jr