Cetane Rating of Fuel Brands

[Ozymandias]

Found something interesting.

Cetane-werte der Diesel-Marken:
BP (Amoco branded), 51
Chevron, 49 (51 with Techron D)
ConocoPhillips, 48 (California 48-53)
PetroCanada, 47-51
Shell, 46;
Sinclair, 46
Marathon 45
Exxon/Mobile, 43-46
BP, 40-42 (Powerblend 47)
HESS, 40-45
Husky, 40 (Max 41-45)
Sunoco, 40 (Sunoco Gold 45)
Holiday Stations, 40-43
Love's: 40
Pilot: 40
Valero: 40
Sheetz: 40
Flying J, 40

 

[Jim W]

Will I wonder how true this chart really is? Since I have seen stickers on the major brands such as Marathon and BP that say that the diesel fuel that is being dispensed is not from their refinery.

I also try to avoid Flying J; Pilot and Love's since these are now BIO-Fuel and could be up to 20% Bio depending on station and state.

just my $0.02

Jim W.

 

[Ozymandias]

As you may know, I travel across the country right now.
And I always fuel up only on big stations and not on dirty small ponds.

But I always feel that my truck doesn't always behave the same back on the road, so I did a small search and fund this, that explains for me pretty well why my truck sometimes feels weak and even weaker.

Just to notice that - in Europe every Diesel from every Pump and every Brand has always at least 51 cetane, never less and only sometimes more for Premium Diesel (Expensive).

 

[B.G. Smith]

Very interesting Oz, thanks for posting. I too have noticed some difference in performance with different brands. bg

 

[Regcabguy]

Propel HPR claims 75 cetane.
I can't remember seeing cetane rating in California aside from some "premium" fuel at a 76 they offered for awhile.

 

[BIGNASTY]

Will I wonder how true this chart really is? Since I have seen stickers on the major brands such as Marathon and BP that say that the diesel fuel that is being dispensed is not from their refinery.

I also try to avoid Flying J; Pilot and Love's since these are now BIO-Fuel and could be up to 20% Bio depending on station and state.

just my $0.02

Jim W.

http://www.refinerlink.com/blog/Pipelines_Ship_Refinery_Products_to_Pump

Cant speak for all over the country but most Refinery products are sent via pipeline to a remote loading terminal and then distributed to the stations via truck. Where I worked in So Calif there are a VERY FEW privately owned pipelines going to Specific Brand loading Racks or terminals. Chevron Montebello and Chevron Huntington beach were two. Arco which is now Tesoro had one running to a Company owned terminal in Vinvale (South Gate). Most refineries have the ability to load trucks but don't for safety reasons. This may have changed ive been out of the loop for a few years and in the Petroleum business things faster than you can believe.

Kinder Morgan is a pipeline company that pumps from refinery to THEIR LOADING RACKS & store fuel in THEIR storage tanks. The Rack that im most familiar with was the Colton Ca rack. Diesel is dispensed to ALL BRANDS via a community Diesel rack, or it could be sent to a Branded rack within the Kinder Morgan Colton terminal but ALL of the Diesel was first sent to Kinder Morgan and then pumped via THEIR PIPE LINE. This includes Las Vegas NV and Phoenix AZ and as far along the pipeline to the NW corner of Texas. So to say that your getting Branded Diesel fuel? Maybe. I know that Chevron Montebello ships their product ONLY but I have delivered to stations that also took fuels of all kinds from Outside holding terminals so they are all mixed in that case. Diesel is Diesel, 87 is 87 91 is 91 the only difference is what additive package is put in at the point of loading at the rack. In Colton Tesoro, Pilot, Flying J, Shell, Union Or 76, all Branded Diesel comes from the same holding tanks.

http://www.kindermorgan.com/pages/about_us

Petroleum is a small part of KM with as many lines and terminals DO YOU REALLY THINK THEY ARE GOING TO HOLD SEPARATE TANKS FOR EACH BRAND???? When loading any of the products they have a different smell, can I tell which is which? No but they do smell different.

 

[Crunch]

I wonder what the cetane is if you add 16oz of Power Service or other cetane boost to the tank?

 

[MConyers]

Cetane ratings in the states seem to be opaque at best. I live in the Midwest and fill up at my local coop most of the time, they advertise 50 on the web... no mention at the pump: http://www.countrymark.com/countrymark/Fuels/PremiumDieselex-4/Cetane.aspx

Edit to add: I typically run Stanadyne Performance Formula when on the road to improve cetane and lubricity when refueling with straight #2. Biodiesel improves both, so I don't bother with additives if available.

Thanks, Mike

 

[crispyboy]

Here in Kentucky I typically see 40 cetane label on the pump. I use the Stanadyne additive and the engine is noticably quieter when it is cold and starts quicker when hot.