Tips on Fuel Purchasing

[DennyDay]

I was getting fuel at a station reciently when a young lady with a Jeep Liberty Diesel pulled up, put she c-card in the dispenser, grabbed the green handle and started to put it into the Jeep. I told her she might not want to put super unleaded in the Jeep, she replied well it's the green handle, but did stop and look. Said she was from out of town and always used the green handle at home. Could have been an expensive error! That got me to thinking about other problems that can be encountered at the diesel fuel pump.



1. Don't depend on the color of the nozzel handle, check the pump for the product name. (I know everybody knows this-right-NOT)



2. Buy fuel only from dealers that sell alot of diesel fuel prefferably where the big trucks fuel, or you know that the sell a bunch of diesel, not 10-20 gallons

a week.



3. Never fuel when the transport truck is unloading or has just dropped diesel fuel at a neighborhood station. The fuel flowing in at 4-500 gallons a minute from a 4" delivery hose will go all the way to the bottom of a 10,000 tank, and stir up any dirt or crud in the bottom. That will be picked up by the dispenser pipe that is usually terminated between 6 and 12 inches from the botton of the tank. Wait 15 -20 minutes after the truck drops it's load to let the crud from the bottom of the tank to settle out and return to the bottom. When fueling at large truck stops such as Flying J, TA, or Loves, this usually isn't a problem because the volume of fuel sold doesn't allow, in most cases a buildup of contaminates.



4. Be especially carefull about filling at low volume dealers in southern sea shore areas because of water intrusion and algie found in many of these tanks.



The above are just reminders, I know most of you guys know this from experience, but this is for the new TDR members that are just learning to live with diesel.

 

[KLauber]

Good tips Denny for diesel newbies and a refresher for everyone. I get my diesel (10 gallons per tankful) from the local wal-mart or from a client of mine that has only a 1000 gallon tank for diesel. Plus making our own veggie fuel cuts down on the impact of potentially bad fuel.

Ken

 

[Don]

That brings up a question. I just put an aux. tank in the bed of my truck (diamond plate). Does it hurt to leave fuel in it for long periods of time say two or three months? I do put additive in whenever I put fuel in.

Thanks,

Don

 

[DennyDay]

That brings up a question. Does it hurt to leave fuel in it for long periods of time say two or three months?

Thanks,

Don

Don - - I too leave fuel in my tank, sometimes of a month or two, but always leave it full - - you don't post where you are located but if in the far north, you have to worry about gelling in the winter. (Power Service silver bottle) The main thing is to be sure you are getting good fuel with no water in it that would cause algie forming in your tank - - I'm with you about using an additive - - I use Power Service (silver bottle in the winter and white bottle in the summer) I am very careful about where I buy fuel - - dealer has to be busy. My favorite places are Murphy don't get as good mileage, figure centane rating is low, Flying-J good mileage but higher cost, and when I'm in the east Hess. We are full time RV'ers so I don't need a problem on the road. I also drain the water separator a few ounces and check for water. I keep an eight oz. water bottle capped in the back for this purpose.



Unfortunately fuel purchasing is not rocket science, but you can take steps to protect yourself.



Hope this helps,





I do not have any relation to Power Service Diesel Fuel conditioner, but have used it successfully since the mid '70's

 

[Bob Cochran]

Don - - I too leave fuel in my tank, sometimes of a month or two, but always leave it full - - you don't post where you are located but if in the far north, you have to worry about gelling in the winter. (Power Service silver bottle) The main thing is to be sure you are getting good fuel with no water in it that would cause algie forming in your tank - - I'm with you about using an additive - - I use Power Service (silver bottle in the winter and white bottle in the summer) I am very careful about where I buy fuel - - dealer has to be busy. My favorite places are Murphy don't get as good mileage, figure centane rating is low, Flying-J good mileage but higher cost, and when I'm in the east Hess. We are full time RV'ers so I don't need a problem on the road. I also drain the water separator a few ounces and check for water. I keep an eight oz. water bottle capped in the back for this purpose.



Unfortunately fuel purchasing is not rocket science, but you can take steps to protect yourself.



Hope this helps,





I do not have any relation to Power Service Diesel Fuel conditioner, but have used it successfully since the mid '70's

Ahhh one thing is it not the white bottle that the label say it will prevent gelling guaranteed and the gray bottle does not but does boost cetane rating. I will have to go look at my bottles of Power Service.

 

[JMetzger]

I believe Bob is right. White bottle in winter & silver in summer. White bottle has lower gel rating (-40) where as the silver does not. At least that is what I use.

 

[DennyDay]

Ahhh one thing is it not the white bottle that the label say it will prevent gelling guaranteed and the gray bottle does not but does boost cetane rating. I will have to go look at my bottles of Power Service.

You're right - white bottle in winter and silver in summer - - - Think about what you are buying - - much of the country uses winter grade fuel - - A mix of No. 1 and No. 2 fuel. When keeping fuel in the auxillary tank think about temp changes coming with the season

 

[Bob Cochran]

LOL glad you checked I for got to!!!