cetane levels

[mmalluck]

Anyone have any luck finding the cetane levels of fuel down around these parts? I live in Savannah and havn't had any luck looking in Georgia or S. Carolina.

 

[dieseldorf]

Worry about cetane levels if you're having cold weather starting issues.

 

[mmalluck]

Doesn't higher certane levels lead to better mpg and lower soot levels?

The car wants 49. Most likely it's 42 around here, but I have no way to know.

 

[poppadoc]

cetane

Look for Hess station thier fuel is 45 cetane and then buy some additives to bring it the # you want .

1997 tdi passat sedan
2005 tdi passat wagon

 

[dieseldorf]

Doesn't higher certane levels lead to better mpg and lower soot levels?

No. Some will argue that using a pure cetane booster enhances the burn process. It would be hard to prove in the real world in terms of "reducing soot".

Try to buy the best possible fuel you can find in your area. That addresses 95% of any possible concerns you could have.

 

[mmalluck]

Try to buy the best possible fuel you can find in your area. That addresses 95% of any possible concerns you could have.

I guess that leaves the question of what is really the best.

At my immediate disposal I have:
Enmark
Pilot
Shell
El Cheapo

• Pilot and Shell are right off the free way and have lots of diesel traffic.

• Tried Enmark, made the car run rough so I won't do that again.

• The car seems to like Pilot. Havn't been to shell yet.

• Questioning the integrety of a company with the name "El Cheapo".

Anyone else have any suggestions?

 

[VWannabe]

In the absence of any known fuel quality, go with the places that at least have a lot of diesel traffic, which would indicate fresher fuel. Also, higher traffic should reduce any chance of water or contaminants in the fuel, both due to increased turnover and, hopefully, to increased vigilance from the station. If a lot of trucks are fueling up and the fuel causes problems, you can bet the station will hear about it and fix it. OTR truck engines are NOT cheap! If you can find a Hess locally, then they are also a good source of fuel. It is supposed to be a minimum of 45 cetane (company policy).

 

[vwjonnyd]

• Questioning the integrety of a company with the name "El Cheapo".

I believe all the El Cheapo's are Shell stations.

This may be out of the way for you but have you tried the EL Cheapo/Shell station at I-95 and Highway 204? That's the only place I buy my fuel locally. They get a lot of truck traffic so the fuel should be fresh. I drive over 600 miles a week so I have been there enough times.

As for the Hess stations, there aren't any around these parts.

Jonathan