Burgess 159 is correct. Diesel 'octane' is rated as 'cetane'. The standard cetane number in the US is 44. This is the standard that is established by the ASTM. Refiners produce diesel that meets the minimum cetane standard for the entire country. To increase the cetane you can add a diesel conditioner like Power Service or Schaffer's which will increase the cetane to roughly 49 to 51. The diesel conditioner will improve fuel injector cleaning properties and increase lubricity which is lacking in the diesel produced in the US due to government(go figure) regulations. It's relatively easy to increase diesel cetane. Simply buy a bottle at a parts store or c-store and add it to the tank before you fill up. It's relatively cheap and easy to use. You can also locate a service station/c-store the sells premium diesel.I'm assuming it has a higher octane rating, but damed if I can find it or even what octane of regular ULSD is.
Thoughts?
isnt 45 the minimum?Ok , so I made the 14 mile ride to the magical fountain of Premium Diesel again, mostly out of curiosity. Pull up to the pump get out and find Cetane ratings nowhere in sight. One hose was "Premium" Diesel and marked "winterized" $3.05. The other hose was marked #2 ULSD and marked "non-winterized" $2.85. So I go inside and ask the best looking female employee I can find, cause hey why talk to some fat hairy guy? She doesn't know what the cetane rating is and mispronounces it. Then the manager tries-nope, he doesn't know and also mispronounces cetane. He finally calls somebody else. Finally-45! YES! Now, does it make sense to drive 28 miles round trip to get 45 Cetane?
