Power loss with winter fuel

[patrobertson]

Anybody else notice their power go down? I get fuel from a comercial card lock and I am assuming that they change over pretty quick because here in Utah alot of the trucks run north to Montana, and east to Wyoming. What can I do to increase the btu's of the fuel, would Kerosene work, what about Jet A? I don't know if I could get jet A but I have friends on Hill AFB, I don't think the government would like it. Just wondering because nothing has changed on my motor but when I got fuel a couple weeks back I can feel the power loss, and mileage. I don't think the timing slipped. The cardlock says that their fuel is Premium Diesel with Power Service additive in it? Just wondering. I don't like mixing it up with other vehicles unless I know I am running at full power.



Shane Robertson (Layton Utah)

 

[LSMITH]

The fuels you suggest adding would only make it worse. The ONLY way to get that power and economy back is to find straight #2 diesel. Add whatever you want to blended fuel and you will still have lower BTU per gallon than #2. Some stations simply add additives to straight #2 to prevent gelling, around here it is Amoco stations. Ask what fuel they are selling and how it is "winterized".

 

[WDaniels]

The Jet A that you could get from Hill is really JP-8 with additives. (Don't get caught by the OSI. ) Don't know if any of the additives would hurt our engine but after we converted from JP-4 to JP-8 we notice that a lot of our equipment would coke up more than with the higher cetane JP-4. JP-4 has a lot more benezine in it than JP-8.

WD

 

[illflem]

Straight #2 with anti-gel additive works great for me, no problems for at least 5 years. Most Conoco stations in Montana give you a choice of #1, #2 or blend.

 

[Champane Flight]

Blend or refined?

Most fuels are blended at the refinery before shipment for winter conditions, depending on destination. Then you get some wholesalers lost in the past that blend even further, this is where you run into severe loss of power and mileage. Some of these are as lean as 50-50 #1-#2.



You will find a slight loss in power and mileage in refinery blends, around one to two mpg. All refinerys are now on winter blend and most have been on winter additive packages for premium diesel for at least a month.



If you do get a severe loss of power and mileage, I would look for another supplier and see if you get a jump in the other direction.