Any downside of winterblend in the summer?

[woodlandfarms]

I see these issues that people have with stored summer diesel blends causing winter issues. Is there any issue of winter blend in the hot summer?

 

[ovrszd]

I blend 50/50 Number 1 and Number 2 for use in our road grader in Winter months. My goal is avoid gelling. I am told by our supplier that my blend produces less HP because of lower Cetane rating in Number 1. They say you will notice a power drop. They also say that the engine will run hotter under heavy load with that blend. I've noticed a slight decrease in power but minimal. I've not ran any of my blend into hot summer weather, I've always used it up and switched back to Number 2 by then.

I'm not sure what you are refering to when you say winter blend?? If you are talking about retail pump fuel that claims to be winterized, I don't think there would be any adverse affects. It will only be marginally winterized by a low blend of number 1 or by an additive to lower the gel point a few degrees so they can tell you it's winterized....

 

[Diamondpilot]

It's all I have ever used. I get all my fuel in the fall, winter blend, and use it all summer. No issues. I buy 200 gallons at a time and add Howse to it when delivered.

Chris

 

[JoeL4330]

less power ...less energy density in winter blend; otherwise, no problems ...except that storing fuel over time may invite water via condensation in a less-than-full tank

 

[Red Horse]

As long as your "winter fuel" is not a kero blend, no problem using it all year. And even if it is a kero blend, the only issue is you are giving away power/economy as the kero has less BTU content. The only other consideration is you do have to be sensitive to condensation. Also, diesel that is kept for a long time will tend to darken-which is only an issue from a marketing point of view if you have a customer who gets turned off if his fuel is not..."clear and bright".

 

[Monster5601]

"There is a lot of misunderstanding about Winter Blended Diesel Fuel, what it is, and what it can do."

Winter Blending of Diesel Fuels

 

[Red Horse]

"There is a lot of misunderstanding about Winter Blended Diesel Fuel, what it is, and what it can do."

Winter Blending of Diesel Fuels

That is a good reference. It was put together for 06/07 season so it is 7 years old. Not much has changed other than the advent of bio diesel which some suppliers have added as a component to their diesel. IMO, that only makes the winter operability issues worse.

 

[radioman]

Good article though. The way I see it is that with ultra low sulfur that needs a winter blend will drive the prices up with ULSD #1. Perhaps this is why there are issues with diesel bought in middle of winter at a local gas station that did not add ULSD #1 to #2. I guess the only way to tell is ask the seller for specs and for those who are honest will give out the info. They are also saying that kerosene/jet can no longer be added to ULSD #2.

So burning a ULSD winter blend of 1 and 2 is just more expensive in summer and there is less power in larger engines that can be noticed without summer cetane boosters additives. The way I see it is that if you burn alot of fuel, I'd time it so you have fresh winter blend in fall thru spring and switch to summer for summer for more power and better lubrication without additives. If you cannot do this, Perhaps additives in summer will be your only freind, but it will increase your costs overall. Its a choice you need to make that fits your style, we cant decide for you.

 

[coobie]

less power ...less energy density in winter blend; otherwise, no problems ...except that storing fuel over time may invite water via condensation in a less-than-full tank

+1 from what I have read.