I'm not sure if anyone else saw the announcement, but here is the link: TOP TIER Diesel Fuel program

This has been a long time coming. I think adding a Top Tier Diesel specification has been in the works since ULSD first came out.
Both older and newer (common rail direct injected) diesels will benefit from it.

While the Top Tier spec does not make it "premium" fuel per say, the added detergency is certainly a step in the right direction.
This should reduce or eliminate the need to regularly use detergent additives in your diesel, as currently most pump diesel is
severely lacking in this area.


Innospec ECOCLEAN® Additive Approved for TOP TIER™ Diesel


Lubrizol Earns TOP TIER(TM) Diesel Program Approval for Performance Diesel Additives

I only care if the new fuel has something in the realm of 45+ cetane. The old diesel engines were designed to run off of the high cetane we see in Europe. Such fuel is severely lacking here.

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1998 Ford Escort ZX2 5 speed - 279,000 miles My Daily

1992 Mercedes 300D 2.5 202,000 - Pure junk
2000 Mercedes E320 Black - 136,000 miles - Needs repair

Don't forget to grease the screw and threads on the spring compressor.

You can get something called "Xtreme Diesel" with Power Service additives (Cetane Boost, detergent, lubricator, & winterizer). Off the top of my head I've only seen it at a couple Shell stations locally, but it may be available elsewhere. Power Service makes Diesel Kleen (similar to Diesel Purge), Bio Kleen, and other highly regarded products.

I fill up with this as often as I can, and I feel like I notice a difference. I'm willing to concede that it could be placebo, and I also use Liqui-MOly Diesel Additive regularly, but this Xtreme Diesel is no more expensive than any other fuel around here - in fact, it's often a couple cents cheaper if I go to one station in particular.

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Winter diesel quality trends

I can't find a link to a Summer survey at the moment, but for Winter blended ULSD on the East Coast the cetane number is
currently averaging 45 (several samples are in the high 40's) with lubricity well below the 520µm maximum.

Diesel around here is already 53 cetane.

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CENSORED due to not family friendly words

In my area (and perhaps this is just my area) the minimum cetane rating at the pump is 40. There is a fleet fuel station used for truckers where the minimum rating is 47. But their membership fee is $30/month.

There are other high cetane stations in my state, but I do not live anywhere close near them.
For instance, there was another Virginia member who talked about his cetane rating being 45 or maybe even up to 50 at the pump, however, he lived about 200miles away from me.

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1998 Ford Escort ZX2 5 speed - 279,000 miles My Daily

1992 Mercedes 300D 2.5 202,000 - Pure junk
2000 Mercedes E320 Black - 136,000 miles - Needs repair

Don't forget to grease the screw and threads on the spring compressor.

I noticed if I take the cetane booster and just DUMP IT into the tank instead of adding a couple of ounces per gallon, I will notice the engine getting a lot quieter. I'll do a before and after video one day.

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1998 Ford Escort ZX2 5 speed - 279,000 miles My Daily

1992 Mercedes 300D 2.5 202,000 - Pure junk
2000 Mercedes E320 Black - 136,000 miles - Needs repair

Don't forget to grease the screw and threads on the spring compressor.

Fuel quality around here is highly variable. Where you buy your diesel really matters. I've had the best luck with Valero and Exxon stations. Shell can be hit-or-miss, lately it's been better than previously.

After Harvey hit, diesel has been hard to find around here and I've more often than not been getting it at Stripes (who I usually avoid like the plague, even for gasoline). You definitely NOTICE the difference in fuel quality. Engine runs fine, but man is it noisy! Finally got fuel at Shell the other day and it's remarkable how quiet the engine got and how quickly it did it.

Considering how tolerant the IDI diesels are of just about anything, I can't help but wonder what the poor quality fuel is doing to the Ford and Chevy engines that seem to be made of glass. The fuel quality shouldn't be so crap that you're forced to run an additive, that's pathetic.

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Current stable:
1995 E320 149K (Nancy)
1983 500SL 120K (SLoL)

Black Sheep:
1985 524TD 167K (TotalDumpster™)

Gone but not forgotten:
1986 300SDL (RIP)
1991 350SD
1991 560SEL
1990 560SEL
1986 500SEL Euro (Rusted to nothing at 47K!)

Found a 50 cetane pump one hour away from where I live. Will check it out soon

__________________
1998 Ford Escort ZX2 5 speed - 279,000 miles My Daily

1992 Mercedes 300D 2.5 202,000 - Pure junk
2000 Mercedes E320 Black - 136,000 miles - Needs repair

Don't forget to grease the screw and threads on the spring compressor.