#1 Diesel vs blended

[rebar]

Hello folks..

I own a clean 97 12 valve garage queen that I fill up once a year. So I feel its important to use #1 diesel because I drive it once a month all year long after the roads are dry or have been cleared. But I seem to remember when the fuel pumps used to be labeled "#1 diesel" beginning of November and not just "blended" with a anti-gel from what I'm hearing.

I'm in Iowa so temperatures can easily dip below negative twenty. Am I OK this winter filling up with Kum and Go Xtreme Diesel "blended winter diesel" now? Kum and Go told me starting in November, anti-gel has been added. And is blended winter diesel the norm all winter long now and not #1 diesel? Or will I see pumps labeled #1 later as it get colder?

Thanks!

 

[BarryG]

The blend should be totally fine. If still concerned just get a bottle of Power Service anitgel (not the 911, it is for after the fact when it has already gelled) or some other brand that does the same.

 

[The patriot]

The day before you know you'll need to fill, throw a quart Ball jar & lid in your daily vehicle and drive by the station you will be filling at.
Put a bucks worth in the jar, bring it home, and place it somewhere outdoors over night.
1St thing in the morning, check that jar.
There's your answer.

 

[Jim W]

In IL. I haven't seen No.1 diesel in years. I know my older son, who has two 5.9L trucks has used the winter blended diesel in his trucks. His 96, 12V when it is out of the garage will use the winter blend diesel fuel. His 06, will be filled up with the winter blend in the late fall and will not come out of the garage till spring. When he had his VW Golf TDI with the famous CP4 fuel pump that vehicle used the winter blend fuel also.

I have used the winter blend diesel fuel in my wife's Jetta TDI with the famous CP4 pump also. I would also use Power Service anti-gel additive with her car in the winter every other fill- up. Traded this car in after 10 years with the CP4 fuel pump having no issues at all. I also use the winter blend in my truck since new just adding Power Service anti-gel every other tankful.

 

[JR]

Not many regions offer #1 anymore. All but consistently cold climates generally use winterized #2 for cost and logistics reasons. There is no requirement or regulation for suppliers to adhere to, only guidelines. Look up ASTM D975 for some literature if interested. In short, they suggest the cloud point be no more than 6°c higher than the coldest 3 out of 30 days the fuel is being blended for. It is a play on averages and it works, most of the time.
ASTM has maps that break down avg temps for each region for each month to give blenders a guideline.

 

[Killer223]

the only difference in #1 and #2 is the color.

 

[BSeyler]

Color designates on-road (taxed) vs. off-road (non-taxed). The differences of #1 and #2 are explained here:
https://dieselpowergear.com/blogs/d...the-differences-between-1-diesel-and-2-diesel

 

[GAmes]

Color designates on-road (taxed) vs. off-road (non-taxed).

Not always. If the offroad fuel is pumped by a designated pump it will probably be red but it is legal to not tax fuel from a standard pump.

 

[BSeyler]

Correct, but my point was showing the difference between #1 and #2 fuel. At our local fuel supplier, off road fuel is red (federal law). Road fuel is clear. Before they put the red fuel pump in, we had to keep track of what fuel went where (tractors or pickup) and the accountant took care of the tax rebate at tax time. You can use clear fuel in anything. If you get caught using red fuel in a highway rig, get your checkbook out!

 

[AH64ID]

the only difference in #1 and #2 is the color.

While they do appear slightly different I wouldn’t call their color different, unless you’re referring to red-dye which is not the same thing as #1 vs #2.

I had some leftover diesel from elk camp that I dumped into my truck last week. 5 gallons of #1 and 5 gallons of #2. They are nearly identical in appearance but they did pour differently. The #2 is a thicker fuel.

 

[NIsaacs]

[QUOTE="AH64ID, The #1 is a thicker fuel.[/QUOTE]

Did you mean to say thinner?

 

[AH64ID]

Did you mean to say thinner?

Whoops. Working on a partial cup of coffee. The #2 is a thicker fuel. For the weather being 45° I was surprised it was that noticeable on the viscosity differences.

 

[Cummins12V98]

I thought #1 was home heating oil with red dye???

 

[AH64ID]

I thought #1 was home heating oil with red dye???

No. #1 can be dyed red but that’s, generally, a designation for “off-road” non-taxes diesel. #2 can also be red-dye. The #1 in my tank is not dyed and I paid road tax on it. Home heating oil and diesel fuel are similar, but generally not the same.

#1 is just a different form of diesel fuel. Easier to ignite, lower filter plug temp, and lower BTU’s. It’s too thin to be recommended for year round use in warm temps.

Kerosene is also similar to #1 but drier.

Bottom line is these engines will run on any of these similar fuels but they are different, as well as the heaters will run on diesel fuel.

https://kendrickoil.com/the-differences-between-heating-fuels-kerosene-and-diesel-fuel/

 

[BSeyler]

I thought #1 was home heating oil with red dye???

Red dye designates non road taxed. Not for highway use. Clear #1 is for highway use, as is clear #2. Reference my link above that explains the difference.

Edit: John beat me to it.

 

[JR]

I thought #1 was home heating oil with red dye???

When the fuel tankers deliver home heating oil they pull from the #2 offroad tanks at the terminals. They are one in the same.

#1 clear is (was) sold at the pump as highway fuel all over Wyoming and Montana and I'm sure other states unless things have changed in the last few years.

Winterized #2 has become more popular due to improvement in additives and probably most importantly, logistics. Carriers prefer to haul the least amount of fuel types as they can get away with to keep costs down.

 

[Cummins12V98]

Red dye designates non road taxed. Not for highway use. Clear #1 is for highway use, as is clear #2. Reference my link above that explains the difference.

Edit: John beat me to it.

understood on the red and not taxed the same.

just assumed home heating was #1

 

[Cummins12V98]

Ok now understand, I was correct in my thoughts except home heating is #2 not #1 and red.

 

[AH64ID]

Ok now understand, I was correct in my thoughts except home heating is #2 not #1 and red.

Home Heating #2 and Diesel Fuel #2 are not the same, thou they are similar and often interchangeable.

 

[BSeyler]

Home heating can be #1. Depends on temperature, location, etc. But, I haven’t heated with it for years, so things change.