diesel deficiencies?

Submitted: Monday, Aug 13, 2007 at 22:49

ThreadID: 48683 Views:3095 Replies:2 FollowUps:6

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AndrewX

I visited my mechanic the other day. He was telling me about the poor fuel economy he and several people he knew were getting. He was blaming it on the diesel, reckons the quality has dropped off. I'm not too sure how my economy is going, but I have noticed the vehicle is lacking a bit of power. I have to put the foot down a lot more to get it up and running. Has anybody else out there noticed their diesel consumption/ performance getting worse recently for no apparent reason?

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Reply By: wheeleybin - Tuesday, Aug 14, 2007 at 06:48

Tuesday, Aug 14, 2007 at 06:48

Crap diesel is correct.
Last Wednesday I set off from the midnorth coast NSW for the Gold Coast towing a 1.36T Trailer with a full tank of Caltex and I refueled at United Woolgoolga .I did 423Ks and it took 63Litres to fill .
I then only just made the Gold Coast City Marina with 320Ks on the clock.

When I refueled on friday it took 76 Litres.

That is 100Ks less for 13Litres more fuel and the run North from Woolgoolga is the easier part of the run.

Coming back on friday weighing 2.5 T on the trailer I fueld before Woolgoolga at a Shell truck stop and it took 63.5 Lt for 320 Ks and then got back to base on that tank .

It proves to me that cheaper fuel does not necessarily mean cheaper driving.

United your fuel is crap and you have lost me.

AnswerID: 257160

Follow Up By: Kev M (NSW) - Tuesday, Aug 14, 2007 at 15:31

Tuesday, Aug 14, 2007 at 15:31

That United has always been crap the Outlaws (live in Woolgoolga) refuse to fill up there anymore as well. They now get it in Coffs Harbour or Grafton.

Kev

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FollowupID: 518378

Reply By: Graeme - Tuesday, Aug 14, 2007 at 09:26

Tuesday, Aug 14, 2007 at 09:26

AndrewX
There is always the possibility that the servo has mixed Kerosene with the Diesel that you purchased. Kero has a lower energy density than diesel [ie lower cetane index]. It also does not attract excise and can potentially increase their profit per litre as it does not have the same wholesale cost.
It is not easy to tell the difference between mixtures of kero/diesel and straight diesel but they are there when properly tested.
Kero has about half the viscosity of diesel and any mixture when tested for viscosity will show up very quickly.
The density of Kero is between 0.785kg/L and 0.800 at 15 C while Diesel is between 0.820kg/l and 0.850 at the same temperature, so that's another way to pick up a difference.
Colour differences are not reliable and neither is odour.
But of course the quickest way is when you see you do not get the same power development, which is what you seem to be seeing.

AnswerID: 257176

Follow Up By: Member - Kiwi Kia - Tuesday, Aug 14, 2007 at 10:13

Tuesday, Aug 14, 2007 at 10:13

I have no idea if servos do do this or not but does anyone know about the legality of it ? Why all fuels are not of a minimum standard beats me.

FollowupID: 518322

Follow Up By: Member - Matt Mu (Perth-WA) - Tuesday, Aug 14, 2007 at 10:55

Tuesday, Aug 14, 2007 at 10:55

Kiwi there is a very strict minimum standard but there isnt a minimum standard as to what the retailers do with it after its delevered.

As Andrew has pointed out....the mixing of fuel with sub standard fuels is the major worry.....MORE THAN THE BIODIESEL DEBATE!!!

This has been going on for 20 years and many reported cases but when a servo gets accused of tampering with the fuel...they blame the supplier and no one ever gets prosecuted.

So very hard to police or prosecute and we foot the bill when there is a major failure! Even more important nowdays with the High Pressure CRD and electronic pumps. We lower the viscosity of the fuel with catestrophic results.

I wonder how many failures are blamed on B20 when it was kero that caused the damage and power loss!!

Matt.

FollowupID: 518329

Follow Up By: Member - Kiwi Kia - Tuesday, Aug 14, 2007 at 15:13

Tuesday, Aug 14, 2007 at 15:13

Thanks Matt, if there is kero in the diesel do you know if you can you smell it in the exhaust ?

FollowupID: 518373

Follow Up By: Member - Matt Mu (Perth-WA) - Tuesday, Aug 14, 2007 at 17:15

Tuesday, Aug 14, 2007 at 17:15

Honestly Kiwi I dont believe you can tell from smell (exhaust or Pump), emulsion, visual or anything its just buyer beware. How often do you fill a small container to check the look of the fuel before you pump it into your tank....we can only trust the supplier.

The only smell is the Stink of the people peddling this stuff. One poor owner-operator driver in Melb was a drought stricken farmer trying to earn enough money to feed his family.

Left the family on the farm while he went off driving and ended up stuck with a $14000 engine rebuild instead. All over the news a few years ago and no-one could be held responsible....no help for the farmer.

Sickens me to hear of it and you are NOT assured good fuel by using the big name brands...this station was Yellow and Green!!!

I only use B20....I stick by the belief that the strict regulations on Bio and the public pressure to make sure it doesnt harm peoples vehicles would scare any operator into ensuring they 'toe the line'.

Well thats my hope and belief haha might be all in vane but 20k km on only Gull B20 and the Rodeo has never run better!!!

Goodluck

Matt.

FollowupID: 518386