I've heard a lot of referances to winter blend? What is this all about and is it a forced change? How do I know if I'm buying/bought it?

 

Im pretty sure they automatically switch over to winter blend. You wouldnt know if you bought it or are currently buying it.

 

If I'm not mistaken it's a blend of No.1 and No.2 diesel. Supposed to help with preventing gelling of the fuel.

I don't know if every filling station in the country switches out, but I know that one Exxon station in San Antonio I go to, does make the switch. (had a chat with one of the delivery guys about it) So that makes me think that many (even in Texas) probably do.

And as far as knowing wether or not you got it, it might be listed on your receipt...It might not. Unless you go inside and ask the attendant, (who may know or might not have a clue) the only way you MIGHT know you have it is that you'll see a slight decrease in fuel mileage.

 

If you are in a cold area and don't have winter blend you'll know it because you won't get the engine started.

 

use fuel treatment. It helps.

 

As you go farther north, there's a greater portion of #1 in the fuel, and the change to "winter blend" happens earlier in the year.

 

I thought that the winter blend meant that the oil companies added the fuel treatment (anti-gel, etc.) right to the fuel before it was delivered.

 

Last winter, temp about 15 degrees, I fill my truck with diesel at the Flying-J in Denver. I use a credit card so I don't have to go inside but after filling I decided I need some coffee. As I enter the store I see a note taped on the door warning that the diesel fuel is NOT winter blend. Luckily, I guess, I had also put DK in (white bottle) and had no ill effects.


.

 

dont you think it would have been better to place the signage on the pumps?

 

at 15' you don't need winter diesel. diesel doesn't gell till it gets cold.

 

It basically means that they have added a percentage of #1 diesel (basically K1 or JetA1 kerosene) based on the lowest temp expected in the area. (USAF pretty much uses JP-8 in all the diesel engines around the flight lines nowadays)

You could actually call a fuel distributor and ask them what the cloud point of the fuel is and they could tell you what temp the winter grade fuel is good for.

Then if you expected temps below that point you could add a few gallons of Kerosene and/or fuel conditioner to lower it further.

Here's one of the best fuel FAQs I have seen on diesel from The Dodge Ram types..

http://dodgeram.org/tech/dsl/FAQ/diesel_fuel.htm




Cheers,

Rick

 

I started running B99 this summer and was surprised to find a few days ago that the station I goto switched their bio pumps to B50 for the winter. In Portland, OR where it doesn't get that much below freezing for a small portion of the year.

 

#1 has gotten quite expensive, most stations around here just use additive in the #2.

Three cold weather operation rules of thumb;

If the fuel is advertised as "winter blend" it implies that it is a #1/#2 blend.
If the fuel is advertised as "winterized" it implies that it is treated #2.
Don't trust any of it.

 

Here's some more good info on "winterized" diesel.

http://www.baldwinfilter.com/engineer/pdf/91-1R3.pdf

Here is another great discussion on cloud point/pour point determination and pour point depressants for diesel and biodiesel

http://www3.me.iastate.edu/biodiesel/Pages/biodiesel16.html

It even has a chart indicating what the industry uses to determine how much #1 to add.


If you're asking the station owner or supplier how they lower the cloud point and they tell you additives..Well, they probably don't know what they are talking about. If you're asking fuel truck drivers, well....they know even less.....and If you're asking diesel mechanics....most know very little about diesel fuels too....

Winterized diesel is made by adding #1 in whatever proportion required to put the cloud point below the lowest expected ambient temp. #1 added at the refinery level does not increase the cost as much as one might think. They also don't add all that much. The only place you might see #1 at the pump on a regular basis is maybe in Alaska on the North slope or maybe in places where you might see temps WELL below zero for weeks at a time. If you're worried about leaving your truck outside with summer diesel in it, go over to your local medium size airport and get 10 or 15 gallons of Jet-A. Tell them it's for your home built airplane or they may refuse to sell it to you.

Most of the little bottles you buy at autoparts stores are great for the companies that make them.


Regards,



Rick

 

We have several locations by me that have #1 year round. I've noticed in my area that the suppliers don't mix it because most operators prefer to mix there own ratio.