Which brand of fuel performs best?????

[HBarlow]

If I am correct all the fuel is the same. It travels thru a large piple line from areas like texas to areas up here. They will pump a large quantity of gasoline for a while and then switch over to diesel all in the same pipe. It is at the distribution plants that gas or diesel becomes a certain name brand this is done by adding the special secret additives that each brand uses before it goes into a tanker to bring it to your local station. With all the different additives in gasoline such as clean valves from shell and clean injectors from another company youmay want to stick with one brand or another. with diesel they dont add all that crap so I think its basically the same. The main thing is turnover so you get fresh dry clean fuel. Also the pipeline is one of the problems with ethanol. Since ethanol hold water it becomes corrosive to the pipe and messes up the diesel and gas. Currently ethanol must be shipped by tanker which is why we dont see it up here in the north (no grain fields around)

kenny is right. Diesel fuel is a commodity. Asking which brand is best is like asking which brand or corn, rice, wheat, beans, strawberries, or pumpkins is best. Diesel fuel is refined crude oil.

Branding often occurs at the station that sells it retail. In some areas retailers all buy from the same distribution centers. In some areas the product may have been refined by Chevron, other area by Shell, etc. And occasionally, one big name retailer may actually be selling diesel fuel refined and distributed by another known brand name.

The main factors to consider when buying diesel are price and volume sold. If you always buy from high volume retailers like brand name truck stops you'll be almost assured of buying clean fuel. I've bought tens of thousands of gallons from Flying Js all over the US and Canada. I only buy from other retailers when a FJ is not available. I've never had an issue with dirty fuel.

 

[HBarlow]

If I am correct all the fuel is the same. It travels thru a large pipeline from areas like texas to areas up here. They will pump a large quantity of gasoline for a while and then switch over to diesel all in the same pipe. It is at the distribution plants that gas or diesel becomes a certain name brand this is done by adding the special secret additives that each brand uses before it goes into a tanker to bring it to your local station. With all the different additives in gasoline such as clean valves from shell and clean injectors from another company youmay want to stick with one brand or another. with diesel they dont add all that crap so I think its basically the same. The main thing is turnover so you get fresh dry clean fuel. Also the pipeline is one of the problems with ethanol. Since ethanol hold water it becomes corrosive to the pipe and messes up the diesel and gas. Currently ethanol must be shipped by tanker which is why we dont see it up here in the north (no grain fields around)

kenny is right. Diesel fuel is a commodity. Asking which brand is best is like asking which brand of corn, rice, wheat, beans, strawberries, or pumpkins is best. Diesel fuel is refined crude oil.

Branding often occurs at the station that sells it retail. In some areas retailers all buy from the same distribution centers. In some areas the product may have been refined by Chevron, other area by Shell, etc. And occasionally, one big name retailer may actually be selling diesel fuel refined and distributed by another known brand name.

The main factors to consider when buying diesel are price and volume sold. If you always buy from high volume retailers like brand name truck stops you'll be almost assured of buying clean fuel. I've bought tens of thousands of gallons from Flying Js all over the US and Canada. I only buy from other retailers when a FJ is not available. I've never had an issue with dirty fuel.

 

[CRuth]

Never been able to tell any difference myself. I just buy from outlets that sell a decent volume. I didn't realize that Sacramento is a test ground for techron. That must be why they have a competitve price for diesel. Unusual for one of the big name companies.



I'm really lucky. A small retailer less than a mile away has the best price in town. Needless to say they do a good volume too. My local truck stop has some of the highest priced diesel. A wonder they're still in business.

 

[Diesel Gunner]

I am trying something right now. Found out the other day that Chevron Diesel #2 is not diesel. It is fuel oil. Boss showed me the BOL from the rack and it even has a different number than diesel from all other racks. He mentioned that Chevron Diesel is Clear. I had noticed the color variation at different stations in the past. Sometimes it is somewhat yellow or green. Chevron Diesel has Techron D in it. This will probably only be found at Chevron Stations.



Fuel Oil is supposed to have a higher BTU content and a higher cetane rating. Theoretically this should produce better economy. I will work on this a bit more to see if I can get more info. Any diesel fuel "Experts" out there?



Seems to me that the big power guys would have some info on this. After about 20 miles engine seemed to idle a bit more evenly. Of course, it seems to run better after I wash it, too. I will try to post more when I have more info.

 

[Rattler]

I notice that when i run truck stop fuel, i get about 19 miles per gallon, but when i run some smaller places i only get about 17. Yes i always hand calculate my milage. Randy

 

[The patriot]

Around here anyway....

#2 FO and diesel are the same. A tube meters the red dye to the tank when it's entered in the puter as #2 FO.

Otherwise MSDS, BOL, and placarding are identical.

Cali is a whole different story.

I'm in NJ.

 

[JayStraight]

I am trying something right now. Found out the other day that Chevron Diesel #2 is not diesel. It is fuel oil. Boss showed me the BOL from the rack and it even has a different number than diesel from all other racks. He mentioned that Chevron Diesel is Clear. I had noticed the color variation at different stations in the past. Sometimes it is somewhat yellow or green. Chevron Diesel has Techron D in it. This will probably only be found at Chevron Stations.



Fuel Oil is supposed to have a higher BTU content and a higher cetane rating. Theoretically this should produce better economy. I will work on this a bit more to see if I can get more info. Any diesel fuel "Experts" out there?



Seems to me that the big power guys would have some info on this. After about 20 miles engine seemed to idle a bit more evenly. Of course, it seems to run better after I wash it, too. I will try to post more when I have more info.

Keep me/us posted on this, I would be very interested to find out more info on Chevron with Techron D.....

 

[KKohagen]

I only know that Chevron is testing the new Techron D in Sacramento because we are one of the largest companies that is based on CA. So we decided to test it in the capitol, I think with a lot of fleet vehicles and regular vehicles as well.
The bosses only have said that it is in a testing phase for potential roll out to all stations sometime next year (2009). Maybe try the corporate website. If I hear anything at work about it I will let you guys and gals know.

 

[BIGNASTY]

Gas is Gas Fuel is Fuel

Gas is the same you dont know who or where it came from you can smell the difference and tell buy color but the base product is gas. It becomes BP. SHELL. CHEVRON at the rack thats where the additives are put in . But as far as diesel the only difference will be the type of lubricity additive added . One company adds it cheap kind or another cheap kind You can bet its not the best Lube product on the market. They add it because they are told to bottom line. Ive worked for 20+ years in the industry and you can bet your A** they dont do a thing for you the customer. Thats how they can make 40 BILLION + profit a year.

 

[BIGNASTY]

refinery fuel

I am trying something right now. Found out the other day that Chevron Diesel #2 is not diesel. It is fuel oil. Boss showed me the BOL from the rack and it even has a different number than diesel from all other racks. He mentioned that Chevron Diesel is Clear. I had noticed the color variation at different stations in the past. Sometimes it is somewhat yellow or green. Chevron Diesel has Techron D in it. This will probably only be found at Chevron Stations.



Fuel Oil is supposed to have a higher BTU content and a higher cetane rating. Theoretically this should produce better economy. I will work on this a bit more to see if I can get more info. Any diesel fuel "Experts" out there?



Seems to me that the big power guys would have some info on this. After about 20 miles engine seemed to idle a bit more evenly. Of course, it seems to run better after I wash it, too. I will try to post more when I have more info.

Are you picking this up at the refinery then you can say its Chevron fuel if its from the pipe line then you dont know who or where it comes form. IMO I dont think its Fuel Oil going to a service station. We have outside carriers haul Fuel oil to the harbor for ships they have to use diesel within 200 miles of shore after that they can burn what they want (waste oil) but I could be wrong its happend before. You said you have seen the BOL I would like to know what the Placard is on the paperwork. If it is fuel oil Ill bet the guys with the DPF rigs will love to fill up at that station

 

[Bob Cochran]

#2 FO and diesel are the same. A tube meters the red dye to the tank when it's entered in the puter as #2 FO.

Otherwise MSDS, BOL, and placarding are identical.

Cali is a whole different story.

I'm in NJ.

I think you are correct however if my mind serves me right. #2 FO does not require the filtering before sale as #2 diesel. As I recall you had best make sure there is a filter at the pump if it is #2 FO. At a power plant I worked at for awhile we used to use FO for diesel vehicles but added a extra filter. Yes higher Cetan levels results in better MPG. having said that I doubt you are going to get diesel with a higher level. I think diesel labeled "premium" is just a way to charge more for the same think in my humble opeinion!!!

 

[GOTSOOT]

don`t buy "CITGO" owned by Chavez!!!

 

[cmills]

I usually try to buy it from our co-op, I guess its called Country Mark now. It's what we have used at our farm for years with no problems. I always buy it from the station where the price is usually about the same as everywhere else if not a few cents cheaper. Supposedly it is 100% american made, from Illinois crude oil. I can't really say I notice a difference in performance or fuel economy either way but I never drive the same from tank to tank to accurately check.

 

[Dieselnut59]

don`t buy "CITGO" owned by Chavez!!!

I second that one! It has been years since I have bought fuel from a Citgo station, even though they are usually a few cents cheaper. Same way I try my best not to buy chinese made products.

 

[The patriot]

I think you are correct however if my mind serves me right. #2 FO does not require the filtering before sale as #2 diesel. As I recall you had best make sure there is a filter at the pump if it is #2 FO. At a power plant I worked at for awhile we used to use FO for diesel vehicles but added a extra filter. Yes higher Cetan levels results in better MPG. having said that I doubt you are going to get diesel with a higher level. I think diesel labeled "premium" is just a way to charge more for the same think in my humble opeinion!!!

I'm not too sure about that.

I speak with the guys that deliver the stuff. They told me it comes from the same rack, same pipe fills the tanker, the only difference is if it's road fuel, or offroad (dyed) fuel. Thus the small line meters in the dye.

Maybe different dist terminals are run a little differently.

I know up to about 2 yrs ago I used to get the high sulphur stuff.

I havent placed a bulk order recently, that may have changed.

 

[Bob Cochran]

I'm not too sure about that.

I speak with the guys that deliver the stuff. They told me it comes from the same rack, same pipe fills the tanker, the only difference is if it's road fuel, or offroad (dyed) fuel. Thus the small line meters in the dye.

Maybe different dist terminals are run a little differently.

I know up to about 2 yrs ago I used to get the high sulphur stuff.

I havent placed a bulk order recently, that may have changed.

Fuel I was referring to was delivered to the electrical steam plant in bulk. Supplier was the one who said to filter prior to use in diesel trucks, etc. While it was mostly used off road it was not dyed red. So I don't know for sure; I guess better safe than sorry.

 

[Buffalo]

A number of years ago, I looked into some of the questions regarding Premium Diesel, Cetane & diesel additives. I called a number of companies that manufacture or distribute diesel additives.



From what I was told, to advertise the fact that you are selling Premium Diesel, you have to have at least three additives in the fuel. Things like a cetane boost, injector cleaners, lubricity additives, lower starting temperatures, etc. As I recall, there were about five additives & if you added three of them, you could advertise the selling of Premium Diesel Fuel.



Primrose Oil Co. , Inc. out of Dallas, TX. is one of the manufacturers of these additive packages for creating Premium Diesel.



Regarding cetane, a number of years ago, there was a thread on TDI.com (Volkswagen Diesel Engine website) where a member had purchased quite a number of different diesel fuels from local stations & had each of them tested. There was quite a difference in cetane levels. As I recall, Hess had one of the higher cetane levels. Interestingly, the truck stop fuels had the lowest levels. The explanation was that the big rig engines run quite well on lower cetane fuels. I have no idea how true that is but, I found it interesting.



I've heard that ULSD (Ultra Low Sulphur Diesel-50 ppm. ) has a bit less performance than the LSD (Low Sulphur Diesel-500ppm). A guy I know with a Duramax has tried both fuels & finds no difference. He is a CPA & calculates every drop of fuel he uses.



We have a truck stop called Quick Trip that still sells LSD. That is the only station I use when in Phoenix. The last time I was at the Flying J, they sold both ULSD & LSD. Haven't been to the "J" in a number of years. Since they started having financial problems, their prices have been higher than the "QT".



Joe F.

 

[The patriot]

Fuel I was referring to was delivered to the electrical steam plant in bulk. Supplier was the one who said to filter prior to use in diesel trucks, etc. While it was mostly used off road it was not dyed red. So I don't know for sure; I guess better safe than sorry.

My last job was a chief in a steam plant.

I suppose different terminals could do things their own way.

 

[PGAdams]

Hess in Florida orlando area, no Hess stations in ATL area. Wal Mart, Home Depot have a large turnover of fuel and competitive pricing with good mpg results.

While in FL. I fuel up at a Hess and see a noticeable improvement in mpg.

 

[JayStraight]

Hess in Florida orlando area, no Hess stations in ATL area. Wal Mart, Home Depot have a large turnover of fuel and competitive pricing with good mpg results.

While in FL. I fuel up at a Hess and see a noticeable improvement in mpg.

Home Depot?!?!?!?

That's a new one... . I didn't know they sold fuel. They don't here in SC.