Fuel Recommendation Questions

[sailorman]

I post this here after posting it in the wrong forum. Sorry.

Manual for my B2320 says use fuel with a cetane rating of 45 minimum or higher. All the fuel pumps I have seen are either marked 40 minimum or are not marked at all. Questions: 1) What is the true meaning of cetane rating ? 2) What are, if any, negatives in burning fuel lower than 45 ( I most definitely don 't want to trash my new tractor ) ? 3) Is it possible I just haven 't been to the right fuel station yet ? I live in the U.S.A. I 'm totally confused about diesel fuels in general when it comes to manual recommendations.

 

[whistlepig]

Diesel fuel is either #1 diesel or #2 diesel. It's that simple. #2 diesel is thicker and will do more work per gallon. #1 diesel is thinner and is better for cold weather. Diesel's aren't all that picky about fuel. They used strained french fry oil in England. If you flip your tractor upside down and turn the key off it may purr merrily for a while until it burns all the engine oil out of your crankcase. Keep your fuel as clean as you can and your diesel will be very happy.

 

[Hoosier Hay Man]

There is a difference in Diesel fuel quality. Poor quality can in time lead to pump issues and poor economy. This web site should help you understand the diesel fuel numbering sytem.

Here is a link from Country Mark Co-Ops. CountryMark

In Indiana we have access to Premium Diesels through Co-Ops filling station network or you can have home delivery if you have a bulk tank. We have tractors that are over 35 years old that have only burnt Co-op fuels and have never had a fuel sytem issue. Some 7000hrs.

So yes fuel can make a difference.

 

[whistlepig]

There is a difference in Diesel fuel quality. Poor quality can in time lead to pump issues and poor economy. This web site should help you understand the diesel fuel numbering sytem.

Here is a link from Country Mark Co-Ops. CountryMark

In Indiana we have access to Premium Diesels through Co-Ops filling station network or you can have home delivery if you have a bulk tank. We have tractors that are over 35 years old that have only burnt Co-op fuels and have never had a fuel sytem issue. Some 7000hrs.

So yes fuel can make a difference.

I guess I came across as running any type of sewage through a diesel that one could buy. That was not my intent. I have always bought BP diesel and keep my fuel very clean. The injectors will not tolerate dirt. I don't buy enough fuel to justify home delivery from Country Mark. Country Mark is good stuff.

 

[WH401]

Cetane is the measure of starting and warm up properties of diesel fuel, so for example, when the engine is cold it will be a lot easier for it to perform with a higher cetane fuel until it warms up. That said, any diesel fuel that you get from your local station or co-op will do fine. Just run an additive such as "Power Service" (the white bottle) to added back the lubricity that was lost in the new ULSD (Ultra Low Sulfur Diesel) when it was switched from LSD (Low Sulfur Diesel), as well as to protect against the fuel gelling in cold weather (when diesel fuel reaches a certain cold temperature it will start to solidify, there by curtailing your tractor use until you un-gel it, running an additive will prevent this.). Not to mention, diesel additives typically increase the cetane rating so that would be another reason to run it.

 

[sailorman]

That said, any diesel fuel that you get from your local station or co-op will do fine. Just run an additive such as "Power Service" (the white bottle)

I looked up "power service" and noticed they have 2 products in white bottle. I think this one, Diesel Fuel Supplementｮ +Cetane Boostｮ, is the one you mean. Correct ? Am I likely to find it in an auto supplies store ?

Also thanks to all for the great replies !! Cleared a lot of my confusion.

 

[sailorman]

Answers spawn questions so just one more ( for now ). I get a buff of black smoke when I start engine and then no more smoke while runnin'. Is this normal or is something bad wrong ?

 

[WH401]

I looked up "power service" and noticed they have 2 products in white bottle. I think this one, Diesel Fuel Supplementï½® +Cetane Boostï½®, is the one you mean. Correct ? Am I likely to find it in an auto supplies store ?

Also thanks to all for the great replies !! Cleared a lot of my confusion.

Yes, the "Power Service - Diesel Fuel Supplement + Cetane Boost" is what you want. That particular product contains the anti-gel properties and it can be run regularly all the time. Yes, you should be able to find it at an auto parts store. I regularly buy it from Walmart because their usually cheaper, but I know places like Autozone and Advance Auto carry it as well.

Answers spawn questions so just one more ( for now ). I get a buff of black smoke when I start engine and then no more smoke while runnin'. Is this normal or is something bad wrong ?

Nope, everything is fine. On our tractors we have mechanical fuel pumps that are powered by a gear running off the engine. When you turn the tractor off, the engine doesn't immediately stop, and it still turns for a few rotations. Because the pumps are mechanical, they still pump fuel during this rotation and this causes a small bit of diesel to be injected into the cylinder, but it doesn't get burned because the engine has been turned off. When you go to turn the engine back on it spews this unburnt fuel out the exhaust resulting in the puff of black smoke, so no worries.

 

[sailorman]

Thanks WH401 !! Every time ya answer my questions my mind becomes more at peace with my tractor. I 'm kinda an oldster, but I have never dealt with diesel. I 'm an old dog learnin' new tricks.

 

[WH401]

Thanks WH401 !! Every time ya answer my questions my mind becomes more at peace with my tractor. I 'm kinda an oldster, but I have never dealt with diesel. I 'm an old dog learnin' new tricks.

Hey anytime, glad I could help.