fuel grade?
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Joined: Aug 2006
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fuel grade?
do u guys think that 40 grade diesel is to low? i can drive around and try to find 42 or 45 there is even a station that claims to have "high performance" fuel (i havent pulled in to see the grade all i know is average fuel is around 3.20 and this guy wants 3.75 so it better be a high grade)should i try that or run the 40 with and additive ??? or any other ideas?? thanx guys
94 f-350 7.3 idi banks sidewinder kit
94 f-350 7.3 idi banks sidewinder kit
Post Fiend
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 21,285
Likes: 16
From: Nutter Fort, WV
40 should be no problem.
The high performance fuel is a misconception.
What stations normally sell for #1 fuel actually is a lighter fuel using specific gravity.
The heavier fuel contains more BTU's per gallon than the lighter fuel does, so it actually contains more power per gallon than the lighter fuel does.
The cetane rating is something like the octane rating of gasoline.
The higher the number, the harder it is to make it burn.
But this number has nothing to do with the amount of power contained in the fuel.
Where it gets the power contained in the fuel from a number is the fuel number.
D #1 is the lightest most refined diesel, this is great fuel to run when it is below zero since it has little parafin in it compared to #2.
D #2 is the normal road fuel, it is a heavier fuel than number 1, it also contains more BTU's and parafin per gallon than #1 does, it gells at higher temps than #1 does. But your engine will run better, get better mileage and make more power than it will with #1 fuel. Also since this fuel is not as refined, it will need more cleaning addatives to keep the fuel system clean.
Diesel is produced in numbers up to #5.
I used to get #3 diesel at a truck stop in Colorado back 20+ years ago.
Much heavier fuel, ran great, lots of power and great mileage compared to #2, but when the weather started turning cooler you better be adding lots of anti gell. Without it it would gell at about 40 degrees.
#4 and #5 are only used in trains and ships since they are never turned off unless they are broke.
The high performance fuel is a misconception.
What stations normally sell for #1 fuel actually is a lighter fuel using specific gravity.
The heavier fuel contains more BTU's per gallon than the lighter fuel does, so it actually contains more power per gallon than the lighter fuel does.
The cetane rating is something like the octane rating of gasoline.
The higher the number, the harder it is to make it burn.
But this number has nothing to do with the amount of power contained in the fuel.
Where it gets the power contained in the fuel from a number is the fuel number.
D #1 is the lightest most refined diesel, this is great fuel to run when it is below zero since it has little parafin in it compared to #2.
D #2 is the normal road fuel, it is a heavier fuel than number 1, it also contains more BTU's and parafin per gallon than #1 does, it gells at higher temps than #1 does. But your engine will run better, get better mileage and make more power than it will with #1 fuel. Also since this fuel is not as refined, it will need more cleaning addatives to keep the fuel system clean.
Diesel is produced in numbers up to #5.
I used to get #3 diesel at a truck stop in Colorado back 20+ years ago.
Much heavier fuel, ran great, lots of power and great mileage compared to #2, but when the weather started turning cooler you better be adding lots of anti gell. Without it it would gell at about 40 degrees.
#4 and #5 are only used in trains and ships since they are never turned off unless they are broke.
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 1,509
Likes: 3
From: Ladner, British Columbia
Nice summary Dave,
I guess the one thing I can add here is if it is available in your neck of the woods you can start looking at running some B5, B20, or B40 biodiesel blends.
The main advantage of the Biodiesel blends is that you automatically get build in lubrication and you get a much higher cetane number which will give you better hotter combustion producing less smoke as well as a quieter engine.
Although biodiesel has less BTU/gallon I am getting the same milage as with No. 2 diesel on my 91 7.3l NA motor with B40 and actually seen a slight milage increase on my 93 7.3l turbo motor with B40 all because of the higher cetane number and better, more complete combustion.
Seb......
I guess the one thing I can add here is if it is available in your neck of the woods you can start looking at running some B5, B20, or B40 biodiesel blends.
The main advantage of the Biodiesel blends is that you automatically get build in lubrication and you get a much higher cetane number which will give you better hotter combustion producing less smoke as well as a quieter engine.
Although biodiesel has less BTU/gallon I am getting the same milage as with No. 2 diesel on my 91 7.3l NA motor with B40 and actually seen a slight milage increase on my 93 7.3l turbo motor with B40 all because of the higher cetane number and better, more complete combustion.
Seb......
