Fuel quality

[cwf]

K.. I have always used "car" pump diesel... This being Thanksgiving weekend, the car pumps were swamped, so I fueled with truck diesel pump.

My fuel mileage jumped from 11.5 to 14/13.9.....

Really????? I can't explain....

[RUMSHIP]

Usually the truck pumps are under a higher pressure for a larger volume. I wouldn't think the grade would be different.

[switz]

May have more debris at the truck pumps because of the high volume stirring up the the big tanks.

Also, Love's has placards showing they can have 15% bio-diesel, so there is a fuel mileage degradation there just like with ethanol in gasoline. My 2012 Dodge Ram owner's manual states a maximum of 5% bio-diesel.

[cwf]

Yeah, filling up was great! I exceeded my limit before I realized it!!!! Hahah

No, this was measured via pencil and mileage, not the mi-liar computer in the dash.

Curious... But I will try for a few full ups just for fun.

[cwf]

Originally Posted by switz

May have more debris at the truck pumps because of the high volume stirring up the the big tanks. Also, Love's has placards showing they can have 15% bio-diesel, so there is a fuel mileage degradation there just like with ethanol in gasoline. My 2012 Dodge Ram owner's manual states a maximum of 5% bio-diesel.

Golly, I didn't even think about that. It was a Luvs... And I looked right at it.

Maybe their BIO is from rabbits instead of beef?

[Protagonist]

Originally Posted by cwf

This being Thanksgiving weekend, the car pumps were swamped, so I fueled with truck diesel pump.

My fuel mileage jumped from 11.5 to 14/13.9.....

Really????? I can't explain....

There aren't a whole lot of different grades of diesel. 5% biodiesel, 15% biodiesel, #2 diesel (what you normally get) and #1 diesel, which is a winter blend that is less likely to gel in cold weather.

But at any one truck stop or service station, they'll only have one diesel storage tank, and what they got is what you get, no matter which pump you go to.

So if your fuel economy improved and it wasn't just a math error, it's probably not the fuel itself that caused it.

My Airstream Interstate (MB Sprinter) can only take 5% biodiesel, but that's due to the DEF system to control emissions, not due to anything in the engine. The first-ever diesel engine, at the Paris Exhibition in 1900, ran on 100% biodiesel made from peanut oil.

[dznf0g]

Actually the first diesel engines (non-automotive) ran on coal dust. They were needed to power pumps to remove water from the coal mines. They were short lived because....well they were short lived. The dust ate up the cylinder walls and rings in short order. A huge failure, until liquid fuel was tried.

[Protagonist]

Originally Posted by dznf0g

Actually the first diesel engines (non-automotive) ran on coal dust.

When? Where? I knew that Rudolf Diesel intended for his engine to run on coal dust, but never saw anything in print about whether that idea came to fruition. But peanut oil as fuel was pretty definite; see Recognizing Rudolf Diesel's foresight in celebrating Biodiesel Day - Biodiesel.org

[perryg114]

The old purely mechanical diesels (the way it should be) would run on just about any type of oil. Diesel, vegetable oils, motor oil, biodiesel etc. It is funny that the DEF engines are supposed to be more green and they can't run full biodiesel.

Perry

[switz]

There is more debris in the truck stop diesel fuel in suspension than the less agitated car pumps at lower volumes. Big trucks have massive fuel filtration filters and engine oil filters.

Might I suggest that unless you have added adequate fuel filtration to the minimal system from the factory, you are more likely to have fuel issues with the truck stop fuel versus the local Chevron or Shell car station that sells diesel fuel.

I added a Cummins water separator filter coming out of the truck's new larger fuel tank into the stock Cummins separator/filter on the engine block. From that filter, I went into a Cummins two micron fuel filter. and then into the fuel rail.

I keep the receipts of each fueling detailing the date, time, and amount of fuel along with the address and the name of the dealer. In the event of a bad load of fuel, I can go back up the chain to have their insurer pay for the engine damage.

[cwf]

Thanks again, Guys!! Certainly 'fuel' for thought...

[Ag&Au]

The diesel in the truck pumps have a hydrogen additive. This is to compensate for the heavy large trucks. Therefore when you put it in a RV the lighter than air hydrogen lowers the effective weight of the vehicle. Because of this effect your gas mileage improves. Warning: Never also put it in an auxiliary tank or you may weigh so little that traction becomes a problem. I learned all this from an old trucker at a truck stop.

Ken

[noreen&sal]

Originally Posted by Ag&Au

The diesel in the truck pumps have a hydrogen additive. This is to compensate for the heavy large trucks. Therefore when you put it in a RV the lighter than air hydrogen lowers the effective weight of the vehicle. Because of this effect your gas mileage improves. Warning: Never also put it in an auxiliary tank or you may weigh so little that traction becomes a problem. I learned all this from an old trucker at a truck stop.

Ken

Man, I havn't heard a good truck driver story like that in a real long time. Sal

[dznf0g]

Originally Posted by Protagonist

When? Where? I knew that Rudolf Diesel intended for his engine to run on coal dust, but never saw anything in print about whether that idea came to fruition. But peanut oil as fuel was pretty definite; see Recognizing Rudolf Diesel's foresight in celebrating Biodiesel Day - Biodiesel.org

Just Google it. They barely do more than mention it as a predecessor to his oil burners. It wore out quickly and IIRC he couldn't regulate the fuel delivery well and blew the head off one, then gave up on it. He didn't invent the coal dust burner...some French (I think) dude did in the 1890s, as I recall, but it wasn't compression ignition. I am recalling all this from my first Diesel class in college, so bear with me.

Edit: brief story of development and coal dust here..looks like a 3 year experiment.

http://www.enginehistory.org/Diesels/CH1.pdf

[GCinSC2]

Folks,

I ran into this a while back about the history of the Diesel engine. Its about 18 minutes presented by Shell.

Gary

http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=UiiqiiTDj0A&feature=fvwrel

[Bill M.]

We spent a summer in Canada. Mostly Newfoundland. $5.50 or so for diesel. I got lousy milage the whole trip both while towing and running without the trailer. Determined by the onboard meter. Confirmed by 1 or 2 spot checks after I took the trouble to convert liters to gallons. Confirmed by how often I had to buy fuel. Got back into the states into Maine and the fuel milage went back up to what I consider normal on the onboard meter. I attributed it to the fuel. Not sure what the difference could be.

[acstokes]

Very interesting video!

Thanks for sharing.

[GCinSC2]

Fred,

I know its a bit off topic regarding fuel quality but diesel history sorta crept in.

Gary

[Skater]

I've never noticed a difference between small nozzle and large nozzle diesel, which seems to be what you're noticing.

I have noticed a difference between seedy diesel stations and good diesel stations... a few miles after filling I get the dreaded "Water in Fuel" warning. Fortunately I haven't had that happen in over 2 years, since just after I bought the truck.

[SteveH]

Originally Posted by Skater

I've never noticed a difference between small nozzle and large nozzle diesel, which seems to be what you're noticing.

I've not noticed a difference either. Any time I have noticed a difference in fuel mileage while towing , it was always a result of wind.

My truck makes the best mileage in sixth gear, turning 1700 RPM with a 35 MPH tail wind. Yes, it has happened, once.