Are all Diesel Fuels the Same?

[azcummins]

Please help me settle a disagreement.

My father always insists on filling up his Acura @ Shell stations b/c he says Shell has the best oil. I disagree saying that there are a handful of refineries throughout the US and all gas, whether it be Texaco, Shell, 76, etc, comes from the same refinery so basically they are the same gas.

I understand that each oil company has their own gimmack (techron, clean system 3), but all gas is the same since it came from the same refinery right?

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Mark Callahan

1998. 5 3500 4x4 24V 5spd, Geno's Muffler Kit, Chrome exhaust, Western Hauler Headache Rack, Chrome Rocker Panels, A-Pillar Mounted Boost and Oil Temp Gauges, No Turbo Silencer Ring (Yeah Baby!)

 

[The patriot]

Mark, look under "diesel fuel, whats in it?" or something close to this. I dont know what forum it's in, but it's pretty recent.
IMO I havent seen much of a difference, but many do not like Texaco.
You got to see the whole post, I tried to find it, but couldnt. (not very computer proficient) #ad

Eric

 

[The patriot]

Ahh found it. https://www.turbodieselregister.com/ubb//Forum17/HTML/001521.html

 

[Switca]

All diesel is created the same, but it's the additive package (or in Texaco's case the lack of them) that makes one fuel better than another.

Koch, Flying J, Amoco Premier good. Tecacrap bad.


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Gregor Switca
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96 2500 4x4 auto SLT.
99. 5 VW Jetta TDI
Nothing but diesel in my driveway.

 

[Chad Sheets]

Yes Sir. It all comes from the same place and the big people like Shell, BP etc buy it and do their own magic to make it fit their own agenda. 60 minutes or some news program simular did a show about this a few years back during the gulf war ordeal, and said it all comes from one place.

 

[illflem]

There are even pipelines pumping gasoline and diesel between the major cities and refineries,pretty hard to keep them separate in a pipeline.

 

[Cooker]

A friends dad drives a fuel delivery truck for Marathon. He says that trucks of all brands, fill up at the same terminal. So all fuel was the same base fuel regardless of where you buy it from. As I understand, and others have mentioned this as well, that some of the larger stations (Amoco, ect) will add their own special additives. The smaller service stations, often times won't add any additional products to the fuel.

He said this applies to all diesel and gasoline in our area, except for Amoco's diesel fuel.

 

[Shrimpy]

Couldn't help but wade in here with my . ooo2 cents worth. Illflem you are right again sir, pipelines pump gas right up against diesel right up against jet fuel. This is what I do for a division of Shell/Texaco. We pump everything from crude oil to poly ohliphens (sp).

Chad and Cooker were also correct that just because a certain station says "Exxon/Mobil" or BP/Amoco does not mean that they refined the crude to get the end product. If you live more than 100 to 150 miles from a area that has a refinery, then you could be buying anyones fuel. Most but not all additives that each company claims to add are added at the loading rack if at all. The only thing that the companies care about is motor knock number or octane rating. As long as it meets federal guidelines for octane they could care less. Here is another tip, there is no such thing as mid grade unleaded. It is either Super unleaded or regular unleaded. If it says mid grade it is simply a mixture of the super and reqular to get the mid grade. Most of the time the mixture error is to the good meaning that more super will go in to make sure that that the octane meets guidlines. When it doesen't you are essencially paying . 05 to . 10 more than need be for regular unleaded.

With Diesel it is a little different because it is basically a straight cut right off of the distillation column. Gasoline has about 10 to 15 different additives that have to be blended in. When the final product is shipped in the pipeline, it is the Jet fuel that is "protected" for obvious reasons. By this I mean that diesel is pumped in front of and behind a batch of jet fuel as it enters the pipeline. When it gets to the delivery point, it is analyzed for the proper gravity (api) to cut from one tank to another. The mixed part or transmix as we call it is put into a tank and sampled and pumped to the diesel tanks as analysis allows. In other words Diesel is treated as the waste stream of most pipelines!!!!! This does not mean that you are buying junk. If a terminal stays on top of their inventory you would actually be getting good product with a good cetane number. They sample the tanks daily to see if they need to "blend down or blend up" to meet spec.

If you consistantly get what seems like good fuel in certain areas it is because of good product terminal managment to make sure the fuel is meeting standards. If you feel that you get bad or substandard fuel in different areas the opposite is true. Then again there are certain areas of the country where the refineries only make jet fuel or diesel fuel and ship the unused portion somewhere else to complete the refining. These are mainly older refineries that would cost to much money to upgrade to make gasoline but do just fine with diesel and jet. These refinerys are few and far between anymore.

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92 Ext. Cab, Auto trans. , 3. 54 Non-LS, Isspro Tach, 16 cm housing, PW injectors, no name 3 Gauge cluster, 230,000+ miles, straight pipe, old and abused but still running strong!!!!

 

[Chad Sheets]

Put another notch on the "learned something" gunbelt!

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Always ready to help!
2000 2500 Red Sport quad cab, 4x4, K&N, DDI's, straight piped, boost, pyro and fuel pressure gages, Hot Power Edge, EZ box, race transmission, Barry Grant fuel system, mean looking set of 33. 5" tires, Snap On diamond tool box, Marine Corps window sticker, Semper Fi!

1972 340 Cuda'. Original tripple Black, 340 car w/air. Good clean car, super stock springs, Weld Prostars, shaker hood, strong 340 with a 727/4000 stahl, 4. 56... . Bombs away!
NRA Life Member
My Diesel Page

 

[Cooker]

Thanks Shrimpy!

 

[Papa Joe]

Good Lord, I love this site. Thanks Shrimpy !!Joe #ad
#ad


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White 2001 QuadCab 2500 Laramie SLT, HO 6-speed, 3. 54 limited slip, Mopar exhaust brake, towing/camper options, Rhino liner, Grover Air Horns (not yet installed), Un BOMBed (so far), DUAL AIR BAGS !!

 

[John_P]

Shrimpy:

Great explanation! Thanks!

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John_P

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Red '96 4x4 2500 Auto 3. 54, TST #5, Major Pump Mods(By "Scheid Diesel") 370 Diamond B Injectors, Gov. Spring kit, AFC Spring kit, Banks Exhaust, Prime Loc, Cummins Chrome Kit,Psychotty Air Filter, Pro-Torque Converter, BD Valve Body, BD Pressure Loc, Isspro Gauges, Sendel 16" Alum Wheels w/ 33" BFGs

 

[illflem]

Shrimpy,is the #1-#2 diesel winter blend mixed before or as the fuel gets pumped into the pipeline or is it something that gets done on the other end?

 

[azcummins]

Shrimpy-WOOF!!!

Great post, that is the answer I was looking for!!!

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Mark Callahan

1998. 5 3500 4x4 24V 5spd, Geno's Muffler Kit, Chrome exhaust, Western Hauler Headache Rack, Chrome Rocker Panels, A-Pillar Mounted Boost ,EGT and Oil Temp Gauges, Rhino Linings sprayed in bed liner , CATZ lights, No Turbo Silencer Ring (Yeah Baby!)

 

[Shrimpy]

Thanks for the compliments guys!!! Gee somebody really does care about me!!!!! And guess what, "The new phone books are here, the new phone books are here". Sorry, got a little carried away... ... .

illflem, the #1 and #2 are mixed as they are put into storage tanks awaiting pumping to final destinations I believe. I base this on the fact that in the areas that I pump from and to, they make no designation. My lines all are in warmer climates and we only designate the product as diesel. Sometimes we may be instructed to put a certain batch in a certain tank, but I don't see #1 and #2. I will check with some of my fellow controllers that operate in the colder parts of the country to see what they say.

I'm clueless as to which would be better if any at all. My understanding is that #2 is "better" than #1. I think that most diesel on the road today, from 18 wheelers to diesel Rabbits and Benzes use #2. Now if it is just a difference of winter and summer blends, then we have certain months that we cut over form one to the other. This is all done at the refineries, and I have no idea when one starts and the other stops. It typically follows seasons, as it heats up say late april in the south, they would switch.

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92 Ext. Cab, Auto trans. , 3. 54 Non-LS, Isspro Tach, 16 cm housing, PW injectors, no name 3 Gauge cluster, 230,000+ miles, straight pipe, old and abused but still running strong!!!!

[This message has been edited by Shrimpy (edited 02-25-2001). ]

[This message has been edited by Shrimpy (edited 02-25-2001). ]

 

[The patriot]

Good info Shrimpy. Thanks. #ad

I have a question. A friend of mine delivers fuel oil. He tells me "#2 fuel oil(off road), and diesel are the same product. (at least at this perticular refinery)
There is an 1/8" stainless tube at the rack, that meters the red dye into it as it's pumped into the truck. If it's taxed, it gets none. If it's "off road" it gets the dye, and you can hear it making a "ticking sound" as it is being pumped".
Whats your take on this?
Thanks.
Eric

[This message has been edited by The patriot (edited 02-25-2001). ]

 

[pwr2tow]

Very nice column Shrimpy,
Ron

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1999, 3500, 6x6, slt, auto, 3. 54, Qd cab, ISB cummins, towing 2001 26RKSS Tahoe 5th wheel, 1999 120hp 1800 bayliner.

 

[fmj]

I think the site you are looking for patriot is the following. http://www.chevron.com/prodserv/bul... has been edited by fmj (edited 02-27-2001).

 

[Champane Flight]

Shrimpy,will post on this subject later. Have to go recieve propane right now. Work off of the B/D-P/R lines for PPL. I will be back.

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95 Dodge 2500 Luverne grill guard,headache rack,running boards and Amzoiled. Soon to be mildly bombed. 84 Dodge d-150, 318 Hooker headers,Edelbrok intake,mallory ignition,Carter Afb,Accel coil,and Custom dual exhaust. Boat,fifthwheel,motorcycles,and shop,job to support toys. Yuck...

 

[The patriot]

FMJ the info I'm looking for probibally wouldnt be publically posted on the web.
Kind of like the info Shrimpy gave us. #ad

Eric