Diesel fuel

[Dsrtrider]

Saw a station here in Az yesterday it had 2 diesel fuels Light duty diesel and heavy duty diesel both different prices. Which category would a Diesel Pusher fall?

[TandW]

Heavy duty. Light duty diesel is also called auto-diesel. For Sprinters, pickups and sedans.

[dizcom]

You can use either, they are identical. What you don't want is off road diesel. You can always ask the station what they mean, but generally it's the same stuff with a different size nozzle, both of which probably fit your rig. In some places they're taxed differently, which is why the price is often different.

[vseasport]

Last summer we were at a self serve station (no attendant) and the diesel pump had several options. I was confused and was ready to leave without filling. Turned out a weights and measures guy was at the next pump so I asked him. He said the higher grade diesel was so the fuel would not gel in sub zero weather. Obviously, I didn't need that and just filled with the cheap stuff. Yes, a year ago it was cheap.

Slightly off topic, I wonder how my pre-DEF motor would react if I accidentally filled with DEF fuel?

[TandW]

Originally Posted by vseasport

Last summer we were at a self serve station (no attendant) and the diesel pump had several options. I was confused and was ready to leave without filling. Turned out a weights and measures guy was at the next pump so I asked him. He said the higher grade diesel was so the fuel would not gel in sub zero weather. Obviously, I didn't need that and just filled with the cheap stuff. Yes, a year ago it was cheap.

Slightly off topic, I wonder how my pre-DEF motor would react if I accidentally filled with DEF fuel?

That winter blend diesel is mixed with lighter distillates such as kerosene, so it has a lower energy content and so won't take you as far down the road.

[bigb56]

Originally Posted by vseasport

Slightly off topic, I wonder how my pre-DEF motor would react if I accidentally filled with DEF fuel?

DEF is not a fuel. If you pump DEF into the fuel tank of any vehicle you are going to have a big problem. It goes into a separate tank and gets metered into the exhaust stream, not the engine.

[fagnaml]

dstrider --

Could you share the location in Arizona where you say diesel pumps labeled "Light Duty Diesel" and "Heavy Duty Diesel"? This will help me, a Refinery Operations Manager, provide a better response.

At the moment my response for the forum is Refineries located in or near the Rocky Mountains and other areas of the USA where winter temperature are routinely below 20 F manufacture two grades of on-highway diesel fuel -- No.1 Diesel (also called Light Diesel) and No.2 Diesel (also called ULSD and sometimes Heavy Diesel). No.1 Diesel is made using Kerosene to achieve proper "cold properties" for sub 20 F winter temperatures. Kerosene is used to make No.1 (Light) Diesel as kerosene fuel will not gel nor form wax crystals which can plug fuel lines and fuel filters during sub 20 F winter temperatures. ULSD (Heavy Diesel / No.2 Diesel) is make using Diesel molecules which are "heavier" and will gel / form wax crystals at temperatures below 20 F.

Most Crude Oils only contain 10-15% Kerosene molecules thus the amount of Kerosene that can be produced is relatively small. The primary market for Kerosene is Jet-A Fuel is used in your favorite commercial jet airplane or favorite commercial cargo plane. Kerosene /Jet-A / No.1 "Light" Diesel because of limited supply volume typically has a higher market price than ULSD / No.2 Diesel.

No.1 (Light) Diesel is very suitable for all diesel engines. However, No.1 Diesel being a "lighter" fuel contains less BTU's per gallon than ULSD and thus if used to power your coach, 3/4 ton truck, or any other diesel engine vehicle will result is poorer fuel mileage.

Hope this info is useful !

[Camp CA]

Check the labeling...........light duty should be labeled D-1 and heavy duty should be D-2. D-1 has a lower flash point, lower 90% point and viscosity per the specs attached. No. 1 diesel fuel may be used in abnormally low temperature conditions. More information may be found here: https://itstillruns.com/no-1-diesel-fuel-7267510.html

Normally use D-2 or commonly referred to as No. 2. No. 2 diesel is more widely available. That is what I use in my F350 diesel and diesel boat engines.

[AJMike]

Originally Posted by dizcom

You can always ask the station what they mean

If you are lucky enough to get someone who knows.

Perhaps a year ago or so I ran into this exact issue at a station in Holbrook, AZ and, not knowing what the difference was I went in to ask the folks working there. No one had any idea.

[AJMike]

Originally Posted by fagnaml

dstrider --

Could you share the location in Arizona where you say diesel pumps labeled "Light Duty Diesel" and "Heavy Duty Diesel"? This will help me, a Refinery Operations Manager, provide a better response.

I ran into this issue some time ago in Holbrook, AZ. I am not the OP, so I don't know where he or she ran into this, but it was the same puzzle for me as for the OP.

[dizcom]

Might be:


Arizona has a two tier diesel fuel tax. 18 cents/gallon for light cars and trucks and 26 cents for heavies. This means, according to Arizona law, any vehicle having more than two axles, OR any vehicle having a GVW in excess of 26,000 pounds must refuel only at those pumps having a sticker affixed to them indicating the tax collected is at 26 cents/gallon.


I think it's the same stuff, just taxed differently.

[AJMike]

Originally Posted by fagnaml

No.1 (Light) Diesel is very suitable for all diesel engines. However, No.1 Diesel being a "lighter" fuel contains less BTU's per gallon than ULSD and thus if used to power your coach, 3/4 ton truck, or any other diesel engine vehicle will result is poorer fuel mileage.

I am not questioning your statement, but I thought that all diesel RVs had labels telling the user to use only #2 diesel. Is that wrong?

[Rob_M]

Just adding pics of what I saw available at truck pumps on the Oklahoma Tollway a couple weeks ago. Phillips 66 I believe.

[fagnaml]

Rob --

Glad you provided that photo of "diesel" / "premium diesel" labels. Jobbers (businesses who own service stations and/or truck stops) have started selling "premium diesel" (which is "standard" ULSD with additives) to compete with ExxonMobil's "Synergy Diesel" with is ULSD with additives.

EZ GO is a large jobber for Phillips 66 and Conoco brand service stations in the middle of the country and have chose to provide a ULSD product with their additives included. The extra 5 cents per gallon for their premium diesel is a good price!

Any coach / truck owner who has a diesel engine can make their own "premium diesel" by adding an additive such as Power Service's Diesel Kleen product --> https://powerservice.com/psp_product...-cetane-boost/

A 32 ounce bottle of Power Kleen cost $10-$11. The 32 ounce bottle is the recommended dosage for a 100 gallon diesel fuel tank. For a 100 gallon tank, Power Kleen additive costs 10 cents / gallon. The incremental cost for EZ GO's Premium Diesel is 5 cents / gallon meaning purchasing that Premium diesel is more economic than using the Power Kleen additive.

EZ GO's Premium Diesel is basic ULSD with additives and is not No.1 Diesel fuel that is derived from kerosene.