medischi
Member
I just bought a new 2012 Passat TDI and was investigating fuels both on the TDIClub and at the variuos suppliers. I was quite surprised to find a pretty much universal lack of knowledge regarding diesel fuel cetane rating. Whenever one fills a gasoline powered car it is evident on every pump the octane rating of the fuel. I find this not to be true for diesel. The attendants also have no idea. I do believe in Pennsylvania the ULSD minimum cetane rating is 40. I live near Mars (a that is a small town north of Pittsburgh) and it turns that Purvis Brothers run a Pennzoil service station just off RT 228. They are very knowledgeable and have diesel fuel with a cetane rating of 57! The pump atually says 59. I found this after a friend advised me. Purvis webstie simply says the highest cetane fueld available. This was so unusual I needed an explanation so I got the Ergon Refinery analysis it is as follows:
Cetane ASTM D 976: 52 (min) 57 (market)
Ash, wt%ASTM D 482: 0.01 (max)
Cloud point ASTM D 5773: -14 (deg C)
API Gravity (15.6 deg C) ASTM D 1250: 30.0 (min)
Flash Point ASTM D 93: 54 (min) (deg C)
Copper Strip Corrosion, 3hrs at 36 (deg C) ASTM D 130: 1 (max)
The claim for the high cetane is the result of Appalacian crude loaded with parafins (long straight carbon chains). The refining process does not involve cracking columns so consequently low aeromatic content. I am ri=unning the fuel but have noticed no notable increase in mileage. I am currently computing an average of 50mpg with the manual transmission and some paying attention to efficient driving style. Since the car is new it is hard to compare from a performance standpoint. Purvis Brothers also told me that Pennsylvania mandates a minimum of 2% biodiesel in all diesel fuel sold.
Purvis Brothers carries a full line of Pennzoil products and I discovered Pennzoil has Synthetic oil meeting VW 507.00 specification. It is referred to as Platinum Full Synthetic VX. they sell it for $7.60/qt.
Another unusual thing I found at Purvis is that they pump 89 octane non-alcohol fuel. Straight gasoline. this might be interesting to those with 2-cycle equipment.
So for those of us in the Pittsburgh area Purvis Brothers has interesting fuel and lubricant offerings, especially diesel.
Cetane ASTM D 976: 52 (min) 57 (market)
Ash, wt%ASTM D 482: 0.01 (max)
Cloud point ASTM D 5773: -14 (deg C)
API Gravity (15.6 deg C) ASTM D 1250: 30.0 (min)
Flash Point ASTM D 93: 54 (min) (deg C)
Copper Strip Corrosion, 3hrs at 36 (deg C) ASTM D 130: 1 (max)
The claim for the high cetane is the result of Appalacian crude loaded with parafins (long straight carbon chains). The refining process does not involve cracking columns so consequently low aeromatic content. I am ri=unning the fuel but have noticed no notable increase in mileage. I am currently computing an average of 50mpg with the manual transmission and some paying attention to efficient driving style. Since the car is new it is hard to compare from a performance standpoint. Purvis Brothers also told me that Pennsylvania mandates a minimum of 2% biodiesel in all diesel fuel sold.
Purvis Brothers carries a full line of Pennzoil products and I discovered Pennzoil has Synthetic oil meeting VW 507.00 specification. It is referred to as Platinum Full Synthetic VX. they sell it for $7.60/qt.
Another unusual thing I found at Purvis is that they pump 89 octane non-alcohol fuel. Straight gasoline. this might be interesting to those with 2-cycle equipment.
So for those of us in the Pittsburgh area Purvis Brothers has interesting fuel and lubricant offerings, especially diesel.
