What is considered "Good" Diesel fuel?

[Tom C]

I'm new to diesel, when people say "buy fuel from high quality, high sales valume stations", are they meaning specific brands? I have no idea how to judge what are "high sales volume stations" are, when there is a gas station every 200 ft, and each typically sells diesel, but it isn't the primary fuel sold. I don't typically travel the interstate, but the only truely high volume sales stations I can think of is "Buckee's", which is 60 miles away.

As a future JTD owner, I kind of like to know what and where to buy.

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[rharr]

in Texas i wouldn't worry to much, you have refineries and all the cowboy wantabes drive oil burners.

Basically avoid places that look like they haven't seen a customer in weeks. Pay attention to your driving area and look for stations where you see people using the diesel pumps regularly. Places where fire trucks, ambulances and other heavy diesel users are seen regularly is a good place to start.

I generally don't worry about it around my way, we have lots of diesel users here to so most stations are cycling through fuel pretty often.

Don't forget to add your fuel additive to help save the HP pump.

There will be times where you may not have a choice about fuel, don't stress about it and trust the fuel filter and water separator to do their job.

 

[Tom C]

in Texas i wouldn't worry to much, you have refineries and all the cowboy wantabes drive oil burners.

Basically avoid places that look like they haven't seen a customer in weeks. Pay attention to your driving area and look for stations where you see people using the diesel pumps regularly. Places where fire trucks, ambulances and other heavy diesel users are seen regularly is a good place to start.

I generally don't worry about it around my way, we have lots of diesel users here to so most stations are cycling through fuel pretty often.

Don't forget to add your fuel additive to help save the HP pump.

Yeah, if I ever get mine built and delivered, I'll make sure I use additives. Just trying to think of things ahead.

 

[kb5zcr]

I'm from Texas too, just go to any Quicktrip or other chain thats busy. You will see diesel p/u and commercial business folks buying diesel.
Every morning and then again at lunch I see all the construction guys, lawncare guys, A/C repair guys, ect hitting the QuickTrip and many of them drive diesel vehicles.

 

[Steven_B]

In my local area, you can watch when the prices change. Unless I am wrong, the price usually updates after they receive a shipment of fuel (reflecting the last cost of purchase) and you can get a sense of how often they go through the diesel.

One station by my house hasn't changed the price in months, but it's rare you even see anyone at the pump because they are usually higher in price. When prices first started skyrocketing, their diesel was almost $1 cheaper. But then the semi-tractors figured it out and took up all the diesel, and then the price jumped and hasn't come down at this station.

When I am on the road, I usually just hit the truck stops knowing they run through a lot of diesel.

 

[Wheelin98TJ]

In my local area, you can watch when the prices change. Unless I am wrong, the price usually updates after they receive a shipment of fuel (reflecting the last cost of purchase) and you can get a sense of how often they go through the diesel.

One station by my house hasn't changed the price in months, but it's rare you even see anyone at the pump because they are usually higher in price. When prices first started skyrocketing, their diesel was almost $1 cheaper. But then the semi-tractors figured it out and took up all the diesel, and then the price jumped and hasn't come down at this station.

When I am on the road, I usually just hit the truck stops knowing they run through a lot of diesel.

Smaller, single location stations sometimes price their fuel in that manner.

Most fuel is priced based on competition. Price increases usually happen when the wholesale price goes up, not when the next delivery is received. One station will raise their price and the others follow.

 

[Steven_B]

Smaller, single location stations sometimes price their fuel in that manner.

Most fuel is priced based on competition. Price increases usually happen when the wholesale price goes up, not when the next delivery is received. One station will raise their price and the others follow.

Got it, I stand corrected.

 

[sns1294]

Smaller, single location stations sometimes price their fuel in that manner.

Most fuel is priced based on competition. Price increases usually happen when the wholesale price goes up, not when the next delivery is received. One station will raise their price and the others follow.

I use the Gasbuddy app to price shop. Right now there are crazy differences from station to station around me. For whatever reason Shell and Caseys are consistently lower than the rest, even the interstate locations. Cheapest is $3.31 and it ranges to around $4.20. It's a much smaller price range for regular gasoline, which is hovering around $3.70.

 

[Sandevino]

You want to purchase #2 diesel from stations that turn their fuel regularly. Diesel absorbs moisture which gets suspended in the fuel and if sufficient quantities make it to the filter housing, you have to drain the water separator. Old filters will not separate water as well and can lead to water in the cylinder.

In Texas, you're fine as there are not extended periods of freezing weather that can cause gelling and crystalizing.

 

[whysoserious]

As a prior diesel owner (non-JT), do the oil burners on this forum do anything to deal with the potential of bacteria? Just curious.

 

[Almost]

One thing not mentioned here is cetane rating. The higher the cetane rating the cleaner it will burn and will have more power and better MPGs. The minimum is 40 which most stations carry. Some have 47-50 so I hear, but I have yet to see it personally.

 

[SargeDiesel]

Just go to a "well used" station. Look for the filthy pump handles... lol locally, I go where the area school buses fill-up... you just don't want to use an off beat station that have very little diesel sales. You can do the "RESTRICTOR REMOVAL " mod also, this will make it easier to use high volume 18 wheeler style pumps... and keep you from getting stranded or dealing with the adapter funnel.
Definitely look into some HotShots EDT and LX4.

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