All Diesel The Same?

[Pete]

I have no first hand knowledge of fuel distribution, but have read that all gasoline is distributed by a few pipe lines to terminals. All the gasoline is at federal standards, and what make the difference is the addition of the additive package by Shell/BP/Chevron/etc. This additive package is what brands the fuel, and any difference in what you buy.

So, my question is how about diesel, both road and red off road. I assume that pipe lines also delivers a common government standard fuel to distribution terminals. But what happens next. Do different retailers add additive packages to create different brands of diesel, or is it all the same and the only thing that counts is cleanliness and price?

Pete

 

[SKYCHENEY]

Right now diesel comes in two forms, low sulfur and ultra-low sulfur. Each type has to meet ASTM standards for that individual fuel. Distribution for diesel is the same as for gasoline. If it flows through a pipeline from the refinery to the terminal, it is only separated from other fuels by an air or water "bubble" that travels down the line between changes in fuel type.

Bio-diesel is a completely different thing. New standards are now in place and all Bio-D must now meet a certain ASTM specification as well. This was not the case early on and quality issues were a concern.

 

[Maynard Rupp]

Right now diesel comes in two forms, low sulfur and ultra-low sulfur. Each type has to meet ASTM standards for that individual fuel. Distribution for diesel is the same as for gasoline. If it flows through a pipeline from the refinery to the terminal, it is only separated from other fuels by an air or water "bubble" that travels down the line between changes in fuel type.

Bio-diesel is a completely different thing. New standards are now in place and all Bio-D must now meet a certain ASTM specification as well. This was not the case early on and quality issues were a concern.

Sky..You forgot to mention that there are 2 different grades available commonly, #1 and #2. Maybe you don't see #1 down in those warm climates.

 

[jim rosenthal]

I don't know the difference between #1 and #2, but I CAN tell the difference between 40 cetane and 50 cetane; it's noticeable. My boat runs better on higher-cetane fuel. It isn't always available around here, but when I know it is, I buy it. Especially when I fill the tanks up before laying her up for the winter.

 

[Scotte28516]

#1 diesel is fuel that has had an anti-gelling additive put in for winter use. It is normally available only in the winter and only in extremely cold climates. In many states you will never see it.
Cetane booster can be added to your fuel tanks to improve the fuel burn. I commonly use Power Service brand additive in all of my diesel engines(21 trucks) and also in my boat. I've been using it for 23 years and swear by it.

 

[spartonboat1]

I have no first hand knowledge of fuel distribution, but have read that all gasoline is distributed by a few pipe lines to terminals. All the gasoline is at federal standards, and what make the difference is the addition of the additive package by Shell/BP/Chevron/etc. This additive package is what brands the fuel, and any difference in what you buy.

Pete

Gasoline used to be the same everywhere. But EPA standards now mandate signifcantly different formulations at various locations in the country and then it varies by season. That is one reason that prices jump around so much, when refineries go down in a regional area- replacement gas cannot be brought in by pipeline, etc. It must be regionally formulated.

But I do agree that additives are different, esp. ethonal which drops fuel economy. P.s., supposedly Citgo stations are primarily Venezualan sourced and I never buy there...hope I don't tic off a Citgo chain of stations owner.

Finally tempting the devil here, but I have some antique credit cards that return a 5% discount. You can only get 2% from them now...ssshhhh.

 

[Jaxfishgyd]

Scott,
Where do you buy Power Service brand additive ?
I've been using Dieselkleen from NAPA and it's done a great job. But it's $35 a gal, even though it will treat 400 gals.

 

[SKYCHENEY]

DK is made by Power Service. You are probably talking about the same thing.

 

[bobk]

As I mentioned in my prop thread, I've been using Howes MPK (yes, Meaner Power Kleener) since about 6 months after I bought the 48MY. The transom has gotten steadily cleaner, to where there was almost no soot following the last trip south. The first one was a bi*ch.

MPK is about $12/quart by the case, and a quart treats 250 gallons. No associations etc.

Bob

 

[Pete]

Thanks to all for the responses. Let me focus on one area and pick your brains a little more. Number 2 ULSD diesel flows to the distribution terminal just like gasoline, fuel from multiple refineries, all up to government standards. Before distribution, is anything (additives?)added to the fuel that makes brands different? Or is it all the same at the retail level, so where you buy and what (Shell/BP/Chevron/No Name/etc.) you buy does not matter?

Pete

 

[SKYCHENEY]

Additives are routinely added to diesel as well as gasoline. Many times these are cetane boosters or other types of conditioners. My supplier actually adds a Power Service product to all of his diesel after he picks it up at the terminal. You can never be sure that they have added it or if it was added at the proper ratio. Your best bet is to add your own DK or similar especially to ULSD since the lubricity is lower than with low sulfur fuel.

 

[Brian Degulis]

Some brand names add diffrent things like Vtech have dispersants for water in it and others advertise diffrent things. What your going to notice the most is Cetane higher Cetane is a diffrence you will here see and feel especialy in worn engines. Cetane boosters like DK can be added to any fuel in the past I didn't believe in additives for anything but raising Cetane I used to add a dedicated cetane booster and an enzyme for alge only. Then we became a dealer for DK and I started using it in our trucks. We change fuel filters every 5000 miles they are cartridge type so you can see what's in them. They are much much cleaner with the DK so much so we extended the interval to 10,000 miles.

Brian