CETANE ratings in Canada Eh?

NarfBLAST

Top Post Dawg
Joined
Mar 3, 2002
Location
Waterdown, Ontario, Canada
TDI
2001 Golf 5MT
Anyone notice that it is hard to find CETANE ratings at filling stations in Canada? I decided to email some companies and post the replies here. My understanding is that the minimum requirement in Canada is a cetane 40. Anyone else ever pay attention to cetane?

I was inspired to do this research after reading BleachedBora's thread on fuel economy: http://forums.tdiclub.com/showthread.php?t=200694

Here is the summary as of the last edited date below:

CETANE Ratings in Canada

Claim to EXCEED the minimum requirements:

45 - 52 Petro Canada
45 - 50 Sunoco Gold
45 - ?? Shell V-Power
45 - 50+ Autogas/Cascadia Biofuels (British Columbia)
42 - 45 Husky's DieselMax
41 - 43.5 Red River Co-op Co-op EP3000 Summer cetane is 46.5, winter is 44.0.



Claim to meet the minimum requirements:

40 Sunoco non-Gold / Pioneer
40 Pioneer (they buy Sunoco non-Gold)
40 Shell non-V-Power
40 Flying J
40 Ultramar
40 Irving


 
Last edited:

oEo

Veteran Member
Joined
Jan 18, 2004
Location
Lancaster | PA
TDI
'04 Golf TDi PD ::Indigo Blue::
NarfBLAST said:
Anyone else ever pay attention to cetane?
I'm pretty sure the VW Manual for the PD engine states minimum 49 cetane. I use Amsoils Cetane Boost and Total's Diecyl Plus.
 
Last edited:

NarfBLAST

Top Post Dawg
Joined
Mar 3, 2002
Location
Waterdown, Ontario, Canada
TDI
2001 Golf 5MT
Sunoco

regarding cetane at Sunoco in Canada:

info@sunocomail.ca said:
Thank you for your email. In answer to your questions:

Ultra low sulphur diesel has a minimum cetane rating of 40
Ultra low sulphur Gold Diesel has a minimum cetane rating of 45
For your reference, we have highlighted some key points regarding both the immediate and long term benefits of our Sunoco Gold Diesel for your convenience.
Immediate Benefits:
· Gold Diesel has "higher cetane rating", therefore our customers will get quicker starts (especially in cold weather) and smoother running engine with less smoke and emissions. Sunoco Gold Diesel is guaranteed to have a 45 min. cetane number and often exceeds that by 1-5 cetane numbers.
· Gold Diesel has a water de-hazer and a de-icer, which helps to prevent water freeze-ups, especially in really cold weather.
Long Term Benefits:
· Gold Diesel has a great detergent which will keep engine parts clean, especially fuel injectors!!! Clean injectors are necessary for maximum power and fuel economy.
· Gold Diesel has a lubricity improver to provide added lubrication to engine parts (versus the base diesel product), such as fuel pumps.
· Gold Diesel has corrosion inhibitors and stabilizers to keep decomposed fuel from fouling or attacking engine fuel system components ………this can reduce need for maintenance over the life of a diesel engine.
Please feel free to contact me directly at the following email address or at either number noted below should you require further information.
Best Regards,
Jenny Stathopoulos
Customer Relations Co-ordinator
416-733-7423 / 1-888-858-7242
 

NarfBLAST

Top Post Dawg
Joined
Mar 3, 2002
Location
Waterdown, Ontario, Canada
TDI
2001 Golf 5MT
Petro Canada

regarding cetane at PetroCanada...
custsvs@petro-canada.ca said:
Thank you for contacting Petro-Canada online.

Current cetane of Petro-Canada diesel in Ontario ranges from approximately 47 - 52, depending on various refining factors.

Regards
Nazimah Boganee
Petro-Canada
Telephone 1-800-668-0220
Facsimile 1-800-837-1228
 
Last edited:

NarfBLAST

Top Post Dawg
Joined
Mar 3, 2002
Location
Waterdown, Ontario, Canada
TDI
2001 Golf 5MT
oEo said:
I'm pretty sure the VW Manual for the PD engine states minimum 49 cetane. I use Amsoils Cetane Boost and Total's Diecyl Plus.
Yeah, good point... running out to my car to check the manual now...

edit: Found the pages on Fuels in my 2001 Golf manual and in the gasoline section it talks about octane but the diesel section just says "Use No.2 Diesel, do not use home heating oil or gasoline" and then it talks about low temperature operation but that is it. So is cetane rating just not important in the VE engine or what?
 
Last edited:

blizzak

Veteran Member
Joined
Oct 7, 2007
Location
Waterloo, Ontario
TDI
2004 Jetta TDI Sport Edition, Grey, 446K KM
Can't wait to see what you hear back from truck town terminals....I typically fill up only there if I can plan it that way.
 

NarfBLAST

Top Post Dawg
Joined
Mar 3, 2002
Location
Waterdown, Ontario, Canada
TDI
2001 Golf 5MT
blizzak said:
Can't wait to see what you hear back from truck town terminals....I typically fill up only there if I can plan it that way.
Great to hear that! Have you opened an account with them yet so you can unlock the pump yourself 24hours? Its free, and they send you an invoice monthly... if you want they can put that invoice directly on your credit card automatically each month and they send the receipt with the bill. Thats what I do. I LOVE truck town!

Will email them again and ask these two questions: cetane rating for dino diesel and availability of 100% biodiesel.
 
Last edited:

NarfBLAST

Top Post Dawg
Joined
Mar 3, 2002
Location
Waterdown, Ontario, Canada
TDI
2001 Golf 5MT
BioDiesel at Trucktown this summer...

I got this reply from Mike at Truck Town Terminals in Milton

TruckTownTerminals.com said:
As to B100 the verdict is still out. We have decided to supply B50 at our pump #1 for the summer and are hopefull that the price will continue to match Diesel.
Regards Mike
also

TruckTownTerminals.com said:
Hi Paul I have no specs as of yet because I still cannot find bio at a reasonable price. At this point there will be no B100 this season. I will let you know if something changes.
thx
I asked again about CETANE... maybe truckers just never ask about the CETANE rating?
 

NB_TDi

Vendor
Joined
Mar 16, 2008
Location
NB, Canada █♣█
TDI
2014 Jetta SE
I asked Shell a few months back about their Ultra Diesel. They said it has a min cetane rating of 45....and some other goodies.

I always add PowerService anyway :)
 

NarfBLAST

Top Post Dawg
Joined
Mar 3, 2002
Location
Waterdown, Ontario, Canada
TDI
2001 Golf 5MT
Thanks! That reminds me to send an email to Shell because I remember seeing that they offer two grades of diesel and they must have different ratings.

Please let me know if there are any other companies in Canada I should email! Or, if anyone would like to email and post the replies that is cool too, I've had no luck with web pages... its as if nobody cares?
 
Last edited:

NarfBLAST

Top Post Dawg
Joined
Mar 3, 2002
Location
Waterdown, Ontario, Canada
TDI
2001 Golf 5MT
CETANE at Truck Town Terminals

I give up...
The min rating for regular diesel is 40. They will not be exact but will supply me a spec sheet.

-----Original Message-----
Sent: Wednesday, May 07, 2008 7:55 PM
To: Cyndi
Subject: Re: bio

Hi Cindy,

Can you tell me the CETANE rating of your regular diesel?
 

fuzzywulf

Member
Joined
Sep 30, 2007
Location
Edmonton
TDI
06 Jetta
Flying J sent me this:


I do not have the cetane rating. The government issued the rating needs to
be between a certain range. Our fuel always falls into the required range
but is never guaranteed to be a specific number.

Kathryn Norris
Administrative Office Assistant
Diesel Fuel Marketing
Flying J. Corp.
 

NarfBLAST

Top Post Dawg
Joined
Mar 3, 2002
Location
Waterdown, Ontario, Canada
TDI
2001 Golf 5MT
CETANE at Shell

Received this today, sorry I had to cut and paste the brocure that they sent, I've asked them if they have an online version. Glossy overview of the additives in their ultra diesel. I think I would rather just run 20% bio myself.
Thank you for your interest in our Shell Canada products.

At present our diesel products all meet, or exceed, the Canadian Government's regulated CGSB (Canadian General Standards Boards) spec
which is a minimum Cetane of 40.
Both the standard pump ULSD (Ultra Low Sulphur Diesel) and the premium UltraDiesel.
Both have the same base ULSD product, with a maximum of 15ppm of sulphur, as well as the UltraDiesel , which has a premium diesel additive package.
The UltraDiesel info is attached for your perusal.

I trust this answer your question.
Regards,
Therese

Shell Canada Products
Lubricants & Fuels Technical Help Desk

Try it.
Be convinced.
New
UltraDiesel
Means
Ultra
Performance.
Here are some of the technical reasons why the
fuel additive package in UltraDiesel is right
for your engine.
Detergent
Maintains proper spray patterns in fuel injectors
and keeps them clean. This may improve engine
performance, reduce emissions and increase
mileage. The additive package passed the Cummins
L-10 detergency test with a “Superior” rating.
Demulsifier
Prevents the formation of water/fuel emulsions. Helps
prevent fuel system corrosion and filter plugging.
Stabilizer
Reduces sediment formation with fuel aging which
helps prevent premature fuel-filter plugging.
Corrosion Inhibitor
Protects all ferrous-based parts in the fuel system.
Lubricity Additive
Enhances fuel lubricity to further reduce premature
wear of the fuel injection system.
De-icer
Prevents the formation of ice in the fuel tank and
lines in cold weather. The additive package does
not contain methanol (alcohol).
The additive package in UltraDiesel has been
tested rigourously to provide the above benefits and
to be fully compatible with elastomers and filters.
It contains no harmful alcohols and is ashless.
Choose the fuel that means optimum performance,
lower maintenance costs and longer engine life.
Choose UltraDiesel at Shell, Turbo and Payless sites.
For more information, please call
1-800-661-1600.
Perform At
Your Engine’s Best
UltraDiesel delivers optimum
pulling power from your vehicle.
For as long as your engine lasts.
And in any weather. When you’ve
got UltraDiesel, you’ve got better
cold-weather starting and performance.
New UltraDiesel
contains an additive package
which improves performance
and protects your engine.
And it’s all pre-mixed —
you don’t have to add a thing.
We Put Something Special
In The Fuel So You Get
Something Special Out Of It.
Helping Your Engine
Helps The Environment
Not only is UltraDiesel better
for your engine but better for the
environment too. It keeps your engine
clean, resulting in less black smoke
and emissions. That’s another reason
why it’s the right choice.
Protect Your Engine
And Investment
With UltraDiesel, you can count on
fewer problems, lower maintenance
costs and longer engine life.
UltraDiesel ensures this because it…
• keeps your fuel system and
injectors clean and lubricated
• removes and prevents deposits
which worsen fuel economy
• inhibits corrosion
• stabilizes fuel
• protects against fuel-line freeze
 

BleachedBora

Vendor , w/Business number
Joined
Oct 16, 2003
Location
Gresham, Oregon
TDI
'81 DMC-12, '15 GL350 CDI 275 hp/448 tq - '81 Caddy CJAA, '05 E320 CDI 250hp/450 tq, '23 ID4 AWD Pro S Plus
Hey guys, thanks for the Petrocanada information, I added it to my list. I only add information when I have either talked personally on the phone with them or I see a letter type format like what you guys have.
Cheers,
-BB
 

NarfBLAST

Top Post Dawg
Joined
Mar 3, 2002
Location
Waterdown, Ontario, Canada
TDI
2001 Golf 5MT
Updated post #1 with a summary of the cetane ratings posted in this thread.

I tried to send an email to ESSO but their web page isn't working. I recall it wasn't working last time I tried either. I sent an email to some random addresses @esso.ca (help, info, customerservice) maybe I will get a response.

Emailed info@pioneer.ca...
 
Last edited:

NarfBLAST

Top Post Dawg
Joined
Mar 3, 2002
Location
Waterdown, Ontario, Canada
TDI
2001 Golf 5MT
Here is the link to Husky's info on their DieselMax product: http://www.huskyenergy.com/ourproducts/canada/diesel/

The above link doesn't have Cetane info but it includes email address. I've only been sending emails to companies that I might personally be able to buy fuel from. I'm open to submissions of emails from any companies in Canada and I'd be happy to add them to the list in post#1 but I'm not interested in contacting every single fuel retailer in Canada personally.
 
Last edited:

seftonm

Veteran Member
Joined
Mar 2, 2004
Location
Winnipeg, Manitoba
TDI
2010 Golf
Wow, that's surprisingly low. I have a membership at RR Co-op and fill there whenever I can. My last tank of Petro-Canada a few years ago wasn't so good, but maybe I will try them again just to see what happens.
 

Wildfire

Well-known member
Joined
Jan 9, 2009
Location
Hamilton, Ontario
TDI
2005 Jetta GLS TDI
I got a response from Pioneer about their diesel.

Mr. Gagliano,

Firstly, let me thank you for being a Pioneer customer.

The simple answer to your question is that the diesel fuel we buy from
Sunoco comes out of one of their Ontario terminals (London, Hamilton or
north Toronto). The quality is exactly the same as the 'regular' diesel
they supply to their own Sunoco branded sites. It is not the same as their
premium 'Gold' diesel.

If you have any more questions, do not hesitate to call or email me.


Regards,

Vic Holdsworth
Senior Vice President,
Pioneer Petroleums LP
www.pioneer.ca

From: Michael Gagliano

To: info@pioneer.ca

Date: 03/13/2009 07:17 PM

Subject: Cetane rating of diesel






Hello,

What is the cetane rating of the diesel fuel you sell? Also I know your
website says your fuel comes from Sunoco, does this apply to diesel as
well? Is your diesel comparable to Sunoco's Gold Diesel or regular?

Thank you




They have their Senior VP answering emails? lol

Looks like I'll continue to buy Sunoco Gold diesel. the savings at pioneer aren't worth it.
 
Last edited:

NarfBLAST

Top Post Dawg
Joined
Mar 3, 2002
Location
Waterdown, Ontario, Canada
TDI
2001 Golf 5MT
Nice one! Too bad they could not answer a simple question, "What is the cetane rating?" Maybe you could reply back and ask just one more time, to give them the benefit of the doubt, maybe the missed the fact that you were specifically asking about cetane? I will bet that they do not really know what the cetane rating is.

P.S. Can we edit out the contact info (phone numbers, email addresses) from this thread to make an effort comply with the requests for confidentiality?

P.P.S. Widfir3, oops, I just read your email more carefully, they are saying it is exactly the same as Sunoco Regular. Still, they should be able to come up with a number or at least quote the standard "40 Minimum".
 
Last edited:

bud_128

Member
Joined
Mar 18, 2009
Location
Moncton NB
TDI
2014 Jetta Tdi
been doing a little checking around in eastern Canada and so far have only came up with a rating for ultramar. same as many... min 40 but nothing more specific.
 

BleachedBora

Vendor , w/Business number
Joined
Oct 16, 2003
Location
Gresham, Oregon
TDI
'81 DMC-12, '15 GL350 CDI 275 hp/448 tq - '81 Caddy CJAA, '05 E320 CDI 250hp/450 tq, '23 ID4 AWD Pro S Plus
At least in my experience most places are in the 40 range, especially if it's a truck stop or a "budget" filling station. Only the higher end places like Sunoco, Shell, Petro Canada etc... will add additives in addition to the minimum additives added at the refinery. If you stick to one of the three above listed places your fuel system/injection pump will last a lot longer.
-BB
 

Louis_TDI

Veteran Member
Joined
Mar 28, 2008
Location
Gatineau QC
TDI
2003 Golf Gls
silverbox said:
Narf it would be interesting to see the Imperial oil and Irving oil cetane numbers...good luck with your research.
I agree since Irving is basically the biggest provider of diesel for the Maritimes
 

Sweeps

Veteran Member
Joined
Jul 24, 2005
Location
Orillia, Ontario, Canada
TDI
None currently. MK4/5/6 Jetta's in the past.
Petro-Canada seems to have high cetane ratings compared to the other "regular" diesel.
Everyone on here seems to not use it though.
Tried it for the past couple tanks in my car, and it seems to be running a little smoother. Mileage was a bit up as well (taking into consideration the slightly warmer temps). I'm going to continue using it I think.
 

Louis_TDI

Veteran Member
Joined
Mar 28, 2008
Location
Gatineau QC
TDI
2003 Golf Gls
Sweeps said:
Petro-Canada seems to have high cetane ratings compared to the other "regular" diesel.
Everyone on here seems to not use it though.
Tried it for the past couple tanks in my car, and it seems to be running a little smoother. Mileage was a bit up as well (taking into consideration the slightly warmer temps). I'm going to continue using it I think.
I usually use Petro Canada since there are usually allot cheaper then ultramar and irving
 
Top