Oil & Fuel What are the best brands of diesel fuel?

[Mosey]

I've been using Biodiesel from the local Co-op for about 6 months now, but the tractor doesn't seem to have as much power, so I want experiment with other brands. There's a Citgo station next to where I work, so it would be the most convenient place to get diesel. Is it a good brand? What brands do you use and what ones do you stay away from and why?

 

[kevinj]

I have run Amoco Premier for about 30 years. If you check Chevron and BP Amoco you will find good descriptions of the premium diesel products. A lot of people use furnace oil or cheap diesel and add treatment to it.

 

[MikePA]

Instead of looking at the brand, I'd look at the traffic the station gets and how much diesel they sell. The more they sell, the fresher the fuel, the less likely water will condense in their tanks and the sooner the winter additives are available in the fall.

 

[MadReferee]

In many areas of the country every brand of diesel comes from the same storage tank at the tank farm. Brand A may put additives in the fuel but it is done when the tank truck is loaded. Same for gasoline.

If you live in New England most fuel comes from the Boston/Revere storage facility. Its all the same.

Now off road diesel may be a little different. My local supplier has theirs trucked in from somewhere in upstate New York or even Canada.

 

[kevinj]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( every brand of diesel comes from the same storage tank )</font>

This was one reason I like the Amoco Premium. When I worked for the Amoco distributor that fuel was always in seperate tank at the terminal.

 

[carluman]

Nothing against Biodiesel as it is great for our Ag economy and environment but Soy diesel doesn't produce as much heat as standard diesel. I'd say give any non-Biodiesel a try and see what you think. As for brands I have no idea.

 

[jayhawkRoy]

Have used Phillips 66 off road diesel almost exclusively (that's who sells it around here and closest to my house). Also used Citgo and Amoco road diesel and can't tell any difference. I do believe in getting diesel from relatively high volume sales outlets, not from just any retailer.

 

[rambler]

How it's handled & how long it sits around is a lot more important than any particular brand, as others are saying. More about the local vendor than about the label on the sign.

--->PAul

 

[Egon]

It may also depend on the refinery. The type and efficiency of their process equipment have a lot to do with final product quality.

Egon

 

[_RaT_]

In California, we have 13 refinerys. Some in Southern California, some up here. All must refine low sulfur diesel. My understanding is that Chevron only allows Chevron products at their stations. The rest be it Shell, Union 76, ARCO etc.,will get it from the lowest refinery. I was asking a fella delivering fuel one day about the process and this is how he explained it.

It does seem that there is sometimes a difference in the quality of diesel only noticeable to me by the miles I get per tank(s) full driving the same route. My Kubota seems to burn the same amount regarldless of the refinery. My fuel consumption goes up when I mow, down with loader work.