Reduced Sulfur Fuel in 2006

[Tony T.]

I have noticed a Shell station a couple of miles from my work place that advertise's Premium Diesel. I would ask for documation on the cetane rating.



Tony

 

[LightmanE300]

Well Supreme is only available in OH and KY. Amoco Premier is nearly identical, and in about 6 midwestern states. Both fuels are kept separate from regular diesel every step of the way, they are NOT just #2 with additives. You can learn more about them here http://www.bpdirect.com/products/ , however, the pdf they have there for supreme is for offroad, and the specs are slightly different. They haven't updated that site in a while.



Ryan, I've known marathon in particular to have the worst fuel in ohio. Before I did any research into fuel quality, I ran it because it was the closest to me and cheapest. I had to replace the injectors on my MB at 31k they were knocking so badly. In any case, she purrs like a kitten now on supreme. If you call the people at bp direct, navigate through the menus to diesel fuel technical specialists, they can likely give you the name/number of your local terminal/supreme distributor. Then call them and find out which stations get regular or exclusive deliveries of supreme. There are many mislabeled pumps. Once you get the real stuff, you'll know. One quick way to know if it's not supreme, is if it has any color. Bp supreme is 100% clear like water. Looks like sprite bubbling up in the neck. Amoco Premier has a slight green tinge. Both have less and a slightly different smell when filling.

 

[Gary - K7GLD]

Out here in the west, Pacific Pride cardlock stations sell what they claim as "premium Diesel"



I called and asked the local distributor exactly WHAT they provided that made THEIR diesel "premium" - and he said they pour *1 gallon* of Power Service additive in a *tankerload* of regular diesel - and THAT makes it "premium"...



As *I* understand the "rules" and specs governing the claims by distributors concerning "premium" diesel fuel, they only need improve *one* of 4 basic parameters of the base fuel in order to qualify it as premium - they can improve the LUBRICITY, the CETANE, or a one of a couple of others - and legally call it "premium", complete with a higher pump price...



NOW, how many here REALLY would call that a meaningful "specification", or consider a *single gallon* of PS diesl additive per tanker load sufficient for consderation as a "premium diesel fuel"



There's a small sample of refiners/distributors abiding by those wonderful specifications as they currently exist...

 

[rbattelle]

Ryan, I've known marathon in particular to have the worst fuel in ohio.

Well, prior to going to Marathon I went to a Pilot truck stop just outside town. I guess I'll go back to that and hope the 6 tankfuls of Marathon garbage don't do any damage.



[Sometimes I hate reading this site... makes me paranoid]



-Ryan

 

[LightmanE300]

Ryan - call bp , they are more than happy to tell you all about supreme and where to find it. It's worth the few minutes, believe me.



Gary, you're right about most 'premium' diesel. Actually they are supposed to meet 2 of 5 standards to qualify. This type of 'premium' is just regular #2 with additives. Most of the time, these are added at the terminal. These are a little better than regular #2, however if the price is significantly higher, it's probably smarter to just use your own additives. The local sunoco even lists right on their pump Premium Diesel - with big check marks next to Injector Cleanliness and Thermal stability - detergent and antigel/stabilizer. In any case, Supreme and Premier are totally different than this type of fuel. A few other smaller companies do make their own true premium diesels, but they aren't widely distributed typically.