Diesel fuel quality

_Brian

Last Friday I missed filling up at my usual stop and got a tank of diesel from our local Tesco. I was really shocked how poorly the jeep ran on the diesel.
Noisy and chugging and sluggish, I was pulling the caravan and at one stage really thought it might stall.
When I had it ran out a bit I filled up at a station in the north and the difference was astounding, much smoother, quieter and more power with the caravan behind. Even herself who wasn't driving could tell it was different.

Some say there is no difference in all diesel but I really find my xtrail runs much better on AppleGreen diesel.

UsedToWait

Living near the border, I choose where to buy diesel carefully.

My last car (2.0hdi) was very particular about diesel - to the point of stalling on fuel from certain stations.

The one previous to that (1.9d) was happy with any oul shïte, to the point of running great on straight vegetable oil - I'd say you could've dumped the contents of the deep fat fryer straight into it and it would have been delighted

_Brian

UsedToWait wrote: »

Living near the border, I choose where to buy diesel carefully.

My last car (2.0hdi) was very particular about diesel - to the point of stalling on fuel from certain stations.

The one previous to that (1.9d) was happy with any oul shïte, to the point of running great on straight vegetable oil - I'd say you could've dumped the contents of the deep fat fryer straight into it and it would have been delighted

Close to the border myself, that's why I'm usually particular where I fill up.

pa990

Green diesel has a lower cetane number than regular diesel (45 v 51)
so if Green has been washed, and even if they add some sort of lubrication, it will still have a lower cetane number, which could result in poor performance/mpg

_Brian

pa990 wrote: »

Green diesel has a lower cetane number than regular diesel (45 v 51)
so if Green has been washed, and even if they add some sort of lubrication, it will still have a lower cetane number, which could result in poor performance/mpg

Yea I avoid Mickey Mouse operations for that reason but was shocked Tesco fuel was so bad in performance.

Can these guys buy different standards of diesel or what could account for the difference.

pa990

_Brian wrote: »

Yea I avoid Mickey Mouse operations for that reason but was shocked Tesco fuel was so bad in performance.

Can these guys buy different standards of diesel or what could account for the difference.

i'm in no way saying that Tesco are knowingly selling suspect fuel.

I was just giving an example of how diesel could give poor performance /mpg

biko

That sounds strange indeed. Tesco would be careful with their deliveries.
Did you go back and let them know?

grogi

_Brian wrote: »

Yea I avoid Mickey Mouse operations for that reason but was shocked Tesco fuel was so bad in performance.

Can these guys buy different standards of diesel or what could account for the difference.

EN 590 itself is already very... how to say it... liberal about the quality of the diesel fuel. For instance the Lubricity - upper limit of 460μm is very high.

_Brian

biko wrote: »

That sounds strange indeed. Tesco would be careful with their deliveries.
Did you go back and let them know?

No I didn't,in principal I don't ship there if I can avoid it and I think I'll just be more careful in future.

So, is it that within the allowed standard some have lower lunrication factors than others, would this account for the engine sounding off and noisy like the injectors were clattering.
I know the xtrail isn't the most refined engine but it made it sound like it was about to bust. Is this why I've read off lads putting non-synthetic two stroke oil into their diesel ?

jmrc

funny, not anywhere near the border but I find i even get better milage with Maxol, then Texaco loads better statoil tesco and apple green would be the poorer IMO...
Driving an 04 Astra 1.7d.

_Brian

jmrc wrote: »

funny, not anywhere near the border but I find i even get better milage with Maxol, then Texaco loads better statoil tesco and apple green would be the poorer IMO...
Driving an 04 Astra 1.7d.

Have to say I think it was a Maxol I filled at in the north. Might try Maxol in the south for a few fills and see how the jeep runs on it.

grogi

_Brian wrote: »

No I didn't,in principal I don't ship there if I can avoid it and I think I'll just be more careful in future.

So, is it that within the allowed standard some have lower lunrication factors than others, would this account for the engine sounding off and noisy like the injectors were clattering.
I know the xtrail isn't the most refined engine but it made it sound like it was about to bust. Is this why I've read off lads putting non-synthetic two stroke oil into their diesel ?

Exactly. 2T oil, although slightly reducing the cetan number, might highly improve the lubrication capabilities of the diesel, which have been slashed down since the low-sulphur fuels are required in the market (acid rains and stuff).

If you ever go that route, make sure to use low ash 2T oil. LM 1052/1189 (0.06%) or Ravenol Scooter 2t (0.03%) are good candidates.

_Brian

I might give it a go and see what if any difference it makes.

Low ash, non synthetic.
I'll google and see what is easily got. Would I find something in halfords maybe ?? How much in a 50l tank ??

CJhaughey

_Brian wrote: »

I might give it a go and see what if any difference it makes.

Low ash, non synthetic.
I'll google and see what is easily got. Would I find something in halfords maybe ?? How much in a 50l tank ??

I have been using 2t in my Diesels for years, did 100k miles in my Avensis and so far 6000 in my Accord.
I use 200ml per ~55 litre refill.
I buy 5 litre bottles of it, good quality semi synth, Fuchs Criss Crossing or lately Berco.
Its much cheaper in a 5l than 1l bottles.
I usually pay around 30-35 for a 5 litre.

grogi

_Brian wrote: »

I might give it a go and see what if any difference it makes.

Low ash, non synthetic.
I'll google and see what is easily got. Would I find something in halfords maybe ?? How much in a 50l tank ??

1:300-1:200 - so for 50l around 200ml. It's not pharmacy though

The Bishop Basher

Same with their petrol.

I had an old 1978 VW Kombi that drove perfectly into a Tesco's filling station but spluttered and coughed it's way out the other side. It continued to run like that till I got more petrol in and she was back running beautifully...i've never gone near Tesco's for fuel since.