Since I got my 03 Ram I've been looking at all the gas stations to see who carries diesel.
I saw a sign at one that said "Premium Diesel"
I wasn't aware there was diffrent grades of diesel or is this just a marketing ploy??

 

I usually see premium diesel for sale at truck stops during the winter. It is regular #2 but contains an anti-gel/cetane booster. This is better than winter blend diesel which is a 50/50 mix (i think) of diesel #1 and diesel #2. Unfortunately, we're kind of stuck with the winter diesel in colder climates... less miles/gallon, and generally less power. The added cetane in the premium diesel can help performance, increase fuel milage (marginally at best), and reduce smoke. Some others will chime in here, but I stick with good ol #2 in the summer, and add Power Serivce every tank, it is also an antigel/cetane booster, but also improves lubricity.

 

[quote author=TheMoose link=board=8;threadid=18693;start=0#msg175302 date=1061490152]
Since I got my 03 Ram I've been looking at all the gas stations to see who carries diesel.
I saw a sign at one that said "Premium Diesel"
I wasn't aware there was diffrent grades of diesel or is this just a marketing ploy??
[/quote]

In some cases it can be a marketing ploy. The key being is what is the cetane rating of the at fuel.

I believe that virginia must carry a sticker(like they do for gasoline) Anyhow, the diesel fuel that I buy says minimum 45 cetane. It's about 5-8 cents more per gallon, but the higher cetane is supposed to have less smoke and give more power.

All the other stations usually say minimum 40 cetane(regular diesel).

On top of using the Premium, I also add a cetane improver to my fuel as well. Most fuel in Europe has a minimum of 50 cetane.

 

Higher cetane makes for a more efficient burn. Should equal better combustion and more efficiency. Just because it says "premium", it isn't. I bought some "premium" dog shampoo last weekend at Wally World. It didn't seem to perform any better than regular
Bottom line is you've gotta check the cetane rating.
I think there might have been a thread on this before. Do a search on "cetane" and "premium diesel."

 

Some Diesel fuel info here.
http://www.chevron.com/prodserv/fuel.../L1_toc_fs.htm

 

Ive ran it for a few tanks and didnt notice any difference. IMO, you are better off with regular diesel and an additive/fuel conditioner/cetane booster. I usually use Howes Lubricator - mostly because is readily availible in my area.

 

I just did a 4500 mile trip to Sturgis and back pulling a 44ft trailer.....the trip to Sturgis I fueled at the truck stops and watched my MPG = 9.5-10.5 after one refuel I really dropped 8 MPG

On the return trip I tryed to fuel only at Shell Stations had to refuel once at BP....I noticed better MPG.....10.7-11.2 MPG....it was worth the extra .02 a gal....only one Shell station posted the cetane number it was 45 I asked the other Clerks what the cetane was but they didnt know.....so I am only guessing that Shell fuel has a higher cetane then the average truck stop

 

Good question TheMoose. Premium diesel can be very worth it if it is in fact premium diesel. The term is often used very loosely. What brands of PD are available in your area?

Premium diesels have a wide variety of reasons to be called premium. It's not simply 'anti-gel and cetane' additives by any means. The fuels first of all may be derived from premium basestocks, with very low aromatics and sulfur ppm. These are very important for your engine's cleanliness and emissions. Cetane number of course is important, but not all 'premium diesels' contain cetane improver. Citgo and Sunoco for example, simply take standard #2 and additize it for thermal stability, injector cleanliness, and anti corrosion properties. Meeting the standards in these categories earned them the title premium diesel, although I dont find them to be very worthwhile at all. On the other hand, BP/Amoco make Amoco Premier and Bp diesel supreme, which are only available in a few states. These start off with premium basestocks, are kept separate from #2 the whole way from refinery to tank, and are well worth whatever extra they cost. They are ultra low sulfur and aromatic, 50 cetane minimum, and are additized with everything your powerservice bottle contains already... We don't have any of that stuff in the south(beware many mis-labled pumps), but I miss it, I used to run it up in Cleveland. We have texaco premium diesel down here, which is standard #2 with the same additives as citgo and sunoco but with cetane improver, 45 cetane min. However, the Hess refinery in the virgin islands is very close to us here in FL, so we get generally 48-50 cetane at Hess here. Going to a truck stop does not guarantee any better quality fuel or higher cetane. The high volume=good fuel notion is an old truckers myth. I have fuel analysis reports that easily prove my point.

 

I think it was a BP station where I saw the Premium Diesel sign, I saw it in Atoka, OK on the way to the race track.
I haven't seen any preimum advertised in the Tulsa, Ok area where I live.

I'll look closer at the cetane rating next time I fill up.
The closest diesel to where I live is at a Git-N-Go & I'm not sure where they get their fuel from

 

I run diesel supreme in my trucks and get 12-14MPG pulling and have seen 23 over the road but 18-19 around town
DM01

 

Supreme is available in a very small area, including ohio. I dont think supreme is available in OK, but you can check yourself by contacting the folks at www.bpdirect.com . If you go to that site you can also read about the different fuels they put out, and see their specs.

TheMoose, likely you wont see cetane numbers anywhere on the pump, and the station attendant likely wont know what cetane even is

 

anyone lucky enough to get true bp diesel supreme or amoco premier should certainly enjoy it, and know there are plenty of us out here that are jealous. That stuff is incredible!

Some other companies make similar premium fuels, I believe getty, sprague, countrymark, and a few others market 50 cetane premium fuels in limited areas.

 

[quote author=Lightman link=board=8;threadid=18693;start=0#msg176229 date=1061766171]
anyone lucky enough to get true bp diesel supreme or amoco premier should certainly enjoy it, and know there are plenty of us out here that are jealous. That stuff is incredible!

Some other companies make similar premium fuels, I believe getty, sprague, countrymark, and a few others market 50 cetane premium fuels in limited areas.
[/quote]
O I enjoy it ;D :P
DM01

 

8) I'm moving to Cleveland may 04, so I'll be enjoying it up there with ya soon enough

 

[quote author=Lightman link=board=8;threadid=18693;start=0#msg176227 date=1061766021]
TheMoose, likely you wont see cetane numbers anywhere on the pump, and the station attendant likely wont know what cetane even is
[/quote]
You hit the nail on the head with that comment!!
There was no sticker on the pump & the attendants didn't have a clue to what I was talking about!!