The number you want is Cetane. Of course, the regs are set up so
that no erl company has to tell you the actual cetane of the fuel you
are buying. So, of course, they won't tell you. There IS a very
wide variation in cetane. Oil companies are always on the look for
anything they can buy to raise cetane by blending. if my memory is
correct, it varies mostly between 30 and 45, with some as low as 25.
As the cetane varies, so does your MPG. As Peter said, some of it is
real C-rap. I got a load one time years ago, and I thought the
gauge busted. I really got in the neighborhood of 45 mpg on that
tank. It must have been a really high cetane fuel.
We can make synthetic Diesel from unused mineral deposits and it
comes in at around 60 cetane. It is better Diesel than dino Diesel.
AFIK, there are no plants in Norte Merica making such fuel. It is
being made in other parts of the world. We did the research and
found manufacturers capable of producing a system to do this on a
sustainable scale. In fact there has been a pilot scale plant in WA
that has been there for 30 years. We even tried to lease it and had
a refiner lined up to buy the output. The technology is over 60
years old, but there are a few tweaks since then.
I get the best milage and least smoke from Shell or the local Co-op
fuel (the latter is B5 or B10, too). Other brands (Marathon,
Phillips) work fine but more smoke and about 1/2 mpg less on average.
There are significant differences in diesel fuel according to
source, and some burn better in a Benz that others. No American
fuel is really up to Benz standards, and some of it is real crap.
Peter
On Nov 7, 2011, at 4:16 PM, Greg Fiorentino wrote:
One of my mechanics swears that some diesel brands yield significantly
better economy than others. My wife subscribes to this theory also. Based
on recent unscientific and statistically insignificant tests, I am beginning
to think this may be so.
Do any of you experienced dieselers care to weigh in on this sure-to-be
controversial topic?
Greg
_______________________________________
http://www.okiebenz.com
For new and used parts go to www.okiebenz.com
To search list archives http://www.okiebenz.com/archive/
To Unsubscribe or change delivery options go to:
http://mail.okiebenz.com/mailman/listinfo/mercedes_okiebenz.com
_______________________________________
http://www.okiebenz.com
For new and used parts go to www.okiebenz.com
To search list archives http://www.okiebenz.com/archive/
To Unsubscribe or change delivery options go to:
http://mail.okiebenz.com/mailman/listinfo/mercedes_okiebenz.com
_______________________________________
http://www.okiebenz.com
For new and used parts go to www.okiebenz.com
To search list archives http://www.okiebenz.com/archive/
To Unsubscribe or change delivery options go to:
http://mail.okiebenz.com/mailman/listinfo/mercedes_okiebenz.com
