MPG Loss with ULSD- Let's Find Some Facts

[Vaughn MacKenzie]

There have been several threads in various forums discussing MPG loss compared to typical winter-blend averages with the new ULSD formulation, but I wanted to start one in the General Diesel section for everyone from all forums to weigh in on.



Here's a couple things we should do to verify/validate what many of us believe we are seeing- more than 1% reduction in BTU.



- Locate a fuel testing lab that we can send samples in and find out true BTU.

- Search the web for discussion on trucker boards to see what sort of fuel economy fleets have been experiencing this winter.



These two items should help clearly determine how much BTU reduction there actually has been. I am thinking the fuel quality varies between regions and oil companies but it would be nice to find some facts.



I found this one lab and emailed them today to find out sample pricing and if an average Joe Customer can utilize their services: http://www.intertek-cb.com/newsitetest/news/fuellab.shtml



Vaughn

 

[JFaughn]

I'm linking to watch .

 

[Oasis-3]

Intersting

After the first of the year I will do the I. F. T. A. paper work for my work truck ((2001 Volvo 660 with an N-14 Cummins)) for the 4th quarter of 06 and compare it with the 4th quarter of 05 this will be the average mpg for over 4000 gallons of fuel. I know my milage has dropped and it feels like the power is down a little and I blame it on the new fuel.

I think the government should have done a little leg work before forcing us to burn more fuel to clean the air.



Cliff

 

[steved]

See, it must be an individual truck thing or fuel quality thing as I'm getting better mileage running ULSD than the LSD. And while I run Howe's, I run Howe's in every tank, not just once in a while.



I have been running ULSD more or less exclusively and I see a drop in MPG running marked LSD fuel???



Just my experience, but I'm linking to this thread as well...



steved

 

[CWebster]

I agree with steved... . MPG is UP significantly. I'm at 50,000 so I do not think it was a break in issue, just switched to running the ulsd. It feels like the truck likes it better...



Chris

 

[RustyJC]

My truck actually has less "timing rattle" (it's an HO/EZ thing) when towing with the ULSD. Mileage on the ULSD is about the same. No complaints here so far.



Rusty

 

[steved]

I will only add that while ULSD seems to run OK, I am still concerned about long term consequences of the use of ULSD since it REPORTEDLY has less lubrication (the main reason I run Howe's in every tank)...



Time will tell??



steved

 

[Vaughn MacKenzie]

steved and CWebster, I am wondering if some refineries "get it right" with their formulation and others are not. Maybe it's a regional thing. It doesn't make sense to me if the cetane went up slightly and the BTUs only dropped 1% why many are seeing as much as 10% MPG loss or more based on the threads I've been reading. My MPG has been down at least 5%.



I got a response from Intertek labs. . . they require 2 liters of fuel to sample, and it costs $1352 per sample. Needless to say I won't be going that route



Vaughn

 

[steved]

steved and CWebster, I am wondering if some refineries "get it right" with their formulation and others are not.

Vaughn

I would think this would have a lot to do with it... but maybe some refineries are simply being more "generous" with their additive packages?



I know the first complete "flush" of ULSD was in Moriarty, NM; and I fueled three times at that station (at 25 gallons each time) so I was pretty much running only the ULSD... my mileage was as good as with LSD (if not better) and the truck ran great, even at the much higher than normal elevations...



And from that point on, I paid attention to fuel and performance correlation (mainly because I was starting to see more and more stations with ULSD)... and I had been reading how negatively ULSD was going to impact us as a consumer.



I have not seen any decrease across the board with ULSD... looking back, I wish I would have also written down whether I got LSD or ULSD each time I got fuel... that would be sorta cool to see. I keep a log book with every drop of fuel I use recorded...



One thing I have really noticed lately is that I am seeing a LOT more water than normal from my filter (FASS)... one of the reasons I am building the auxilary tank setup with a water knockout. I do not know if the water is a result of the ULSD, but that is really the only change that I'm aware of...





steved

 

[WadePatton]

It's not optional where I live.



There's only one diesel pump at any given fuel stop around here (except for off-road fuel). You want diesel, you get that one. Or drive 50 miles to a truck stop and wonder what you're going to find there.



Personally, I'll be using additive consistently from now on (I used it hit and miss before). And I'll do some bio-brewing eventually.

 

[Cattletrkr]

No change in mileage other than the usual drop for winter.



MN requires 2% biodiesel so I'm not worried about lubricity like most others are.

 

[Schlickenmeyer]

Been down about 10% since the change. I used to get 17-17. 6mpg.

Now I barely break 15mpg. Some of this is likely the winter blend, so time will tell. I also wonder, the folks who seem to do well with it have common rail

and the folks with problems seem more to be the older trucks.

Some one should start a very carefully set up poll. .

 

[mhenon]

Just made a 1200 mile trip in the Jetta from Idaho to southern Cal. We had the car loaded. . front, back and trunk and were in a hurry so the cruise was set at 75mph (not my usual 65) most of the way.

I was thinking the whole way the the mileage will really take a hit at this speed (and load) and I'ed be lucky to get 45 mpg or so. After adding up all the fill-ups against miles travelled. . we got just over 50mpg. Blew me away!

I'm not seeing any difference in the fuel and I've been using it for over a year now. This past summer I did start using B10. . but figure the other 90% is ULSD. At least with the B10 there's no worrying about lubricity.

Mike

 

[Crunch]

Here's a couple things we should do to verify/validate what many of us believe we are seeing- more than 1% reduction in BTU.

In North Texas we don't use a winter blend, if that means #1 diesel. But I keep a spreadsheet of every fill-up from date of purchase and since the USLD has hit the market my fuel economy has dropped from just over 17MPG to 16-16. 5MPG. That's a drop of 3%-6% for no apparent reason. I haven't been using an additive, and my driving habits haven't changed. As far as I can tell the only changes in the equation have been the new formula for oil and the USLD. I just did another oil change last week, which is the first since the USLD hit the market. I change the filter with every oil change and have used the Fleetguard Stratopore exclusively since the first oil change. I also changed my air filter at the same time. My fuel filter has another 4000 miles to go on my 10,000 mile fuel filter interval. I have 76K miles on the truck. I'm thinking about changing out the fuel filter early to start with a clean slate as a base line with the new oil and fuel formulas. Other than that, I can't think of anything else to blame it on.

 

[cerberusiam]

I started seeing the mileage hit last summer in and out of CA and it was the same in Oct when we got the new fuel, about a 10% drop in mileage. More than that now with the winter blend and cold weather. I run a mixture of PS and 2 stroke oil every tank and only fill with premium diesel.

 

[pwr2tow]

From ND
Truck went into service 8/9/06 = 19 MPG

Bought enough LSD back in Oct. to get me through end of Nov.
Winter came and on LSD mileage dropped to 16. 2 MPG

Dec. and had to start using ULSD = 17. 8 MPG

Temperatures have been pretty consistent from Nov. - Dec. So it looks like ULSD improved my fuel mileage.

 

[steved]

I also wonder, the folks who seem to do well with it have common rail and the folks with problems seem more to be the older trucks.

OK, to throw a monkey into the works...



I have an 04. 5 600CTD and have seen no drop (and a slight gain if anything) with no "bad" effects noted (other than I seem to be getting a lot more water than before)...



My dad has a 99 with 255k on the ticker (and on the original VP44). He ran ULSD for quite some time (using additives very rarely) and his mileage never waivered, he got 21mpg and still gets 21mpg. I use additive at every fillup...



We both saw the winter fuel mpg drop. But mine seems to have been counteracted somewhat by installing the FASS and rokkteck... or maybe I don't notice it as much?



As I posted in the other thread, while I do not "see" any bad effects right now, I'm still not taking the chance it won't damage something longterm and use additive at every fillup...



steved

 

[CWebster]

My increase occured while I was in Tennessee, and since I have been back to Michigan the increase has stayed consistent. I almost think that I was just getting marginal fuel before and now the new reg's ( and new equip) has produced a better fuel. My truck was rock solid at 16. 5mpg day to day (after break in) for 45,000 miles and LSD... . since the ULSD has been going in I'm at 18 consistently (9,000 miles so far) under the same conditions, terrain, etc. I was expecting the MPG hit and dreading it, but I have been thoroughly pleased with the sudden "gift". The MPG hit when switching to a 3rd gen from a 2nd gen was a sore spot for me, but I am know on par with my previous truck.



Chris

 

[bagd99dak]

well the very first time i got ulsd was when i took a trip to st. louis from long island ny. i was towing 7k. this was back in july. i averaged 13. 8 most of the time. the one tank i got in st. louise before i left was labeled ulsd. coincidently on that tank of fuel i got 14. 4. at that time that was the only pump i got fuel at that was labeled ulsd. i was running the cummin/valvoline fuel injector cleaner on each tank. since october all the pumps around here have now been labeled ulsd. i have not noticed any mileage difference at all, but my motor does seam to be slightly louder. but it could just be my mind playing games with me. i now use a mix of power service gray bottle, and some stanadyne lubrication formula on every fillup. i have had no issues at all running the fuel and dont see any power lose . so that is my experience. im not to worried about running it. oh yeah. all my mpg are hand calculated not what the computer said. my overhead is never accurate. its just about a waste to look at it. dont know why

 

[J&LRam]

'03 HO with just over 60k and this truck has always pulled its best non towing mpgs [22-22. 5 average] in the winter. With a 100+ mile a day commute its dailey driving habits are basically a dailey repeat month after month. Summer mpgs run 21-21. 5 average. These are not just best tanks. FlyingJ [Tulsa] says we have been on USLD since OCT and sure can't tell any difference in my 600+ miles a week drive. Most long haul/hotshot 2500/3500 drivers I talk with at breakfast at the Big Cabin truck stop say they see no difference.

JIM