Cetane. Anybody using it. My 99 24 v seems to like it

[Turbo Terry]

Let’s talk about the good bad and ugly of it all

 

[Ozymandias]

Well, in general the higher the cetane number the better the Diesel runs.
It also gives better milage.

 

[Tractorat]

Well, in general the higher the cetane number the better the Diesel runs.
It also gives better milage.

I thought that had been debunked here on the tdr ?

 

[Turbo Terry]

What does that mean we can’t discuss it.

 

[Ozymandias]

I thought that had been debunked here on the tdr ?

If I run mine on European Diesel I get roughly 8-10% better milage and way less smoke. That's a fact.

 

[Tractorat]

If I run mine on European Diesel I get roughly 8-10% better milage and way less smoke. That's a fact.

I believe that. But someone on here quite a while ago was claiming that not to be true. Never did anything for me when I added cetane. But maybe Ill give it another try.

 

[Ozymandias]

I believe that. But someone on here quite a while ago was claiming that not to be true. Never did anything for me when I added cetane. But maybe Ill give it another try.

I've no idea either if it makes a difference if the cetane point is higher through the refining process or if it is added later on.
Maybe then the numbers are the same but not the outcome.

 

[AH64ID]

Higher Cetane means lower BTU’s based on how they diesel is refined. Lower BTU’s should mean less mileage, but not always. A lot depends on if it’s tuned for the higher Cetane or not.

When I ran Cetane additives in my 05 it did nothing for mileage, and on stock tuning it made the motor tick. With aftermarket, my own, tuning it didn’t tick but no better mileage.

On the 18 there isn’t any better mileage either.


Now, despite no good or bad mileage changes I’ll still run it a few times a year. Cetane is really good at improving ignition, which becomes apparent for cold starting and low rpm/low load conditions or much higher rpms (why European Cetane is higher than US). I use Cetane for my elk hunting trips where I spend hundreds of miles in 1-3 gears just idling along. I think it’s better for the cleanliness of the combustion. It’s also nice for starting when I’m 70 miles form town at 9K feet and the motor is cold soaked.

But aside from a few tanks a year I don’t bother.

That’s my 0.02.