Is there a "standard" Cetane rating?

[B8FISH]

Is there a \"standard\" Cetane rating?

The owners manual for a JD 2520 states--Cetane number of 45 minimum. Cetane number greater than 50 is preferred, especially when temperatures are below -20°C (-4°F) or elevations above 1500 m (5000 ft).
Seems like the number on the pumps is usually 40. I guess this means you need to add the right amount of PS to get the cetane number you (or JD) want, but it got me to thinking /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif

 

[HGM]

Re: Is there a \"standard\" Cetane rating?

Yep, I'm really surprised they put the rating on your pumps. Around here its pot luck.... /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif Anyhow, 50 is what you really want. This is why most guys(including myself) will recomend PS or another cetane boosting fuel conditioner. You will usually notice better idle quality, less noise, less smoke, easier starting and extended fuel economy with more power. All of this depends on what is actually in the pumps, diesel is not very well controled yet. This should change in July when the ULSD comes out, things should get more consistent.

 

[B8FISH]

Re: Is there a \"standard\" Cetane rating?

Yep--I have been using the PS for all of its benefits, but now I'm wondering how much is too much--If I believe the pump and it says 40, that means I need to bump up the cetane by 10--thats alot of PS!

 

[MadReferee]

Re: Is there a \"standard\" Cetane rating?

According to my fuel supplier, the high cetane premium off road diesel that he has specially trucked in has a cetane rating of 47 and that is the highest he can get. Normal off road or on road fuel has a cetane rating of 40-42.

As usual for diesel fuel, the ratings may vary depending on the part of the country that you live in. The numbers above pertain to the northeast.

 

[SkyPup]

Re: Is there a \"standard\" Cetane rating?

California and Texas both have 50 cetane #2 ULSD diesel because it is mandated.

In the NorthEast there are a couple of ULSD outlets around Boston, Prague Energy is one.

Adding 2-Ethylhexyl Nitrate to 40-42 cetane #2 fuel will boost the ignition level about 3-4 cetane units maximum, adding more will not do any good, ie adding twice as much will not raise it any further......

If you can get British Petroleum (BP) Supreme #2 road diesel (which is what I run year 'round) it is 50 cetane.

Any other source will be the normal 40-45 cetane.


When ULSD is mandated later on this summer, the average cetane ratings will be around 47 or so, due to the improved refining methods used to produce ULSD. Adding PowerSerivce to ULSD will get you 50+ cetane high quality diesel fuel. /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif

 

[B8FISH]

Re: Is there a \"standard\" Cetane rating?

Excellent--thanks guys. I'm not aware of any BP's around here (Rochester NY area) but I'll keep my eyes a little more open now /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif

 

[HGM]

Re: Is there a \"standard\" Cetane rating?

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( Yep--I have been using the PS for all of its benefits, but now I'm wondering how much is too much--If I believe the pump and it says 40, that means I need to bump up the cetane by 10--thats alot of PS! )</font>

/forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif Yea, I doubt it can do that... The bottle mentions that it can raise 6pts at best. I have found that if you try a tank or two at the max then do the same with the min, you may not notice a difference. Really depends on the fuel quality I use the min here and like it. I'm with SkyPup, BP is probably the best you can get right now, Ammoco should be up there too since they are related. After July, cetane may be a moot point.. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[MadReferee]

Re: Is there a \"standard\" Cetane rating?

Thanks, I am pretty sure my distributor is trucking in the 47 cetane ULSD. I'll verify that the next time I visit him. He is getting it from somewhere in upstate NY. He is a large off road supplier to most of the construction companies in the area and he moves plenty of it. I always use it with PS so I am good to go.

 

[CarlGlas]

Re: Is there a \"standard\" Cetane rating?

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( The owners manual for a JD 2520 states--Cetane number of 45 minimum. Cetane number greater than 50 is preferred, especially when temperatures are below -20°C (-4°F) or elevations above 1500 m (5000 ft).
Seems like the number on the pumps is usually 40. I guess this means you need to add the right amount of PS to get the cetane number you (or JD) want, but it got me to thinking /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif )</font>


Here's a recent post dealing with Diesel Fuel Oil Grades. http://tinyurl.com/cunkm

 

[ducati996]

Re: Is there a \"standard\" Cetane rating?

I have yet to see anything higher than 45 here....so I cant wait for the USLD to come through and raise the bar higher...
But of course we will have to sell our machines in order to pay for it /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif